India today celebrates its 80th Independence Day, marking its freedom from British rule in 1947. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the celebrations with a speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
This celebration comes at a critical time, against the backdrop of a massive youth movement over government exam irregularities and the NEET paper leak, and similar protests in Jharkhand. The CJP-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as education minister.
This year, Independence Day also comes soon after the Lok Sabha recorded one of its lowest productivity levels in more than two decades during the Monsoon session that ended Thursday, with only two Parliament sessions since 2004 showing lower functioning, according to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research. The Rajya Sabha fared better, but still functioned for only 33 percent of its scheduled time, according to the think tank PRS.
President Droupadi Murmu delivered her I-Day eve speech Friday. For the first time, the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ was played before and at the conclusion of her address, following its recent recognition of legal status at par with the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’. Moreover, a total of 1,057 personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD) and Correctional Services have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on the occasion of Independence Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Independence Day LIVE UPDATES:
11.50 am: Modi urges Oppn to ‘take credit, but give women their due rights’
Prime Minister Modi made a fresh pitch Saturday for the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to implement women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, a proposal the Opposition sees as subterfuge for delimitation to redraw the boundaries of electoral constituencies.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the country’s 80th Independence Day, he appealed to all political parties to extend their support towards implementing 33 percent reservation for women.
Speaking about how the Bill was stalled in Parliament earlier this year, Modi remarked that this political dream had become a victim to the “arena of politics”. Highlighting achievements of women in various fields, the PM said that India’s daughters are always ahead in every field—be it STEM or sports.
“We passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament. However, for one reason or another, this dream has consistently fallen victim to the political arena over the past 40 years,” Modi said.
Read Neelam Pandey’s report.
11.40 am: Top quotes from Modi’s speech
PM Modi warned of a new enemy, the “Dimagi naxal”.
“Naxalism, Maoism destroyed the dreams of lakhs of youth. It stole the sons of numerous mothers, crushed the dreams of numerous mothers. This naxalism had kept a large part of India and population as a hostage for 4 decades with the barrel of a gun, they had destroyed the Constitution… Today I am happy to announce that naxalism does not have even the strength to breathe,” PM Modi said during his Independence Day address.
However, he added, while the naxals who took up arms in the jungle have been eliminated, there are also “dimagi naxals”, who are there in various parts of the country and need to be “identified, and isolated” so the youth of the country can be brought together for a developed India.
PM Modi also unveiled ‘Shakti Ki Saptadhara’, defining seven pillars which will power India’s journey to Viksit Bharat.
He spelt out the seven pillars as: Manufacturing; agriculture and food processing; technology and innovation; Gati Shakti focus on “seamless and high speed connectivity”; defence manufacturing and Atmanirbhar defence; greater innovation in the green sector; and India’s ‘soft power’, including Yoga, handicrafts, films, animation, gaming, digital content, etc.
Read more here.
9.50 am: ‘Global discourse on globalisation has stopped’
‘Global discourse on globalisation has ceased. The voices that once championed it are no longer heard. Every nation has shifted towards a mindset of looking after its own interests’: PM Modi
9.30 am: ‘Naxal-Maoist violence breathing its last’
‘We resolved to free the country from Naxalism. Today, I am happy to say that Naxal-Maoist violence has lost its strength and is perhaps breathing its last. We are moving towards its complete eradication’: PM Modi
9.20 am: What PM said on women’s reservation push
#WATCH | Delhi: From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Standing here today beneath the Tricolour on the ramparts of the Red Fort, I appeal to and urge all the political parties of the country: come, become champions of women's empowerment. Step… pic.twitter.com/9OjmX540kP
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
9.10 am: Vande Mataram at Red Fort
8.55 am: Modi concludes his Independence Day speech
Prime Minister Modi ends his address with an appeal to every citizen to join hands to realise the Viksit Bharat ambition by 2047.
He urged people to help provide correct information digitally about their families to make Census error-free.
“I appeal to youngsters to actively participate in ongoing Census exercise: PM Narendra Modi. India needs help of youth, they must assume leadership, spare time for census process,” he said.
8.50 am: Have to isolate ‘dimaagi Naxals’, says PM
Have to isolate ‘dimaagi Naxals’, says the prime minister in his I-Day speech, adds that India is ready for the challenges both or across the border.
#WATCH | Delhi: From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "For years, individuals with a Maoist mindset had entrenched themselves within the corridors of power in the country. This Maoist ideology influenced policies, even through their roles as… pic.twitter.com/1vqeavpj0U
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
8.40 am: ‘Free online competitive exam coaching for the youth’
“The competition surrounding coaching classes has become a huge burden for middle-class families. Every parent feels that if they do not send their child to a coaching centre, they are somehow falling behind or do not belong to a respectable family. Keeping the concerns of poor and middle-class families in mind, we want to help save them the thousands of crores of rupees they spend on coaching. Our young people should be able to stay close to their families, receive their care, and avoid placing an additional financial burden on them. Therefore, we have decided to provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations for our youth. We have digital public infrastructure, and we have highly talented teachers and educators”: PM Modi
8.35 am: ‘A nation is not just about the govt, it is made up of every citizen’
VIDEO | Independence Day 2026: Addressing the nation from ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi, says, "I want to awaken the nation, and I also want to awaken the strength of the nation. A nation is not just about the government… a nation is made up of every citizen. We often hear… pic.twitter.com/bnU1Kav4xu
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2026
8.30 am: ‘Youth have big role in the push for Viksit Bharat’
“The youth have a big role in the journey to become a Viksit Bharat. The biggest beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat will be the youth of the country,” says Prime Minister Modi, announces move to train 1 crore young Indians will be trained in artificial intelligence.
8.25 am: ‘Sapt Dhara, the seven streams of strength’
“I call upon the nation to harness ‘Sapt Dhara’… the seven streams of strength. In the next 5-7 years, we will achieve what could not be achieved in the past 5-7 decades. With the strength and potential of ‘Sapt Dhara’, we will take the nation to new heights, give it new momentum, and empower it to achieve and surpass new goals. Alongside this, the immense potential of our youth will be fully harnessed in nation-building. Their energy, talent and strength will be brought together and channelled towards building a stronger and more developed India”: PM Modi at Red Fort
8.20 am: ‘People derived joy from keeping the nation terrified by spreading rumours’
“As soon as we emerged from Covid, news of wars arose from Ukraine side and West Asia. An atmosphere of tension prevailed. God knows what all the predictions the predictors made! Some people gain joy in keeping the nation terrified by spreading rumours that vaccines will not be available, petrol, diesel, and fertilizer will not be available in the country”: PM Modi
Addressing the nation on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi says, "In the last 20-12 years, we have faced many dangers. As soon as we emerged from Covid, there was news of wars that started to arise from Ukraine side and West Asia. An atmosphere of tension prevailed. God knows… pic.twitter.com/Di7YisGCdN
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
8.15 am: All aboard the ‘reform express’!
Our ‘Reform Express’ is marching forward. We will soon launch next level of reforms, says Prime Minister Modi
8.10 am: ‘A transformation witnessed for the first time since Independence, all within the last decade’
#WATCH | Delhi: From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "In the last 12 years, defence production has increased nearly fourfold, while output from Khadi and village industries has grown almost fivefold. Electronics manufacturing has expanded nearly… pic.twitter.com/fTTFbuHYvM
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
8.05 am: ‘We have been working constantly for achieving objective of Viksit Bharat by 2047’
Electrification of railways started in 1925 but in 90 years, only 30 percent work was completed. In the last decade, we completed 100 percent work. Due to railway electrification, import of diesel came down; we have launched hydrogen train: PM Modi
8.00 am: ‘When our thinking becomes confined by limitations, we fail to recognise our own potential’
Modi in I-Day speech: “Today, India has to depend on crude oil, and this is also a result of the limitations in our thinking. You will be surprised to know that, because of such an approach, we had declared nearly 99 per cent of our offshore areas as ‘no-go areas.’ We had effectively decided not to undertake exploration beneath the sea. This was a poverty of thinking. We decided that this could not continue. We have now opened up the 99 per cent of areas that were once designated as no-go zones and converted them into ‘go-ahead’ areas. We are now actively pursuing exploration beneath the sea and making efforts to discover new reserves.”
7.50 am: ‘Journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat is paving way for Viksit Bharat’
VIDEO | Independence Day 2026: Addressing the nation from ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi, says, "In today’s digital world and the age of technology, we understand the importance of chip. Whether it is electronic goods, medical equipment or transportation systems, chips are… pic.twitter.com/4igyyrdis2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 15, 2026
7.45 am: ‘We stand with those affected by floods, landlslides’
“In recent days, several parts of the country have witnessed severe flooding and landslides, affecting numerous families. We fully understand the hardships they have endured. I want to assure the affected families that we, and the entire nation, stand firmly with them,” says the PM.
7.40 am: ‘Har ghar Tiranga, Har mann Tiranga’
Today, every heart is beating with the rhythm of Vande Mataram. Aaj har ghar Tiranga hai, har mann Tiranga hai…,” says the PM at Red Fort.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation on the 80th Independence Day
PM Modi says, "Today, we are all celebrating the 80th Independence Day. Today, the chant of 'Vande Mataram' resonates in every heart. Today, the Tricolour flies in every home and… pic.twitter.com/rDDI57Xq5N
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
7.30 am: Modi begins his 13th consecutive I-Day address
Modi has begun his Independence Day speech at Red Fort.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day
Captain Sonia Singh Chauhan is assisting the PM in hoisting the National Flag.
Photos: Doordarshan pic.twitter.com/pNlUnyrTMX
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
7.25 am: Modi arrives at Red Fort
The prime minister is now at the Red Fort, and will begin his speech shortly.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Red Fort to lead the nation's 80th Independence Day celebrations.
PM is received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
The Defence Secretary introduces the… pic.twitter.com/EDHw3LDaBc
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
7.20 am: US, Israel congratulate India
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended congratulations to India on behalf of the United States. He said in a statement, “Thanks to the personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the US-India relationship continues to grow and is stronger than ever. From defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, and commerce, our collaboration is making both of our nations, and the broader Indian Ocean region, safer, stronger, and more prosperous…”
Meanwhile, Israel Ambassador to India Reuven Azar released a video message.
Today, we celebrate Bharat's 🇮🇳Independence Day. Though India and Israel differ in size, we share ancient heritage & national revival.
We are proud of the 🇮🇱+🇮🇳friendship & will continue to strengthen our partnership.
स्वतंत्रता दिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ! pic.twitter.com/RXbsbRpAbj— 🇮🇱 Reuven Azar (@ReuvenAzar) August 15, 2026
7.15 am: Modi extends I-Day greetings
Earlier this morning, the PM extended greetings to the people of India with a message on X.
He wrote, “Powered by 140 crore Indians, our nation is scaling new heights of progress across different sectors. May this journey keep progressing at an even greater pace in the times to come.”
Warm greetings on the occasion of Independence Day.
We remember with gratitude the countless freedom fighters whose courage, sacrifice and unwavering commitment ensured the end of colonial rule. Their dreams continue to inspire us as we work together to build a Viksit Bharat.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 15, 2026
7.00 am: Modi speech to begin shortly
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, set to begin soon.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort today, with this year's event marking 150 years of the National Song 'Vande Mataram' and highlighting the role of 'Yuva Shakti' in India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.… pic.twitter.com/YHBDZTN9W9
— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026
Also Read: ‘An expression of outrage’: Operation Sindoor front and centre in Modi’s Independence Day address