PM Modi delivers longest speech of 103 minutes; surpasses Indira Gandhi’s record for most consecutive I-Day addresses

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Aug 15) delivered the longest Independence Day speech, breaking his own record set last year. PM Modi addressed the nation for 103 minutes, the longest ever speech delivered by any Indian Prime Minister. In 2024, he spoke for 98 minutes, while his third-longest speech was in 2016, which lasted for 96 minutes.

PM Modi also broke Indira Gandhi’s record by delivering 12 consecutive Independence Day speeches from the Red Fort in Delhi. The largest number of consecutive I-Day speeches was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru, who addressed the nation 17 times in a row. The longest speech delivered by the first and longest-serving prime minister of India lasted 72 minutes in 1947, when India celebrated its first Independence Day after achieving freedom from British rule. PM Modi broke Nehru’s record in 2015 by delivering an 88-minute-long speech.

PM Modi’s first Independence Day speech was given in 2014, the year he became the prime minister of India. The address was 65 minutes long. Although his shortest speech was recorded in 2017, when he spoke for 56 minutes.

In his speech on India’s 70th Independence Day, PM Modi talked about a wide range of topics. He hailed Operation Sindoor, which was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. He also warned terror outfits and those who support terrorists, saying that Indian forces are ready to give them a befitting reply if they continue their attempts.

PM Modi also spoke on the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and mentioned the ‘Made In India’ campaign, urging Indian youth and scientists to develop semiconductor chips and fighter jets in India.

The prime minister also said that the government will roll out the next generation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms by Diwali this year. He also announced a new employment scheme worth Rs 1 lakh crore that is expected to create more than 35 million job opportunities. Under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana’, the Centre will provide assistance of Rs 15,000 for youth entering the private sector job market for the first time.