Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the transformative power of government initiatives that have uplifted 13.5 crore individuals from poverty into the new middle class. The Prime Minister’s address highlighted a range of achievements over the past years, reflecting India’s progress in multiple sectors. “PM Modi underscored the journey India has embarked upon, ascending from the 10th largest global economy in 2014 to the 5th largest in 2023”, read the Prime Minister’s office press release. The ascent, he emphasized, was fuelled by the relentless fight against corruption, plugging leakages in government benefit transfers and fostering a robust economy that channels public funds towards the betterment of the marginalized.