New Delhi, 15 August
PM Modi Hoists Tricolour at Red Fort, Calls for Big Dreams to Build Viksit Bharat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hoisted the Tricolour at the historic Red Fort and addressed the nation as India celebrated its 80th Independence Day.
The unfurling of the National Flag was followed by a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial showering of flowers from a helicopter. The celebrations this year are centred on the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ and the role of Yuva Shakti in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
PM Modi pays tribute to freedom fighters
Beginning his Independence Day address, PM Modi invoked ‘Vande Mataram’ and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence.
“Today, every heartbeat is echoing with Vande Mataram; today, there is ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’,” Modi said while extending his Independence Day greetings to the nation.
He remembered Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters, saying their sacrifices and commitment to India’s freedom continue to inspire the country.
‘Vande Mataram’ marks 150 years
PM Modi highlighted the historic significance of this year’s celebrations, noting that 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’ are being commemorated.
He said the national song was echoing from the Red Fort for the first time since Independence as part of this year’s celebrations.
“It is a historic day today. After Independence, on August 15, for the first time, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort,” he said.
The celebrations also feature NCC cadets and My Bharat Volunteers participating in the mass singing of the national song.
PM Modi urges Indians to dream big
Emphasising ambition, capability and determination, the Prime Minister urged Indians not to limit themselves to small dreams.
“Any nation becomes great when it progresses on the strength of its capabilities and goals. We do not need to have small dreams; we should dream big,” Modi said.
He added that bigger dreams can accelerate the pace of a nation’s progress and stressed the importance of having a strong resolve to achieve ambitious goals.
According to Modi, the scale of India’s ambitions also influences how the country is viewed by the world.
“It changes the way the world sees us when we dream big,” he said.
Viksit Bharat by 2047
The Prime Minister reiterated India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, when the country completes 100 years of Independence.
He said the vision of Viksit Bharat can be achieved through the contribution, efforts and participation of the country’s 140 crore people.
“India has dreamed a big dream, to touch new heights. The dream is that when we complete 100 years of Independence, we will make Viksit Bharat in 2047,” Modi said.
He also highlighted the role of young Indians in driving the country’s development and achieving the goals set for 2047.
PM Modi expresses solidarity with flood-affected people
During his address, PM Modi also expressed solidarity with people affected by floods in different parts of the country.
He offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and assured flood-affected people that the entire nation stands with them.
“In the last few days, there has been devastation because of floods in some parts of our nation. Our condolences are with the victims’ families,” he said.
PM Modi delivers 13th consecutive Red Fort address
The 2026 Independence Day address marks PM Modi’s 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, a record among non-Congress prime ministers.
The celebrations at the historic monument featured the unfurling of the Tricolour, a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial flower shower from a helicopter before the Prime Minister’s address.
This year’s programme places particular emphasis on Vande Mataram’s 150th anniversary and the contribution of India’s youth towards the country’s development journey.
PM Modi greets nation on Independence Day
Earlier, PM Modi greeted citizens on India’s 80th Independence Day and paid tribute to the freedom fighters who helped end colonial rule.
In a post on X, he said the sacrifices of the freedom fighters continue to inspire the country’s efforts to build a Viksit Bharat.
He also highlighted India’s progress across different sectors, attributing the country’s development journey to the contributions of its 140 crore citizens.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that India’s development journey would continue at an even faster pace in the years ahead.