What is ‘Saptadhara’ framework, announced by PM Modi on Independence Day

· OpIndia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 15th August, announced a seven-point development framework, called ‘Saptadhara’, during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort. The framework focuses on seven key areas that the government believes can help India move faster towards the goal of becoming a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047.

Visit h-doctor.club for more information.

Drawing a comparison with the ancient reference to ‘Sapta Sindhu’, or the seven rivers, Modi said India now needs a new set of streams of strength to take the country forward. The seven areas identified under Saptadhara are –

  • Manufacturing Power
  • Agriculture and Food Processing
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Gati Shakti
  • Defence Power
  • Green Economy and Blue Economy and
  • India’s Soft Power.

Modi said the coming five to seven years would be especially important for the country. “The work that was not done in the past five to seven decades has to be completed in the coming five to seven years,” he said, while stressing that the energy and capabilities of India’s youth would be used for nation-building.

Manufacturing to lead the seven streams

Manufacturing has been placed at the centre of the Saptadhara framework. Modi said India must build a complete manufacturing chain within the country, covering everything from components and design to finished products.

“From design to manufacturing, India will have to become a trusted centre of the global supply chain,” he said.

He called on manufacturers, entrepreneurs and MSMEs to compete with the world on cost, quality and scale. He also said Indian factories should focus on user-friendly products, attractive packaging and zero-defect precision manufacturing.

“Our zero-defect precision manufacturing should become our identity,” Modi said, adding that quality should become a major part of India’s global brand value. “Our mantra should be quality, quality, quality,” he said.

Agriculture, food processing and global markets

The second focus area is agriculture and food production. Modi said India should move beyond traditional farming and connect its agricultural products with international markets.

He highlighted the potential of Indian spices, milk, traditional foods and other farm products to become global brands. He also spoke about chemical-free farming and said products meeting global standards could find greater demand overseas.

Modi also referred to the government’s efforts to protect farmers from changes in global fertiliser prices. He said a bag of urea costing around ₹3,000 in the international market is being provided to Indian farmers for ₹300, while DAP, which he said costs around ₹5,000 globally, is being provided for ₹1,350.

Technology and innovation to make India a global hub

Technology and innovation form the third stream of Saptadhara. Modi said India must not remain only a market for new technologies but should become a place where new ideas and technologies are developed.

He pointed to areas such as AI, quantum technology, space, robotics and data centres as important opportunities. He also referred to India’s experience with UPI and digital public infrastructure.

“We have demonstrated our strength,” Modi said, stressing that India should take its digital public technologies to different parts of the world and aim to lead in next-generation communication technology.

He also called for Made in India education to reach people across the world.

Gati Shakti to improve speed and connectivity

The fourth stream is Gati Shakti, with the focus on faster and better connectivity. Modi said India needs high-speed rail, modern highways, inland waterways, airports and a strong multi-modal logistics network.

He said the country should move beyond simply loading and unloading goods at ports and work towards port-led development and growth. Better connectivity, he said, will help people, goods and services move more quickly and support economic expansion.

Aatmanirbhar Defence and new technologies

Defence is the fifth stream, with a strong focus on Aatmanirbhar Defence. Modi said India cannot remain dependent on other countries when nations around the world are increasingly trying to secure their own strategic resources and supplies.

“India cannot remain a market for the world. We have to be self-reliant in the field of defence,” he said.

He called for the development of new-generation defence technologies and said India should aim to become a global defence supplier. Areas such as counter-drone systems, hypersonic defence technologies and cyber security were specifically highlighted.

Green and Blue Economy

The sixth stream brings together the Green Economy and Blue Economy. Modi said India has the opportunity to expand green hydrogen, renewable energy, energy storage, green mobility and green manufacturing on a global scale.

“When the world talks about global warming, we keep looking for ways. We are giving solutions to problems,” he said, highlighting India’s potential to contribute to the global green movement.

The Blue Economy, meanwhile, includes opportunities linked to India’s long coastline. Modi mentioned fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean technology as areas that can create new opportunities and green jobs.

Soft power to expand India’s global reach

The seventh stream is India’s Soft Power, covering culture, tourism, creative industries, healthcare traditions and sports.

Modi highlighted the global reach of Yoga, Ayurveda and India’s holistic healthcare traditions. He also pointed to handicrafts, films, VFX, animation, gaming and digital content as areas where India can build a stronger global presence.

He referred to the World Audiovisual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) and said India’s creative sector can become a global power.

Tourism is another major part of this vision. Modi said India has more than 100 national parks but still has significant room to attract more foreign tourists. He also highlighted sports tourism and the growing concert economy, saying India has an opportunity to attract artists and young people from across the world.

‘Reform Express’ for Viksit Bharat

Along with the seven streams, Modi called for changes in India’s work culture, thinking and pace of implementation. He described the push as a “Reform Express”, saying traditional systems, goals and ways of working would need to change.

The Prime Minister said the seven streams should not be viewed separately but as part of a holistic approach. He expressed confidence in India’s youth, women, farmers and workers and said their energy would be central to achieving the ambition of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Read full story at source