Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the longest Independence Day address of his tenure on Friday, August 15, 2025, speaking for a record 103 minutes from the ramparts of the Red Fort. This year’s speech surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes set in 2024. The address marked India’s 79th Independence Day and included several key announcements such as the launch of the Viksit Bharat Rozgaar Yojna, next-generation GST reforms, and the Sudarshan Chakra Mission.

During his address, the Prime Minister touched upon crucial topics including national security, economic growth, technology, infrastructure development, and social welfare initiatives. His previous longest speeches include 98 minutes in 2024, 90 minutes in 2023, and 96 minutes in 2016. The shortest of his tenure was in 2017, lasting 56 minutes.

Before Modi, the record for the longest Independence Day speech was held by Jawaharlal Nehru, who spoke for about 72 minutes in 1947. Interestingly, Nehru and Indira Gandhi also hold the record for the shortest Independence Day speeches, each lasting only 14 minutes. Other former Prime Ministers like Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee delivered comparatively shorter addresses than Modi.

This year’s historic address combined policy announcements with a vision for India’s future, reaffirming the government’s focus on economic reforms, job creation, and technological advancement.