Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali this year (October 20, 2025) with the personnel of the Indian Navy aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, stationed off the coast of Goa and Karwar.

His address highlighted several key themes and details:

Theme: The Armed Forces as ‘Family’

• Personal Tradition: PM Modi continued his decade-long tradition of celebrating Diwali with the armed forces, stating that he views them as his own family. He said, “It has become a habit of mine to celebrate Diwali with my family, and that’s why every year I come to celebrate Diwali with my family.”
• Special Experience: He described his time, including the night spent on the aircraft carrier, as “hard to put into words,” noting the “immense energy and enthusiasm” of the personnel. He extended heartfelt Diwali greetings to the families of all the brave soldiers from the deck of INS Vikrant.

Focus on INS Vikrant and Aatmanirbhar Bharat

• Symbol of Strength: He called INS Vikrant “a towering symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)” and a testament to 21st-century India’s “hard work, talent, impact, and commitment.”
• Bid to Colonial Legacy: The Prime Minister recalled that on the day INS Vikrant was inducted, the Indian Navy adopted a new ensign, inspired by the vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, thereby shedding a major symbol of colonial legacy.
• Deterrent Power: He stated that the mere name of Vikrant was enough to send “waves of fear across Pakistan,” emphasising its might as a warship whose name alone shatters the enemy’s courage before battle.

Praise for the Military and Defence Indigenisation

• Operation Sindoor: The Prime Minister lauded the extraordinary coordination among the three services (Army, Navy, and Air Force), which he said “compelled Pakistan to surrender so quickly during Operation Sindoor.”
• Self-Reliance in Defence: He underscored the importance of self-reliance for the armed forces to be strong, noting that India’s defence forces have steadily advanced towards Atmanirbharta over the past decade.
  • He mentioned that over 40 indigenous warships and submarines have been delivered to the Navy since 2014.
  • He highlighted the capability of indigenously developed missiles like BrahMos and Akash, saying that the name BrahMos alone “makes some nervous” and many countries are now interested in purchasing these missiles.
• Defence Exports: PM Modi stated India’s goal is to be counted among the world’s leading defence exporters, noting that the country’s defence exports have grown more than thirty times over the past decade.

Other Key Points

• Eliminating Maoist Terrorism: He lauded the valour of the security forces for achieving a significant milestone in eliminating Maoist terrorism. He stated that the number of districts affected by Maoist violence has drastically reduced, with over 100 districts now completely free from the terror.
• Global Role: He emphasised the Indian Navy’s role as the “guardian of the Indian Ocean” in safeguarding global maritime trade routes, as 66% of the world’s oil supply and 50% of container shipments pass through the Indian Ocean.