Opinion | Four Takeaways From Modi's Independence Day Speech Regarding UCC and Corruption

In addition to praising the independence fighters for their sacrifices during the movement, Modi outlined his government's accomplishments and provided a roadmap for the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.

The prime minister emphasized that India is living in a golden age and that the rest of the world is looking to it to lead the way in innovation, growth, and research. Like "Make In India," he challenged the youth to make Indian standards the global norm and created the phrase "design in India" to entice multinational companies to use the nation as their product design manufacturing hub.

The speech was futuristic and aspirational. He notably urged women and young people to work toward the 2047 target, noting government initiatives to support women entrepreneurs and create jobs through Mudra loans.

Modi's address had political overtones in his trademark style, as he poked fun at opposition parties for criticizing his policies against corruption and encouraging nepotism.

His speech contained four main political messages:

BJP Will Continue Challenging Its Fundamental Ideologies

Modi reaffirmed his government's desire to adopt the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and One Nation, One Election (ONOE), despite the widespread notion that the BJP may shelve these ideological matters because it does not have a simple majority of its own. He said that holding elections often impedes a nation's development and he called on all to unite in the goal of 'one nation, one election.' Important allies and anchor supporters were reassured by this message that the BJP will not waver on its fundamental positions.

Modi reaffirmed his government's desire to adopt the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and One Nation, One Election (ONOE), despite the widespread notion that the BJP may shelve these ideological matters because it does not have a simple majority of its own. He said that holding elections often impedes a nation's development and he called on all to unite in the goal of 'one nation, one election.' Important allies and anchor supporters were reassured by this message that the BJP will not waver on its fundamental positions.

"UCC Is Secular."

Modi made fun of those who were against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by saying that it was communal and divided people along religious lines. Every Indian, he said, must be the same and equal in the eyes of the law, as our freedom fighters and forefathers dreamt of.

This is not a retreat from the BJP's position on the Uniform Civil Code, according to analysts; rather, it is a move towards a more inclusive posture on secularism. Modi focused on parties that view the current civil codes as secular, highlighting how polarizing the current civil code is and how a Uniform Civil Code is genuinely secular.