India Celebrates 80th Independence Day: PM Modi To Address Nation
India is marking its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, with celebrations taking place across the country. The main ceremony is being held at Delhi's historic Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the national celebrations and will address the nation.
This year's Independence Day celebrations carry special significance as they mark 150 years of the enduring legacy of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’. For the first time, the song will feature as part of the ceremony at the Red Fort.
The Prime Minister was then escorted to the saluting base, where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard presented a general salute. He also inspected the Guard of Honour comprising personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.
The Guard of Honour consists of one officer and 24 personnel each from the four services and Delhi Police. The Indian Army is coordinating this year's Independence Day celebrations.
A full-dress rehearsal for the ceremony was held at the Red Fort on Thursday.
"Capt Sonia Singh Chauhan will assist the prime minister in hoisting the national flag. It will be synchronised with the 21-gun salute by the valiant gunners of the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial)," the statement said.
The ceremonial salute will use indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns. After the Tricolour is hoisted, the National Flag Guard will present the Rashtriya Salute.
The ceremony will also feature a musical tribute to India's national song. The Army band will play ‘Vande Mataram’, which will be followed by the National Anthem.
At the conclusion of PM Modi's address, around 2,500 NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers will sing ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the National Anthem.
The participants will be seated along Gyanpath opposite the Red Fort ramparts, forming the words ‘Vande Mataram’. View cutters displaying the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ theme will also be installed at the venue.
For the first time, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be rendered during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Also Read: The Midnight India Became Independent: What Actually Happened on August 14-15, 1947
More than 1,500 people from different states and Union Territories, dressed in traditional Indian attire, will also attend the ceremony.
Beyond the Red Fort, patriotic celebrations are being held across the country, with band performances scheduled at 343 prominent locations.
Following the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the Red Fort, highlighting India's journey, the aspirations of its youth and the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The celebrations are being held across state capitals, cities and towns as India comes together to mark its 80th Independence Day with ceremonies, cultural programmes and patriotic events.
This year's Independence Day celebrations carry special significance as they mark 150 years of the enduring legacy of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’. For the first time, the song will feature as part of the ceremony at the Red Fort.
PM Modi To Lead Independence Day Ceremony
The main Independence Day event began with Prime Minister Modi's arrival at the Red Fort, where he was received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.The Prime Minister was then escorted to the saluting base, where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard presented a general salute. He also inspected the Guard of Honour comprising personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.
The Guard of Honour consists of one officer and 24 personnel each from the four services and Delhi Police. The Indian Army is coordinating this year's Independence Day celebrations.
A full-dress rehearsal for the ceremony was held at the Red Fort on Thursday.
Tricolour Hoisting And 21-Gun Salute
Following the inspection of the Guard of Honour, PM Modi proceeded to the ramparts of the Red Fort to hoist the National Flag."Capt Sonia Singh Chauhan will assist the prime minister in hoisting the national flag. It will be synchronised with the 21-gun salute by the valiant gunners of the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial)," the statement said.
The ceremonial salute will use indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns. After the Tricolour is hoisted, the National Flag Guard will present the Rashtriya Salute.
The ceremony will also feature a musical tribute to India's national song. The Army band will play ‘Vande Mataram’, which will be followed by the National Anthem.
‘Vande Mataram’ To Get Special Focus
One of the biggest highlights of Independence Day 2026 will be the prominent role of ‘Vande Mataram’. The celebrations mark 150 years of the national song's legacy.At the conclusion of PM Modi's address, around 2,500 NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers will sing ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the National Anthem.
The participants will be seated along Gyanpath opposite the Red Fort ramparts, forming the words ‘Vande Mataram’. View cutters displaying the ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ theme will also be installed at the venue.
For the first time, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be rendered during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Also Read: The Midnight India Became Independent: What Actually Happened on August 14-15, 1947
Thousands Of Special Guests Attend
Around 5,000 special guests from different walks of life have been invited to witness the Independence Day ceremony. The invitees include International Yoga Day volunteers, women entrepreneurs under PM Mudra Yojana, top-performing My Bharat volunteers and beneficiaries of government schemes.More than 1,500 people from different states and Union Territories, dressed in traditional Indian attire, will also attend the ceremony.
Beyond the Red Fort, patriotic celebrations are being held across the country, with band performances scheduled at 343 prominent locations.
Flower Petals And PM Modi's Address
The flag-hoisting ceremony will also be accompanied by an aerial display. Two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters will shower flower petals over the venue, with one carrying the National Flag and the other carrying a flag depicting ‘Vande Mataram’.Following the ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the Red Fort, highlighting India's journey, the aspirations of its youth and the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
The celebrations are being held across state capitals, cities and towns as India comes together to mark its 80th Independence Day with ceremonies, cultural programmes and patriotic events.
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