PM Modi Urges Cutting Oil Dependence, Opens Offshore Exploration

India gets a lot of the oil it needs from other countries.

The leader of India, Prime Minister Modi, wants to change that.

He spoke from a famous place called the Red Fort on Independence Day.

He said India should look for more oil and gas underneath the sea.

Before, almost all of the sea area near India was off-limits to explorers.

Now the government has opened those areas for searching.

He also wants more clean energy, like power from the sun, from nuclear reactors, and from piped gas.

India is building more nuclear reactors and adding lots of solar power.

India is also making computer chips, called semiconductors, so it does not have to buy so many from other countries.

These steps help India become stronger and more independent.