Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech to date on Friday, August 15, 2025, addressing the nation for 103 minutes from the Red Fort. The address, which began at 7:33 am and concluded at 9:16 am, surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes set in 2024.
In a speech that combined symbolism with stamina, Modi covered a wide array of topics, providing a comprehensive account of his government's achievements and laying out a roadmap for the future, rooted in the vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047. He emphasized self-reliance in economic and security reforms, while also cautioning against attempts to alter India's demographic composition. Modi stressed that self-reliance extends beyond import-export figures and is connected to the nation's strengths and capabilities.
This year's address also marked Modi's 12th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. With this, he overtook Indira Gandhi's record and now ranks second only to Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered 17 consecutive Independence Day addresses.
Modi's predecessors have varied in their speech durations. Jawaharlal Nehru, known for his "Tryst with Destiny" speech, was concise, while Indira Gandhi favored sharp declarations. Rajiv Gandhi kept his addresses crisp, Atal Bihari Vajpayee incorporated poetic pauses, and Manmohan Singh focused on inclusive growth.
Other Prime Ministers with notable Independence Day speech durations include: * Jawaharlal Nehru (1947): 72 minutes * I.K. Gujral (1997): 71 minutes
Modi's previous Independence Day speech durations: * 2014: 65 minutes * 2015: 88 minutes * 2016: 96 minutes * 2017: 56 minutes * 2018: 83 minutes * 2019: 92 minutes * 2020: 90 minutes * 2021: 88 minutes * 2022: 74 minutes * 2023: 90 minutes * 2024: 98 minutes
The shortest Independence Day speeches were delivered by Nehru in 1954 and Indira Gandhi in 1966, both lasting only 14 minutes. In 2017, after receiving feedback that his speeches were too long, Modi delivered his shortest address at 56 minutes.
Modi's 2025 address set a new standard for Independence Day speeches, underscoring his commitment to detailed national storytelling.
