Fact check of Prime Minister's 70th Independence Day speech

New Delhi, Aug 15  A fact check on claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort:

* Claim: Linked 700 million to Aadhar and direct benefits

Fact: 716.7 million Aadhar-linked beneficiaries through various schemes as on March 31, 2016

* Claim: Solar energy grew by 116 per cent over one year

Fact: Growth of 95 per cent from 4 GW in June 2016 to 7.8 GW in June 2016

* Claim: Added 201 million people under JDY

Fact: More than 228 million bank accounts opened, 24 percent have no money

* Claim: Five million connections under Ujjwala LPG scheme

Fact: Applications cleared -- 3.5 million, connections issed to 1.7 million households

* Claim: Mudra yojna benefited 35 million families; 80 per cent women benefitted

Fact: In 2015-16, 34.8 million accounts received loans; 79 per cent loans were for women, 18 per cent for SCs and 5 per cent for STs.

(15.08.2016 - In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform, of which FactChecker is a part. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. Feedback at respond@indiaspend.org)