PM Modi Delivers Longest-Ever Independence Day Speech, Breaking His Own Record

New Delhi, August 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday delivered the longest Independence Day address ever by any Prime Minister, speaking for 103 minutes (1 hour 43 minutes) from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He began at 7:34 am and concluded at 9:17 am, surpassing his own record of a 98-minute speech last year.

Mr Modi first set the record in 2015 with an 88-minute address, overtaking former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s 72-minute speech in 1947. Over the years, his speeches have ranged from 56 minutes in 2017 — his shortest — to this year’s extended 103 minutes.

Notable durations include 65 minutes in 2014, 96 minutes in 2016, 83 minutes in 2018, 92 minutes in 2019, 90 minutes in 2020 and 2023, 88 minutes in 2021, and 74 minutes in 2022.

Friday’s speech also marked another milestone: Mr Modi delivered his 12th consecutive Independence Day address, overtaking Indira Gandhi’s record of 11 and standing second only to Jawaharlal Nehru, who addressed the nation 17 times in a row.

In contrast, some of the shortest Independence Day speeches came from Nehru and Gandhi, both lasting just 14 minutes in 1954 and 1966, respectively. Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also kept their addresses brief, with Singh averaging under 50 minutes and Vajpayee delivering 25- and 30-minute speeches in 2002 and 2003.