PM Modi in Independence Day speech: 'Being Aatmanirbhar in critical minerals is absolutely essential'

In his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that being Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) in critical minerals is absolutely essential and hailed the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).

The Modi government launched the NCMM this year to ensure long-term, sustainable access to critical minerals to secure the country’s economic security, clean energy transition, and national defence interests.

Modi said that India was not just seeking self-reliance in land-based minerals but also underwater minerals.

“We are now working towards becoming self-reliant to make the country developed, and are also moving towards ‘Samudra Manthan’. For this, India is launching a National Deep Water Exploration Mission,” said Modi.

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The prime minister further said, “Today, the entire world is highly concerned about critical minerals and has begun to fully understand their importance. For us too, self-reliance in critical minerals is essential. That is why we have launched the National Critical Mission. Exploration is underway at more than 1,200 locations, and we are moving forward towards self-reliance in critical minerals as well.”

VIDEO | PM Modi (@narendramodi) says, “We are now working towards becoming self-reliant to make the country developed, and are also moving towards ‘Samudra Manthan’. For this, India is launching a National Deep Water Exploration Mission.”

He added, “Today, the entire world is… pic.twitter.com/dcuyLXynYx

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2025

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Such initiatives are part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative that the Modi government launched in 2020 to promote self-reliance in various sectors, boost domestic manufacturing, and cut down dependence on imports from abroad.