This Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make history by delivering his 11th consecutive Independence Day address. This marks his first speech since securing a record-equalling third consecutive term in office.
By achieving this milestone, PM Modi will join the ranks of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi as the only Prime Ministers to have delivered eleven straight Independence Day speeches. Nehru, Bharat’s first Prime Minister, set the record with 17 consecutive addresses, while Indira Gandhi, who served two non-consecutive terms, delivered 16 speeches. PM Modi’s upcoming address will surpass former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s record of ten speeches.
Since his inaugural Independence Day speech in 2014, PM Modi has introduced key initiatives such as Swachh Bharat and Jan Dhan accounts. His speeches are known for their length, averaging 82 minutes, surpassing those of any previous Prime Minister. Modi’s addresses have ranged from 55 minutes in 2017 to a lengthy 94 minutes in 2016.
Historically, the duration of Independence Day speeches has increased over time. Nehru’s first address in 1947 was just 24 minutes long, while Indira Gandhi’s 1972 speech held the record for the longest before PM Modi took office, lasting 54 minutes.
