India, Aug. 15 -- From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dedicated several minutes on a subject that would have been unthinkable in an Independence Day speech a decade ago - semiconductor chips.

PM Modi told the country that three semiconductor plants had already started operations, with their output headed for export, and that "another five to eight semiconductor plants are likely to become operational" in the years ahead.

He then turned to critical minerals, noting that India had launched the National Critical Minerals Mission and announced the Critical Mineral Corridor, and that "nations around the world are increasingly placing their trust in India" on the subject.

A look at the progress made by...