Strong Economic Pitch, Hardline on Terror, and Push for Self-Reliance : President Murmu’s Independence Day Eve Address

On the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu delivered a powerful address blending economic optimism, hardline anti-terror resolve, and a call for self-reliance, positioning youth, women, and marginalised communities as the engines of a united and confident India.

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu addresses to the Nation on the Eve of the 79th Independence Day via video message on August 14, 2025.

New Delhi : On the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, President Droupadi Murmu delivered a politically charged and forward-looking address, fusing historical reverence with a bold roadmap for India’s future. From a firm stand against terrorism to an emphatic endorsement of economic self-reliance, her speech signalled both confidence and resolve as the nation steps deeper into the 'Amrit Kaal'.

Framing August 15 as “a date etched in our collective memory,” the President honoured the sacrifices of freedom fighters while reminding citizens of the pain of Partition, observed earlier in the day as 'Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas'. She underlined that the core democratic values—justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity—must be guarded as part of India’s civilisational heritage.

On the economic front, Murmu showcased India’s 6.5% GDP growth rate as proof that the country is “the fastest growing among the major economies of the world,” despite global headwinds. She credited “calibrated reforms and sagacious economic management” alongside the grit of workers and farmers for keeping inflation in check, boosting exports, and sustaining domestic demand.

Linking economic expansion to governance, she highlighted poverty reduction, narrowing income inequality, and rapid infrastructure growth—from the Bharatmala highway network to the strategic rail link in Kashmir. These, she argued, were not just development statistics but political proof of “States once lagging now catching up with front-runners.”

The President’s political messaging sharpened while addressing national security. Condemning the recent killings of civilians in Kashmir as “cowardly and utterly inhuman,” she hailed 'Operation Sindoor' as a decisive blow to cross-border terrorism, framing it as both a defence success and a triumph for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. “Our indigenous manufacturing has achieved the critical level to meet many of our security requirements,” she declared—an assertion aimed at reinforcing India’s strategic autonomy.

Murmu also touched on social cohesion, warning that unity was “the most befitting response to those who wanted to divide us,” while invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s warning that “corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy.”

The address doubled as a pitch for India’s technological and industrial self-reliance. Citing the 'India-AI Mission', record digital payment adoption, and the Make-in-India push, she linked innovation directly to national strength. The call to “buy and use Indian products” carried an unmistakable Swadeshi echo, tied to both economic nationalism and political identity.

Finally, Murmu positioned three groups—youth, women, and historically marginalised communities—as the driving forces of India’s rise. She celebrated women breaching barriers in defence, politics, and sports, and youth excelling from space exploration to global chess championships.

By closing with a pledge to tackle corruption, protect the environment, and preserve unity, the President set a political tone ahead of Independence Day—one that blends nationalism, economic ambition, and security resolve.

Her message was clear: India is not merely celebrating 78 years of freedom—it is asserting its power, shaping its destiny, and preparing to meet both domestic and global challenges with confidence.