Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked this Independence Day with a historic milestone, delivering his longest-ever address from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort, clocking in at 103 minutes. The speech, which touched on the nation’s achievements, pressing challenges, and his vision for the future, also saw PM Modi cement his place in history as the second prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to have given such a long consecutive run of Independence Day speeches.

This year’s address was PM Modi’s 12th in a row since first taking office in 2014, breaking the record previously held by Indira Gandhi, who delivered 11 consecutive speeches. The only leader ahead of him now is India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who addressed the nation 17 times in a row between 1947 and 1963.

In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs one lakh crore Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, a nationwide employment initiative aimed at transforming job opportunities for India’s youth.

“There is big news for the youth of the country,” PM Modi declared from the Red Fort on Friday. “On this day, we are starting and implementing a scheme of Rs 1 lakh crore for the youth of my country,” he said.

The scheme, effective from August 15, is designed to incentivise both first-time employees and private sector employers.

Under the initiative, any young person securing their first job in the private sector will receive Rs 15,000 directly from the government. “The son or daughter who gets their first job will be given Rs 15,000 by the government,” PM Modi announced, emphasising the scheme’s role in easing the transition into formal employment.

In his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the ambitious "Sudarshan Chakra Mission," aimed at bolstering India's national security over the next decade.

Emphasizing self-reliance, PM Modi stated that by 2035, the nation seeks to expand, strengthen, and modernize its security framework, drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra.

"In the next ten years, by 2035, I want to expand, strengthen, and modernise this national security shield. Drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna, we have chosen the path of the Sudarshan Chakra...The nation will be launching the Sudarshan Chakra Mission." The entire modern system should be researched, developed, and manufactured in India, harnessing the talent of our youth. This powerful system will not only counter terrorist attacks but also strike back at the terrorists," he said.

India’s wholesale price index (WPI), a key measure of factory-gate inflation, fell to –0.58 per cent in July 2025, marking the second consecutive month of deflation and the lowest level in two years, according to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.

The last time WPI inflation was this low was in July 2023, when it stood at –1.36 per cent.

The decline was led mainly by a sharp fall in food prices. Primary food articles saw a drop of 6.29 per cent, with vegetables falling 28.9 per cent, onions 44.4 per cent, potatoes 41.3 per cent, pulses 15.12 per cent, fruits 2.65 per cent and eggs, meat and fish 1.09 per cent. Fuel and power prices also eased, recording a decline of 2.43 per cent compared with a year earlier.

The logo and Mascot of the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) were unveiled today in Srinagar. The Himalayan Kingfisher, will be the mascot for the Games while logo captures the essence of Kashmir, featuring a Shikara gliding on Dal Lake, framed by snow-capped mountains and pine trees. The event will be held at the city’s iconic Dal Lake from August 21-23. More than 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories are expected in Srinagar to compete in rowing, canoeing and kayaking. The KIWSF will be hosted by the J&K Sports Council in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs.

In Chess, German Grandmaster Vincent Keymer has won the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025 with one round to spare, becoming the first sole champion in the event’s history.

The 20-year-old secured the title after drawing with Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest, while other results confirmed his victory. His performance also pushed him into the world’s Top 10 in live ratings for the first time.

In the Masters, all games in Round 8 ended in draws, leaving the fight for second and third place wide open.

Arjun Erigaisi and Karthikeyan Murali, who face each other in the last round, are among the contenders.

The Maharashtra government has officially declared Ganeshotsav as the state festival and issued a Government Resolution to this effect. As part of the initiative, Bhajani Mandals will be eligible for a grant of up to 5 crore rupees.

In order to promote public Ganeshotsav celebrations at national and international levels, a range of cultural and spiritual programs will be organized under this initiative, including a spiritual drama festival, drone shows, and a statewide lecture series.

A dedicated portal will be launched for the online viewing of major Ganesh temples and public celebrations. A digital platform will also be developed for citizens to upload photographs of domestic Ganeshotsavs. To enhance public engagement, awards will be presented to the best Ganeshotsav Mandals across the state.

The initiative will further include interactive events such as a reel-making competition and other cultural activities, aiming to make Ganeshotsav more inclusive and widely celebrated.

Nagaland Governor La Ganesan passed away at breathed his last on Friday evening at Apollo hospital in Chennai. He was 80 years old. Ganeshan sustained serious injuries after reportedly falling down. He was rushed to the hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered his condolences on the passing of La Ganesan. In a post on X, PM Modi called him a devout nationalist and a pillar of the party who helped in the expansion of BJP across Tamil Nadu. He also remembered Ganesan as someone who was deeply passionate about Tamil culture.

Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, H.D. Kumaraswamy, unveiled the official logo, website and brochure of Bharat Steel in New Delhi today. The launch took place during a workshop for the secondary steel sector, underscoring the Government’s commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and sustainability across the entire steel value chain.

Bharat Steel is the Ministry’s flagship international conference-cum-exhibition on the steel ecosystem, which is going to be held next year in National Capital. The event aims to host largest steel exhibition in the country that will bring together global industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers, and investors.

The event will showcase nation’s capabilities, promote green and sustainable steelmaking, and explore opportunities across the domestic and international markets.

The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts- IGNCA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding – MoU with Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow to integrate science and culture on a unified platform in New Delhi today.

The MoU aims at showcasing the nation’s scientific and cultural achievements to both domestic and international audiences. During the occasion, an orientation programme for the eleven PG Diploma Courses was also held.

During the signing ceremony, BSIP Director Prof. Mahesh G. Thakkar, and IGNCA Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi along with heads and deans of the respective divisions were also present.