Archive · 15 Aug 2026
PM Modi unveils AI, nuclear, semiconductor plans on Independence Day
On India's Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi gave a big speech from the Red Fort.
He shared plans to help India become a developed country by 2047.
One plan is to teach one crore, or ten million, young people about artificial intelligence in the next year.
Another plan will give free online classes to students preparing for important exams.
India also wants to build more computer chip factories, though the reports give different numbers about how soon they will be ready.
The country hopes to make 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047 and to have five new nuclear reactors soon.
Modi announced a big hunt for young sports talent between five and fifteen years old, hoping to find future Olympic athletes.
He wants to create a modern team of civil defence volunteers who can help during emergencies.
He also plans to help six crore women become Lakhpati Didis who earn at least one lakh rupees each year.
All these ideas are meant to make India stronger in technology, manufacturing, and more.
PM Modi announced an AI skilling mission to train 1 crore young Indians in artificial intelligence over the next year.
He announced free online coaching for competitive exam aspirants, following last month's youth-led NEET paper leak protests.
India will target 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with five new reactors expected to become operational in six to seven years, or to start within this decade, depending on the report.
Reports differed on semiconductor targets: one said seven to eight new plants in one to two years, another said a further five to eight over seven to eight years, while three plants are already operating.
Other plans included a nationwide sports talent hunt for ages 5-15 ahead of a 2036 Olympics bid, a modern civil defence volunteer force, and doubling the Lakhpati Didi target to six crore.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- What
- Announced seven initiatives covering AI training, free online coaching, semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear energy, civil defence, a sports talent hunt, and the Lakhpati Didi programme
- When
- Saturday, in his 78-minute address on the 80th Indian Independence Day, described as his shortest in years
- Where
- The Red Fort, New Delhi, India
- Why
- To lay out his roadmap for a developed India (Viksit Bharat 2047) and prepare young people for an economy shaped by AI and emerging technologies
- Speaker
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Occasion
- 80th Independence Day address
- Venue
- Red Fort
- AI training target
- 1 crore youth trained in one year
- Nuclear power target
- 100 GW by 2047; five new reactors expected in 6-7 years or within this decade
- Semiconductor target
- 7-8 plants in 1-2 years (one report); 5-8 more in 7-8 years (another report); three plants already operating
- Lakhpati Didi target
- 6 crore, doubled from the earlier 3 crore target
- Sports talent hunt
- Ages 5-15, ahead of 2036 Olympics bid; India to host Commonwealth Games in 2030
