80th Independence Day: PM Modi’s 75-minute speech shortest in four years

PM Modi cuts I-Day speech to 75 minutesNEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort on Saturday lasted 75 minutes, making it his shortest speech in four years and the fourth shortest of his 13 consecutive appearances at the historic ramparts.The 2026 address was significantly shorter than his 103-minute speech last year, which was the longest of his tenure and surpassed his previous record of 98 minutes in 2024. Modi’s shortest Independence Day speech came in 2017, when he spoke for 56 minutes.The Prime Minister's 2026 address was also considerably longer than his shortest-ever speech. In 2017, Modi spoke for 56 minutes. His first Independence Day address in 2014 lasted 65 minutes.Over the years, the Prime Minister’s speeches have ranged from under a