India, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced the launch of the National Deep Water Exploration Mission for energy security by extracting deep-sea resources, including oil and gas reserves. In his Independence Day speech, Modi emphasised that a significant portion of the budget allocated for buying petrol, diesel, and gas can be provided for fighting issues such as poverty.

"If we had not been dependent, that money would have been used for the future of my country's youth. That money would have been used to fight against poverty and for the welfare of farmers," Modi said. "The money would have been used to change the situation in villages. But we have to give it to the foreigners. Now we are working towards becoming ...