India, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for a strategic push to India's soft power, urging to increase the global reach of yoga, Ayurveda, handicrafts, films, VFX, animation, gaming and digital content as key areas that can strengthen the country's global influence.

"The strength of India's soft power is immense," Modi said in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort in Delhi, urging the country to develop its cultural and creative capabilities into a global strength.

The push for soft power came as Modi unveiled a seven-point reform framework, or 'Sapta Dhara', aimed at accelerating India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Modi said yoga had already connected India with people across th...