# PM Modi announces massive civil defence volunteer force 2026-08-15T06:56:10+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday a massive, modern Civil Defence volunteer force to protect citizens from emerging threats, in his address from the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day. The force will be trained in modern systems for crises beyond conventional emergencies. Modi also said India's defence production reached Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, with exports of Rs 38,424 crore, and urged the country to become a global supplier of next-generation military technology, including drones and hypersonic systems. In the same speech, Modi outlined his 'Saptadhara' vision for a developed India by 2047, covering manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. He announced free online coaching for competitive exams, AI skilling for one crore youth, and a target of 100 GW nuclear power by 2047. The government also expects seven to eight new semiconductor plants in the next one to two years, building on the success of UPI and digital public infrastructure. ## Coverage - indiatoday.in - economictimes.indiatimes.com - economictimes.indiatimes.com Tags: Civil Defence, India, Narendra Modi, Red Fort, Sudarshan Chakra Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/modi-announces-modern-volunteer-civil-defence-force/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/modi-announces-modern-volunteer-civil-defence-force/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.