In pictures: India marks 74th Independence Day with pomp and fare

'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' was the centrepiece of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address.

In his seventh straight Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort, Modi made a host of new announcements on Saturday.

Dressed in his customary 'kurta pyjama' and safa, the prime minister, in his nearly 90-minute address, dwelt at length on his 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' campaign and gave a call for reducing imports and pushing exports of finished products.

'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' is no longer merely a word but has become a mantra and captured people's imagination, he said.

Modi also touched upon the much-anticipated issue of vaccine for COVID-19 and said three vaccines are in various phases of trials in the country.

Hailing 'corona warriors', including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and sanitation workers who have been continuously fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The Prime Minister announced that the task to connect India's over six lakh villages with optical fibre network will be completed in the next 1,000 days.

Modi, during his address to the nation, also announced a new digital health ID that will bring a "revolution" in the health sector in the country.