President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Independence Day, 14 August, celebrated the remarkable strides made by Indian women across sectors and spotlighted the country's vast youth demographic as its single greatest strategic asset. Addressing the nation, she drew on concrete milestones — from battlefield breakthroughs to grassroots economic empowerment — to frame India's trajectory as one powered by its women and young citizens.

Women Leading Across Fields

President Murmu highlighted that Indian women are now shaping outcomes far beyond traditional roles. She cited 'Drone Didis' who are transforming agricultural productivity and women serving as Fighter Combat Leaders in the Indian Air Force as emblematic of this shift. At the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Indian women athletes claimed eight of the country's 13 gold medals — a performance the President described as a source of deep national pride.

Economic Empowerment at Scale

Women's financial independence is expanding at an unprecedented pace, according to the President. Self-help groups now count over 10 crore (100 million) women members across the country. The government's target of creating 3 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' — women earning over ₹1 lakh annually — has already been met, and a fresh drive to bring another 3 crore women into that category is underway. Notably, nearly two-thirds of entrepreneurs receiving support under the Mudra Yojana are women, underscoring the scheme's outsized impact on female entrepreneurship.

Democratic Inclusion and Legislative Milestones

On political representation, President Murmu pointed to rising female voter participation as a landmark achievement for Indian democracy. She reaffirmed the significance of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023, which reserves 33 per cent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Full implementation of the Act, she said, will deepen women's leadership and make India's democratic institutions more genuinely representative.

Youth as the Nation's Core Asset

Turning to India's demographic dividend, the President noted that 65 per cent of the country's population is under the age of 35. She described this cohort as talented, committed, and solution-oriented, pointing to grassroots innovations as evidence of their societal commitment. A recent successful rocket launch by a team with an average age of just 28 years was cited as opening 'a new chapter in space exploration.' President Murmu also stressed the government's push for comprehensive reforms in public examinations to eliminate malpractice, improve transparency, and ensure merit-based outcomes for young aspirants.

Senior Citizens, Sports, and Broader Welfare

While celebrating youth, the President acknowledged India's growing senior population. Approximately 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above are now entitled to free healthcare services worth up to ₹5 lakh per year, she said. On sports, she highlighted the Khelo India programme as building a robust ecosystem from the local to the national level, backed by what she termed unprecedented government investment. She called on families and society at large to support young people's physical and mental wellbeing, and urged collective sensitivity toward senior citizens to preserve their dignity and sense of belonging.

President Murmu's address sets a tone of inclusive progress ahead of India's 79th Independence Day, with women's empowerment and youth development positioned as the twin pillars of the nation's forward march.