India, Aug. 16 -- PM Modi announced major initiatives, including AI skill training for one crore youth, free online coaching, and a nationwide sports talent hunt, while introducing a 'Saptdhara' framework of seven core economic and strategic pillars.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday used his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort to lay out a roadmap for what he described as India's "next leap", combining ambitious targets for manufacturing, technology, energy and defence with a strong focus on the country's youth. The 77-minute address, his third-shortest Independence Day speech, came against the backdrop of a major youth mobilisation in Delhi in recent weeks. Although PM Modi did not refer t...