For Highlights of PM Narendra Modi's Maiden Independence Day speech, Click here.
Modi concludes his maiden I-Day speech, said to be the longest since Pandit Nehru's address.
8 42 am: " Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. The Armed forces are awake, and we all should be awake, too," Modi said at the end of his speech.
8 40 am : Modi steps up fight against poverty, says nation must come together to eliminate poverty.
8 30 am : Modi calls for revival of the Planning Commission, says Planning Commission to be replaced by 'super think-tank'
8:25 am : Modi announced the unique Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, urging MPs to adopt a village and turn it into a "model village" by developing schools, roads and environment. "Our MPs should at least do this much. Countrys progress must begin with rural development," he said.
Modi announced that the blueprint for this Yojana will be ready by 11 October, which marks Jayaprakash Narayan's anniversary.
8:19 am : Modi says that by the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the" Nation must be clean".
8:00 am: Modi pushes for 'Digital India', calls for e-governance.
7:50 am : Modi rakes up issue of rising crimes against women. "Parents ask their daughters to be careful when they are stepping out, but do they ask their sons where they are going? Those who rape are also someone's sons. It is the responsibility of parents to bring their sons on the right path."
He also addressed the issue of female foeticide, citing the poor sex ratio in he country.
"Daughters have contributec to the nation, he said, referring to the female ahletes who brought glory to the nation in the recent Commonwealth Games."
In
dia is now in its 68th year of Independence, as the nation observes its 68th Independence Day after securing freedom from centuries of British rule.
7 : 46 am : "If government officials reaching work on time becomes news, then it is a sign of how low we have fallen"
7 : 46 am : "If government officials reaching work on time becomes news, then it is a sign of how low we have fallen"
7 43 am: "I am not from Delhi. I am an outsider. But over the last two months, I have taken an insider view and was shocked. There are several governments running within the government. Departments are battling each other". I have made efforts to change this."
7 : 37 am : "Nation not made by politicians, but by labourers, farmers and youth".
Modi is not using the bullet-proof protection often given to Prime Ministers during the I-Day address.
7 : 34 am : Modi begins address to nation on I-Day, wishes nation as Pradhan Sevak (Prime Servant)
7 : 30 am: Modi unfurls the national flag
7 : 20 am: PM Modi arrives at Red Fort, receives Gaurd of Honour
7 : 05 am : PM Modi arrives at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat
6 30 am: Thousands of people already seated outside Red Fort to witness PM Modi's first I-Day speech. About 10,000 people are expected to be present at the Red Fort address.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was sworn in this May, will make his first Independence Day speech at the iconic Red Fort after hoisting the flag at 7:30 am. He is expected to go beyond rhetoric and make several significant announcements.
You can watch the live streaming of the address right here.
President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the nation on the eve of I-Day on Thursday, and spoke about the new government. "After three decades, a single party got clear majority. The increase in voter turnout to 66 per cent from the last election's 58 per cent shows the vitality of our democracy," he said.
Citing poverty as the biggest challenge of our time, he said policies must focus on the elimination of poverty.
He also said that "signs of revival" in the Indian economy were now visible. "Though the growth rate was subdued at below 5 per cent during the last two years, I sense renewed vigour and optimism in the air. Signs of revival are visible," he added.
