The Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, his government will soon replace Planning Commission with a new institution. He was addressing the nation extempore, on the occassion of 68th Independence Day. Mr. Modi said the new institution will give a new thinking and new direction to development.

He said Planning Commission may have been relevant for the past, but today the time has changed and needs to be re-invented. The Prime Minister said there is need to strengthen the federal structure as its importance is increasing.

Referring to immense potential of the tourism sector, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on cleanliness, saying filth is chocking it. He said, Mahatma Gandhi wanted a clean India and the best way to pay tribute to him is to start a movement to clean India.

Mr. Modi asked the people to take a pledge to make India litter-free by 2019, the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He further said that the government wants to give impetus to tourism sector as it is capable of giving employment to large number of people, particularly the poor. Mr. Modi called for making India as a manufacturing hub.

Mr Modi called for turning the country into a digital India with broadband connectivity for all. He also announced a scheme for model villages involving people's representatives like MPs and MLAs. Earlier, Prime Minister unfurled the national flag from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort in Delhi. He is the first Prime Minister born after Independence to hoist the national flag from the Red Fort. Prime Minister also visited father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat in New Delhi this morning and paid floral tributes.