Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday used his monthly Mann Ki Baat broadcast to spotlight India’s growing defence capabilities, space achievements, environmental conservation and grassroots success stories, while making no reference to the ongoing protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar or the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak that has dominated the political discourse in recent weeks.
In an address coinciding with Kargil Vijay Diwas, Modi paid tribute to soldiers who fought in the 1999 Kargil War and said the country was honouring their sacrifice by building a stronger and more self-reliant defence ecosystem. He cited the induction of the indigenously built INS Mahendragiri, recent successful tests of the Pinaka long-range guided rocket and the Kusha missile system, and said India’s defence exports and strategic partnerships were steadily expanding. Referring to his recent visit to Indonesia, he said agreements relating to the BrahMos
“Whether it is defence production, defence exports, or political cooperation with friendly nations—India is continuously scaling new heights. Earlier this month, I was in Indonesia, where a major agreement regarding BrahMos and Astra missiles was concluded. Global confidence in India’s defence equipment and technology is growing,” said the PM.
He also focused on water conservation through the Catch the Rain campaign, urging people to participate in restoring ponds, wells and other traditional water bodies. He highlighted large-scale plantation drives under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, including record tree-planting efforts in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, and called for greater public participation in environmental protection.
On science and technology, Modi hailed the successful launch of Vikram-1, describing it as India’s first privately developed rocket and evidence of the gains from opening the space sector to private players. He also congratulated Indian students for their medal-winning performances at international science Olympiads, particularly in physics and chemistry, saying the country’s youth were demonstrating global excellence.
The Prime Minister devoted considerable attention to promoting local enterprise and traditional crafts. He praised efforts to revive Kashmir’s traditional Vagu mat, highlighted a women-led herbal tea enterprise in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, encouraged citizens to purchase handloom and khadi products ahead of the festive season, and showcased initiatives ranging from recycling plastic waste into public benches in Bihar to preserving Tripura’s indigenous musical instrument, the Chongpreng.
Modi also urged citizens to install eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols during the upcoming Ganesh festival, appealed for enthusiastic participation in the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign ahead of Independence Day, and paid tribute to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ahead of his death anniversary.
Notably, despite the recent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and continuing protests linked to the NEET-UG paper leak and student agitation, the Prime Minister steered clear of any mention of the issue or the demonstrations centred around Jantar Mantar, choosing instead to focus the broadcast on themes of national pride, technological progress, conservation and community-led initiatives.
Published on July 26, 2026
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