Dollar will become irrelevant if India becomes self-reliant, will create 3.5 crore jobs; PM on 79th Independence Day

NEW DELHI: If India becomes self-reliant, exports, imports, and currencies like the dollar and pound will lose their importance, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that the goal is to achieve a 'Developed India by 2047.' Modi was delivering his 12th Independence Day address as Prime Minister from the Red Fort.

Under the Prime Minister Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), with an outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore, 3.5 crore jobs will be created. Illegal immigration, which denies opportunities to local youth, will be controlled.

As a Diwali gift, a new generation of GST reforms will be implemented, reducing taxes on essential goods and benefiting MSMEs.

To protect defence and civilian institutions, a local internal protection shield called Mission Sudarshan Chakra will be launched. India will develop critical technologies such as jet engines, social media platforms, and more. By the end of this year, Indian-made semiconductor chips will be released- a plan that was conceived 50–60 years ago but in which other countries moved ahead first.

By 2047, India will strengthen its nuclear power capacity with 10 new nuclear reactors, increasing production by more than 10% within a decade, with opportunities for the private sector. Offshore oil and gas exploration will be prioritised.

New projects will be launched for solar energy, hydrogen, and hydropower, and mineral exploration will be carried out in 1,200 locations. A dedicated task force will be formed to implement next-generation reforms.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, where Indian-made weapons were used to destroy terror networks, Modi said this sent a clear message that India will not bow to threats or compromises. He said nuclear threats will not work, and there will be no review of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: “Blood and water cannot flow together.”

Praise for RSS

The Prime Minister called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which completed 100 years, the world’s largest NGO. He described its century-long service to the nation as a golden chapter, saying that volunteers have dedicated their lives to the country’s welfare with the firm resolve of “nation-building through individuals.”

GST: Two slabs to be removed, prices to come down

• GST reform will be the major announcement directly benefiting ordinary people. Modi said it will come into effect by Diwali in October, reducing commodity prices.
• The aim is to boost consumption. The tax rates will be rationalised to benefit women, students, the middle class, and farmers.
• The 12% and 28% slabs may be removed. Goods in these slabs will move to lower slabs, reducing prices (for example, items taxed at 12% will move to 5%).
• GST registration will be simplified for small businesses and startups. Pre-filled returns will be available to make filing easier. Refunds will be provided quickly for exporters and those facing adverse duty structures.

Sudarshan Chakra or Indian Iron Dome

• The Sudarshan Chakra system will be modelled on Israel’s Iron Dome and the US Golden Dome.
• The aim is complete border protection, stopping enemy attacks before they cross the border.
• It will be an advanced network integrating multiple systems, including surveillance and cybersecurity.
• A smaller version of the Sudarshan Chakra was used in *Operation Sindoor* to counter Pakistani attacks, through an integrated command system called *Akash*.
• By 2035, the Sudarshan Chakra will be part of the army to counter any challenge from Pakistan or China.
• The name comes from the Mahabharata story in which Lord Krishna used the Sudarshan Chakra to block the sun and create darkness, helping Arjuna kill Jayadratha.