Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to cross the 1 lakh-word mark in his Independence Day speeches when he addresses the nation from the Red Fort for the 12th time on August 15. A Moneycontrol analysis shows he has spoken a total of 93,000 words in these addresses since 2014—averaging more than 8,500 words per speech. By comparison, his predecessor, Manmohan Singh, averaged around 3,600 words across his 10 speeches.
Farmers, the poor, women, and the economy have been consistent themes, but the Prime Minister’s focus has shifted over time. His speeches have frequently served as a platform to launch flagship programmes—the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana in 2014 and the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, for instance.
The emphasis on issues has varied year to year. His 2024 speech—his second-longest since 2016 at 10,300 words—mentioned youth and skill development 30 times, technology 27 times, and Viksit Bharat (“developed India”) 13 times. By contrast, his 2015 address, at 8,274 words, included 49 references to farmers and agriculture and 18 to corruption.
Corruption has remained a recurring theme, with 17 mentions in 2020. In 2023, the economy and development topped the list with 30 references. Singh’s speeches, by comparison, spread focus more evenly across governance, unity, and economic issues, and used less repetition of specific themes. Modi’s addresses have tended to be longer, issue-driven, and closely tied to political messaging and flagship schemes.
The importance of coalition-era politics was evident in his 2024 speech, which saw states mentioned more than at any point since 2014. Bihar could get special attention this year ahead of its elections—similar to the pattern seen in 2020—while Pakistan might receive a direct mention for the first time since 2016.
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