Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his 80th Independence Day address to underline the importance of strengthening India’s energy security, pointing to steps the government has taken to improve the availability of gas, fuel, and urea. His remarks come at a time when disruptions linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict have put global energy supplies under renewed pressure, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, he also outlined an ambitious Viksit Bharat roadmap, targeting 50 Indian companies among the world’s biggest, a top-five global bank and 100 GW of nuclear capacity.

The Prime Minister said government interventions have ensured that the country is not facing shortages of key energy and agricultural inputs. He also highlighted efforts to make fertilisers more affordable for farmers, noting that urea imported at Rs 3,000 is being provided to farmers for Rs 300.

Piped Gas Network Expands Across India

One of the key areas highlighted by PM Modi was the rapid expansion of India’s piped natural gas infrastructure. He pointed out that the network, which was available in only 70 cities 12 years ago, now reaches 700 cities.

The expansion has also increased household access to piped gas. According to the Prime Minister, 1.75 crore households across the country are currently connected to piped gas lines.

Addressing the nation on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi says, “12 years ago, piped gasline was available in only 70 cities. In the last 12 years, this number has grown to 700 cities. Today, 1.75 crore households are connected to piped gas lines in the country.”

The government’s broader energy strategy, according to the Prime Minister, also involves building greater capacity in nuclear power as India looks to strengthen its long-term energy security.

India Targets 100 GW Nuclear Capacity By 2047

PM Modi said nuclear power would form an important part of India’s future energy mix, with the country targeting 100 gigawatts of nuclear generation capacity by 2047.

The government also plans to begin work on five new nuclear reactors during the current decade. The Prime Minister linked the expansion of nuclear energy directly to the need for greater national energy security.

“Energy security is the demand of the time. We are moving forward with the aim of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. We aim to start five new nuclear reactors in this decade.”

PM Modi also pointed to the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu, saying its achievement of criticality earlier this year marked progress towards greater self-reliance in the nuclear energy sector.

He reiterated that nuclear energy would have a significant role in reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening the country’s long-term energy position.

SHANTI Act And Nuclear Energy Push

The Prime Minister also referred to legislative measures aimed at supporting the expansion of nuclear power. Highlighting the government’s broader approach, he said, “Energy security is today’s need, and that’s why we have already taken steps in this direction. We have passed the SHANTI Act in Parliament and set a target of achieving 100 GW nuclear power by 2047,” he said.

The remarks reinforce the government’s focus on expanding nuclear generation alongside other sources of energy as India seeks to meet its growing requirements.

Offshore Exploration Gets A Major Push

Energy security was also linked to India’s efforts to identify and develop additional domestic oil and gas resources. PM Modi said almost the entire coastal waters of the country have been opened for exploration as part of the effort to locate new mineral reserves.

He said most of these areas had previously remained unavailable for exploration under the earlier approach. The government has now sought to change that through the Samudra Manthan initiative.

India is currently the world’s third-largest consumer of crude oil and has an annual import bill of nearly $144 billion, equivalent to around Rs 13 lakh crore. Recent geopolitical disruptions affecting global oil and gas supplies have highlighted the importance of expanding domestic production to support the country’s energy requirements.

From ‘No-Go’ Areas To ‘Go-Ahead’ Zones

PM Modi criticised what he described as a “flawed” approach that had previously restricted offshore exploration. According to him, areas earlier classified as “no-go zones” are now being converted into “go-ahead areas”.

He said nearly 99% of India’s coastal waters had earlier been classified as “no-go areas”, effectively preventing offshore exploration. The Prime Minister described the earlier approach as a “poverty of thought” and said the government had chosen to alter it.

“We have now opened up those areas–previously off-limits–as “go-ahead areas,” and we are actively pursuing exploration and the discovery of new reserves beneath the sea. Last year, we announced the “Samudra Manthan” initiative to advance this effort, and recently, we decided to accelerate the work by allocating ₹85,000 crore for this purpose,” the Prime Minister said.

Samudra Manthan Scheme Aims To Accelerate Exploration

The government approved the Samudra Manthan, the National Offshore Exploration Scheme, on July 31, 2026, with Phase I extending up to FY2030-31. The scheme has been allocated Rs 84,084 crore, with the objective of speeding up hydrocarbon exploration and production.

India’s offshore sedimentary basins are considered to have significant untapped hydrocarbon potential. These geological formations can hold oil and gas accumulated over long periods, but developing such resources requires advanced exploration technology, reliable geological information and modern drilling infrastructure.

The eastern and western offshore basins include deepwater and ultra-deepwater areas reaching depths of nearly 3,000 metres. Together, these regions are estimated to contain more than 5,600 MMTOE (Million Metric Tonnes of Oil Equivalent) of hydrocarbon resources.

Energy Security Remains A Key Priority

The Prime Minister’s Independence Day remarks placed energy security within a broader national strategy, covering fuel availability, fertiliser access, piped gas, nuclear power and domestic exploration.

PM Modi emphasised that India needs to pursue alternative energy sources while also improving the efficiency with which energy is consumed. The government’s push to expand nuclear capacity and open up offshore areas for exploration reflects the wider effort to strengthen domestic energy capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities arising from disruptions in global energy supplies.

PM Modi On Fortune 500

PM Modi also outlined an ambitious roadmap for India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat. PM said that the centre is aiming to add 50 Indian companies to the world’s biggest corporations, to have an Indian bank feature in the global top five, and to expand the country’s nuclear power capacity to 100 gigawatts.

“For a comparison of Indian companies with corporations worldwide, the relevant benchmark is the Fortune Global 500, which ranks the world’s largest companies by revenue,” PM Modi said.

The scale of the target becomes clearer when compared with India’s current representation on the global corporate rankings. The 2025 Fortune Global 500 featured nine Indian companies, comprising five public-sector enterprises and four private-sector firms.

Reliance Industries was India’s best-performing company on the list, securing the 88th position globally. Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) followed at No. 95, while Indian Oil Corporation was ranked 127th.

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