New Delhi, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted how almost all of India's coastal waters have been opened up for exploration with the aim of discovering new mineral reserves. Saying that a previously 'flawed' mindset had stopped exploration of our seas, PM Modi said that previously 'no-go areas' have been changed to 'go-ahead areas'.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said, due to a flawed mindset, we had designated 99 percent of our coastal waters as "no-go areas," effectively deciding against offshore exploration. This was a poverty of thought. We decided that this could not continue."

PM Modi hailed how a majority of India's coastal waters ...