New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, August 15, delivered a 103-minute address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, the longest of his tenure so far. The speech surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes set in 2024.
The Prime Minister announced the launch of the Viksit Bharat Rozgaar Yojna, next-generation GST reforms, and the Sudarshan Chakra Mission. His speech covered topics including national security, economic policy, technology, infrastructure, and social welfare.
Record-Breaking Address
Modi’s previous longest Independence Day speech, delivered in 2024, lasted 98 minutes. In 2023, he spoke for around 90 minutes. His 2016 and 2019 speeches lasted 96 minutes and 92 minutes respectively. The shortest address of his tenure was in 2017, at 56 minutes.
Before Modi, Jawaharlal Nehru held the record for the longest Independence Day speech, speaking for about 72 minutes in 1947.
Speeches By Previous Prime Ministers
Former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi have delivered the shortest Independence Day speeches on record, each lasting 14 minutes. Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee have also delivered shorter addresses compared to the current Prime Minister’s speeches.
This year’s address included references to a wide range of policy matters alongside the major announcements.
