PM Modi to lead 78th Independence Day at Red Fort; 6,000 guests invited

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 78th Independence Day from the historic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15. He will unfurl the National Flag and deliver the traditional address to the nation from the iconic monument’s ramparts.

This year’s Independence Day theme is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’, focusing on the government’s goal to transform India into a developed nation by 2047, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.

To enhance public participation in the celebrations, around 6,000 special guests from various walks of life, including youth, tribal communities, farmers, and women, have been invited to witness the event at Red Fort. These individuals have excelled in their fields with the support of various government initiatives.

Among the invitees are students from the Atal Innovation Mission, beneficiaries of the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme, and volunteers from ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ and the National Service Scheme under the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign. Tribal artisans, Van Dhan Vikas members, tribal entrepreneurs, and beneficiaries of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana are also included.

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Anganwadi workers, and elected women representatives, as well as those involved in women empowerment initiatives such as the ‘Sankalp’ Hub for Empowerment of Women, will also attend. Additionally, the Indian contingent from the recently concluded Paris Olympics has been invited.

Upon his arrival at Red Fort, Prime Minister Modi will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane. The Prime Minister will be conducted to the Saluting Base by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present a general salute.

The Guard of Honour, consisting of personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police, will be commanded by Commander Arun Kumar Mehta, with the Indian Navy coordinating this year’s service. Following the inspection, Prime Minister Modi will proceed to the ramparts of Red Fort, where he will be joined by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Lieutenant Sanjeet Saini will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the National Flag, which will be accompanied by a 21-gun salute by the 1721 Field Battery using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns. The Rashtriya Salute will be presented by a National Flag Guard comprising personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police.

During the unfurling of the National Flag, the Punjab Regiment Military band will play the National Anthem, followed by a flower petal shower by two Indian Air Force Advanced Light Helicopters, Dhruv, led by Wing Commanders Amber Agarwal and Rahul Nainwal.

After the Prime Minister’s address to the nation, 2,000 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets will sing the National Anthem, forming a ‘My Bharat’ logo with tricolour kits, while 500 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers will also participate in the celebrations.