President Droupadi Murmu, in her address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day on Thursday, said India remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world, with a GDP growth rate of 6.5 percent
in the last fiscal year. She noted that domestic demand is strong despite stress in the global economy, inflation is under control and exports are rising.
“All key indicators show the economy in the pink of health,” Murmu said in her speech.
The President added that a “large number” of people have been lifted out of poverty due to good governance. She said the government is running several welfare schemes not only for the poor but also for those who have recently moved above the poverty line, to ensure they do not fall back into poverty.
“Economic inequalities are decreasing, sectoral gaps are disappearing,” President Murmu said.
‘Operation Sindoor A Test Case For Atmanirbhar Bharat’
Turning to national security, the President said the country “had to face the scourge of terrorism” this year, calling the killing of innocent holidaymakers in Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April “cowardly and utterly inhuman”. She said India responded “in a decisive manner and with steely resolve” through Operation Sindoor.
“Operation Sindoor showed that our armed forces are prepared to meet any eventuality when it comes to guarding the nation. With strategic clarity and technical capability, they destroyed terrorist hubs across the border,” she said, adding the operation “will go down in history as an example in humanity’s fight against terrorism.”
Murmu also linked the mission to the government’s self-reliance push, describing it as “a test case for Atmanirbhar Bharat” in defence capability. She extended greetings to soldiers on the borders, as well as police forces and reserve officers across the country, for their role in protecting citizens.
‘Women, Marginalised Making Strides’
President Droupadi Murmu said communities that were once on the margins are making significant strides.
“People belonging to a major segment of our society comprising Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and other communities are shedding the tag of the marginalised. The Government has been actively helping them to realise their social and economic aspirations with several initiatives,” she said in her Independence Day Eve address.
Highlighting women’s achievements, Murmu said, “Our daughters are our pride. They are breaching barriers in every field, including in the areas of defence and security. Sports are among important indicators of excellence, empowerment and potential.”
She pointed to recent successes in chess. “A nineteen-year-old girl and a thirty-eight-year-old woman from India were the finalists in the FIDE Women’s World Cup for chess championship. This underlines the sustained and globally comparable excellence across generations among our women.”
India Steering Age Of AI
The President highlighted India’s advances in technology and digital infrastructure. “In this Digital Age, it is apt that one sector in India that has seen the most dramatic advances is information technology. Nearly all villages have 4G mobile connectivity, and the remaining few thousands will be covered soon. This has made possible large-scale adoption of digital payment technologies, in which India has become a world leader in a short span,” she said. On emerging technologies, Murmu added, “Artificial intelligence is the next stage of technological advancement and has already entered our lives. The government has launched the India-AI mission to strengthen the country’s AI capabilities. It is also helping to build AI models that answer to India’s specific requirements.”
