New Delhi, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India faced multiple challenges over the last 12 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, but the government's citizen-first approach helped the country navigate these crises.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said India faced several challenges after emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, with wars breaking out in Ukraine and West Asia and an atmosphere of tension prevailing globally.

"In the last 20-12 years, we have faced many dangers. As soon as we emerged from Covid, there was news of wars that started to arise from Ukraine side and West Asia. An atmosphere of tension pr...