Archive · 15 Aug 2026
PM Modi's Ambitious Fortune 500 Target for Indian Companies
India celebrates its Independence Day every year on August 15 to remember when the country became free.
On this day, the Prime Minister gives a big speech from an old fort called the Red Fort.
This year, India marked its 80th Independence Day, and Prime Minister Modi gave his 13th Independence Day speech.
In the speech, he told Indians to dream very big.
He wants 50 Indian companies to be among the 500 biggest companies in the world.
He also wants an Indian bank to be one of the five biggest banks and an Indian medicine company to be one of the five biggest medicine companies in the world.
He talked about seven important things to work on, like making things, farming, technology, keeping the country safe, and protecting nature.
He also said India will build more factories that make computer chips in the next seven or eight years.
He believes that if every citizen works together, India can become a strong and developed country.
PM Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, India's 80th Independence Day.
He set a goal of 50 Indian companies being among the Fortune 500 within the coming decade.
He called for at least one Indian bank among the world's top five banks and one Indian pharma company among the world's five largest.
He invoked 'Shakti ki Sapt Dhara' - seven focus areas: manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, Gati-Shakti, Raksha Shakti, green and blue economy, and soft power.
He said India will have more semiconductor plants within 7-8 years and pledged to harness youth potential for nation-building.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 13th consecutive Independence Day address.
- What
- Set ambitious targets for Indian business - 50 India-based Fortune 500 companies, one Indian bank among the world's top five, and one Indian pharma company among the world's five largest - and outlined 'Shakti ki Sapt Dhara', seven focus areas for development.
- When
- August 15, 2026, India's 80th Independence Day.
- Where
- From the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi.
- Why
- To awaken the nation's strength and build a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India), giving the nation new heights, momentum, and capability.
- Occasion
- 80th Independence Day of India
- Speaker
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi (13th consecutive I-Day address)
- Location
- Ramparts of the Red Fort, Delhi
- Fortune 500 target
- 50 Indian companies within the coming decade
- Banking target
- At least one Indian bank among the world's top five
- Pharma target
- At least one Indian pharmaceutical company among the world's five largest
- New initiative
- 'Shakti ki Sapt Dhara' - seven focus areas including manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, technology and innovation, Gati-Shakti, Raksha Shakti, green and blue economy, and soft power
- Semiconductor outlook
- More semiconductor plants in India expected within 7-8 years