Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the final edition of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat for 2025, lauded the nation’s achievements over the past year and urged citizens to step into 2026 with renewed energy, faith, and commitment toward building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Reflecting on the year gone by, Modi described 2025 as a “year of pride and progress” for India, from national security operations to sporting triumphs and technological innovation. “2025 gave us many moments that made every Indian proud,” he said, citing the successful ‘Operation Sindoor’, victories in men’s and women’s cricket, and India’s remarkable progress in space exploration with astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian to reach the International Space Station.
“This year, ‘Operation Sindoor’ became a symbol of pride for every Indian. The world clearly saw that today’s India does not compromise on its security. During ‘Operation Sindoor’, images of love and devotion towards Maa Bharati emerged from every corner of the country. People expressed their feelings in their own unique ways,” he said.
“2025 was also a memorable year in terms of sports. Our men’s cricket team won the ICC Champions Trophy. The women’s cricket team won the World Cup for the first time. India’s daughters created history by winning the Women’s Blind T20 World Cup. The tricolour also fluttered high with pride in the Asia Cup T20. In the World Championship Para-athletes proved by winning several medals that no obstacle can come in the way of zeal and determination,” he added.
In his monthly radio address, Modi also highlighted ecological milestones, noting that India’s cheetah population has risen to over 30, and praised growing public consciousness toward environmental conservation and Swadeshi products.
“In 2025, faith, culture, and India’s unique heritage all came together. The Prayagraj Mahakumbh, organised at the beginning of the year, astonished the entire world. At the end of the year, the Dhwajarohan ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya filled every Indian with pride,” he said.
Calling the youth the biggest hope of the nation, Modi announced the upcoming ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’, scheduled for January 12, 2026, coinciding with National Youth Day and Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary.
In his address, Modi also praised the ‘Smart India Hackathon 2025’, where over 13 lakh students and over 6,000 institutes tackled real-life challenges in governance, agriculture, and digital security. “Such Hackathons convert ideas into action,” he said, encouraging young innovators to continue engaging with these platforms.
Recounting stories of cultural revival, Modi spoke of the ‘Geetanjali IISc’ initiative in Bengaluru, where students and faculty maintain traditions of Indian classical and folk music, and of Kannada Patashale in Dubai, where over 1,000 children are learning to read and speak Kannada. “It’s heartening that Indians abroad are finding new ways to stay connected to their roots,” he remarked.
He also hailed the growing popularity of Tamil globally, highlighting Tamil Day celebrations in Fiji and the enthusiasm of Hindi-speaking children in Varanasi learning Tamil during the ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ festival.
Marking the centenary of freedom fighter Parvati Giri of Odisha, Modi called on citizens to honour lesser-known heroes of the independence movement. He reminded listeners of the “Unsung Heroes” section on the government’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav website, urging everyone to learn about these figures.
He also raised concern over the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, citing an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report warning that misuse is leading to drug resistance.
“Antibiotics are proving ineffective against many diseases like pneumonia and UTI. This is a matter of great concern for all of us. Antibiotics are not medicines that should be taken mindlessly. They should be used only on the doctor’s advice. Nowadays, people have started believing that just taking a pill would cure all their problems. This is why diseases and infections are proving too strong for these antibiotics. Medicines require guidance, and antibiotics require doctors,” he cautioned.
Modi spotlighted the traditional lace craft of Narasapuram in Andhra Pradesh, which has received a GI tag and now supports around one lakh women across 250 villages. He also praised Margaret Ramtharsiem of Manipur, who turned local handicrafts into a source of livelihood for dozens, and Chokhone Krichena from Senapati district, for empowering communities through floriculture.