NEW DELHI, India — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled a seven-point development framework, Sapta Dhara, for accelerating India’s journey towards a developed nation by 2047, while announcing major initiatives in artificial intelligence, manufacturing, defence, energy, technology, agriculture and social development.
- Sapta Dhara focuses on manufacturing, agriculture, technology, Gati Shakti, defence, the green and blue economy, and India’s soft power.
- One crore young Indians will be trained in AI skills over the next year.
- India is targeting 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.
- PM Modi called for faster reforms and greater self-reliance to achieve the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
Sapta Dhara sets seven priorities for India’s next phase
Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said India could no longer move forward with limited ambitions. He linked the 2047 development target with stronger national capabilities, faster implementation and the collective efforts of 140 crore citizens.
The seven streams under Sapta Dhara are manufacturing power, agriculture and food production, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti, Raksha Shakti, the green and blue economy, and India’s soft power.
On manufacturing, the Prime Minister called for complete domestic value chains and urged Indian companies to compete globally on cost, quality and scale. He said India should become a trusted global supply-chain hub with a focus on zero-defect precision manufacturing.
One crore youth to receive AI skills training
Technology and innovation formed a central part of the roadmap. PM Modi said India must move beyond being a market for global technology companies and become an innovation hub in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, robotics, space and data centres.
He announced that one crore young Indians will be trained in AI skills over the next year, with the stated aim of preparing the country’s youth to compete and lead in the global AI economy.
The Prime Minister also set an ambitious technology goal for India’s indigenous 6G capabilities, saying Made-in-India 6G should eventually reach markets around the world.
Self-reliance, semiconductors and nuclear energy
Self-reliance was another major theme of the address. PM Modi said India needed to reduce dependence on other countries and strengthen domestic capabilities through initiatives such as Make in India, Swadeshi and Vocal for Local.
He said three major semiconductor plants had started and production had begun reaching export markets. Another five to eight semiconductor plants are expected to begin operations over the coming seven to eight years, according to the Prime Minister.
On energy security, PM Modi said India was targeting 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 and planned to begin five new nuclear reactors within the current decade. He also highlighted India’s progress in fast breeder nuclear technology.
Green and blue economy gain strategic importance
The Prime Minister highlighted the expansion of solar energy, saying India’s solar capacity had risen from 2 GW before 2014 to 160 GW. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, solar systems have been installed in 50 lakh homes, he said.
India’s coastal resources were also placed within the development framework. PM Modi said 99% of the coastal area earlier classified as a No-Go Area had been opened for exploration and announced an allocation of ₹85,000 crore for the Samudra Manthan initiative.
Defence, infrastructure and global business ambitions
Under Raksha Shakti, PM Modi called for greater defence self-reliance and development of next-generation technologies, including drones, counter-drone systems and hypersonic defence capabilities. He said India should aim to become a global defence supplier.
Gati Shakti, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen connectivity through high-speed rail, highways, inland waterways, airports and multimodal logistics. The Prime Minister also called for ports to become engines of wider economic growth.
He urged Indian businesses and MSMEs to make greater use of Free Trade Agreements with nearly 40 countries and expand exports of textiles, machinery, medicines, seafood and other products.
Reform agenda and social development targets
PM Modi described reforms as a matter of conviction and said the government would accelerate what he called the “Reform Express”. He also highlighted the elimination of thousands of compliances and repeal of hundreds of outdated laws.
The Prime Minister said India’s bioeconomy had expanded from ₹60,000 crore before 2014 to ₹20 lakh crore, while electric vehicle sales rose to 25 lakh units in 2025-26 from 1.5 lakh units in 2009-10.
He also announced a free online coaching initiative for young people preparing for competitive examinations, aimed at reducing the financial pressure of coaching on middle-class families.
Olympics, women’s empowerment and national security
India is preparing to become a strong contender to host the 2036 Olympic Games, PM Modi said, while also highlighting preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. A nationwide talent hunt will seek sporting potential among children aged five to 15.
On women’s economic participation, he said the government had crossed its target of three crore Lakhpati Didis and was now working towards six crore. He also appealed to political parties to support 33% representation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
On security, PM Modi said Mission Sudarshan Chakra was progressing and announced plans for a modern voluntary civil defence network. He also said Indian defence exports had increased nearly 50 times and weapons were reaching about 100 countries.
What happens next for Viksit Bharat 2047?
The Prime Minister’s address placed faster reforms, domestic manufacturing, technological capability, energy security and human capital at the centre of India’s development strategy. The Sapta Dhara framework is intended to bring these priorities together as India works towards its 2047 developed-nation target.
The roadmap also places a strong emphasis on young Indians, with AI skills, innovation, sports, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies identified as areas where the next generation can contribute to the country’s long-term ambitions.
What is Sapta Dhara?
Sapta Dhara is the seven-stream development framework outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It covers manufacturing, agriculture and food production, technology and innovation, Gati Shakti, defence, the green and blue economy, and India’s soft power.
What is the AI skills target announced by PM Modi?
PM Modi announced that one crore young Indians would be trained in AI skills over the next year to strengthen their capabilities in the emerging global AI economy.
