New Delhi, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day, identified defence power as the fifth 'Shakti' of his 'Shakti Ki Saptadhara' vision and called for greater self-reliance in defence, while urging India to emerge as a global supplier of military equipment and a leader in next-generation technologies, including hypersonic systems.

Reiterating the government's push for an Aatmanirbhar defence sector, the Prime Minister said India could not afford to remain merely a market for other countries and must build the capabilities to supply advanced defence technologies to the world.

PM Modi said, "The fifth strength of the Saptadhara is defence power. It i...