President Murmu highlighted India’s defence preparedness. She said the nation’s progress in self-reliance aided Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April. (Photo: Social Media)
President Droupadi Murmu, in her fourth Independence Day eve address, praised India’s economic strength, defence readiness, and national unity. She called India the fastest-growing major economy with a GDP growth rate of 6.5% in the last fiscal.
"With a GDP growth rate of 6.5% in the last fiscal, India is the fastest growing among the major economies in the world. Even amid stress in the global economy, demand at home is pacing ahead. Inflation has remained under control. Exports are rising. All key indicators show the economy in the pink of health," President Murmu said.
She credited domestic demand and stable inflation for sustaining momentum. She said exports were climbing, and economic fundamentals were robust.
President Murmu highlighted India’s defence preparedness. She said the nation’s progress in self-reliance aided Operation Sindoor, India’s response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April.
"Operation Sindoor showed that our armed forces are prepared to meet any eventuality when it comes to guarding the nation. With strategic clarity and technical capability, they destroyed terrorist hubs across the border," she said.
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Murmu called the operation a milestone for the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission in defence. “The outcome has proved that we are on the right path. Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level that makes us self-sufficient in meeting many of our security requirements," she added.
The President said India had expanded crucial infrastructure, including roads and railways. Under the Bharatmala programme, the target is to build nearly 50,000 km of new national highways.
She also praised railway innovations and the inauguration of the rail link in the Kashmir valley. "The Railways too have innovated, introducing new types of trains and coaches equipped with the latest technologies. The inauguration of the rail link in the Kashmir valley is a major accomplishment," she said.
Murmu hailed India’s digital revolution. "Nearly all villages have 4G mobile connectivity, and the remaining few thousand will be covered soon. This has made possible large-scale adoption of digital payment technologies, in which India has become a world leader in a short span," she said.
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She said the next phase of growth lies in Artificial Intelligence. The IT sector, along with digital payment infrastructure, is driving India’s global leadership in technology adoption.
Murmu said higher spending on social schemes reflects the government’s focus on uplifting marginalised communities. She urged citizens to buy local products to promote 'Swadeshi' and boost self-reliance.
The President also noted India’s rising strength in sports and space exploration.
Murmu’s speech came amid global trade tensions and supply chain disruptions. The US President had earlier called India a “dead economy” during sanctions over Russian oil imports.
China’s export controls on rare earth magnets have affected electronics, automotive, and renewable energy sectors. India is working with partners, including the US, to counter such challenges.
Her address also precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting on August 31.
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