Page 5 - The Indian EYE 082225

The Indian Eye
COVER STORY AUGUST 22, 2025 5

of the GATT negotiations in the ear-
ly 1990s to more recent World Trade
Organization disputes, New Delhi
has consistently defended its ability to
maintain minimum support prices and
protect its farmers from global market
volatility. Modi’s speech situated this
latest standoff within that tradition,
portraying it as part of a larger strug-
gle for economic self-determination.

THE SELF-RELIANCE DOCTRINE
f agriculture was the emotional
heart of the address, defence and
Itechnology formed its strategic
backbone. In perhaps the most dra-
matic announcement of the morning,
Modi unveiled the Sudarshan Chakra
Mission — a decade-long plan to de-
sign, develop, and deploy an indige-
nous air defence system capable of in-
tercepting missiles, drones, and other
aerial threats.
Drawing on the imagery of
Lord Krishna’s mythic discus, Modi
described a shield that could pro-
tect both military installations and
civilian populations. The parallels A alimpse of 79th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, in New Delhi on Friday. (DPR PMO/ANI Photo)
to Israel’s Iron Dome and Russia’s
S-400 system were obvious, but Modi DEMOGRAPHY, SPACE, AND for settlement, and enhanced secu- framed as a symbol of the nation’s
stressed that this would be “Made THE ECONOMIC ENGINE rity measures to ensure that border scientific capabilities. Over 300 Indi-
in India, for India, by India.” The regions remain economically vibrant an startups, he noted, are now work-
project would integrate domestic re- he Prime Minister’s address and demographically stable. ing in space technology, from satel-
search institutes, defence public sec- also ventured into territory He also celebrated India’s ad- lite manufacturing to launch services.
tor undertakings, and a network of Tthat was both strategic and de- vances in space exploration, lauding Economic policy was never
private aerospace startups. By 2035, mographic. Announcing a High-Pow- the return of Group Captain Shub- far from the centre of the address.
he promised, the system would be er Demography Mission, he warned hanshu Shukla from the Internation- Modi announced the Pradhan Man-
operational, marking a leap forward of shifts in population patterns along al Space Station. tri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, a
in India’s strategic autonomy. India’s borders that could, if un- The applause was loudest when `1 lakh crore employment initiative
The self-reliance theme extend- checked, create security vulnerabili- he reaffirmed plans for the Ga- aimed at creating 3.5 crore jobs. This
ed far beyond defence. Modi an- ties. The mission would combine in- ganyaan mission — India’s first included a `15,000 grant for young
nounced that the first batch of Made- frastructure development, incentives crewed spaceflight — which he people securing their first private-sec-
in-India semiconductor chips would tor role — a measure designed to
hit the market by the end of 2025, encourage small and medium en-
the product of a concerted push to terprises to hire fresh graduates. He
bring high-end manufacturing to In- also unveiled a Next-Generation Re-
dian soil. He called for domestic de- forms Task Force to modernise laws
velopment of operating systems, AI and regulations, ensuring they align
solutions, and even social media plat- with the realities of a fast-changing
forms — warning that dependence global economy.
on foreign digital infrastructure
posed a hidden risk to national se- SYMBOLS AND SIGNALS
curity. “When your tools, your data,
and your communication channels his year’s celebrations were
are controlled elsewhere,” he said, as much about spectacle as
“your independence is an illusion.” Tsubstance. The lawns around
In agriculture, Modi laid out the Red Fort were filled with 5,000
plans to boost domestic fertiliser pro- special guests — farmers, athletes,
duction, expand irrigation, and de- innovators, and community leaders
velop new storage facilities to reduce — handpicked from across the coun-
post-harvest losses. The Ministry try. The ceremonial guard of honour
of Commerce, he said, was already drew on all three armed services, and
working on a blueprint to cut agricul- the music of 140 military and para-
tural imports and build reserves of military bands carried through the
critical staples. “A country unable to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects a Guard of Honour prior to hoisting the National Flag at streets of Delhi. Across India, sim-
feed itself,” he warned, “cannot truly Red Fort on 79th Independence Day, in New Delhi on Friday. (DPR PMO/ANI Photo) ilar performances marked the day,
call itself independent.” Continued on next page... >>

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