New Delhi: India is celebrating its 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the historic Red Fort in Delhi. In a first for Independence Day celebrations, ‘Vande Mataram’ was rendered at the Red Fort complex during the historic occasion, followed by the recitation of the national anthem. The celebrations mark another year of India’s journey as an independent nation.
The country is celebrating its 80th Independence Day, and nearly 27,000 people, including youth innovators, interns, entrepreneurs, and students, have joined the 80th Independence Day celebrations.
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PM’s appeal to the youth
8:45 am: The Prime Minister urged young Indians to take time out and contribute to the Census, calling on them to help ensure that the country’s records are filled accurately. He encouraged youth to use the online self-enumeration facility and carefully fill in the required details, saying accurate paperwork was important for the country’s future planning. “An officer will come to your house later. But fill in your and your family’s details. Fill the form on paper first to avoid mistakes. Then fill it online with accuracy.”
PM Modi announces free online coaching for competitive exams
8:35 am: The Prime Minister announced that the government will provide free online coaching for various competitive examinations, saying the initiative would help students who cannot afford expensive coaching. The move is aimed at making quality exam preparation more accessible to aspirants across the country.
PM Modi sets target of 50 Indian firms in Fortune 500
8:32 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi set an ambitious target of having 50 Indian companies feature in the Fortune 500 list, asking why India should not aim for a stronger presence among the world’s largest companies.
8:30 am: One crore youth to be trained in AI Skills.
PM Modi warns of ‘ideological Naxalism’
8:25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against what he described as “ideological (dimaagi) Naxalites”, alleging that they were attempting to revive violence and anarchy and urging society to isolate them.
He also stressed the need to connect youth with the effort to build a developed India, while warning that the nature of warfare was changing, with threats potentially targeting critical infrastructure such as refineries, banks, data centres and factories. Modi said work on Mission Sudarshan Chakra was progressing rapidly.
PM Modi highlights India’s soft power, blue economy potential
8:23 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s soft power, including yoga, Ayurveda, films and gaming, saying it could be leveraged to attract more tourists. He also emphasised India’s potential in the blue economy, identifying fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean technology as key areas of opportunity.
8:22 am: Modi stressed the need for India to emerge as a global innovation hub, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence, robotics, space technology, quantum computing and data centres.
8:20 am: PM Modi called for India to emerge as a key hub in global supply chains, stressing the need to manufacture both components and finished products domestically. Appealing to the manufacturing sector, Modi urged a focus on “cost, quality and scale” to compete globally, saying we must attract customers and precision should become the country’s identity.
PM Modi says India set to expand semiconductor manufacturing
8:15 am: PM Modi highlighted India’s push for self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing, saying three major plants have already been established and production has begun for exports. He said five to eight more semiconductor plants are expected to become operational over the next seven to eight years.
8:05 am: Modi recollects fear-mongering during COVID-19, expressing concerns over people misusing a sensitive time for their benefit.
8:00 am: “India has introduced its first train run on hydrogen. I gladly say that it is the most powerful train and I’m happy that India proved itself in this field,” PM Modi said, referring to a fresh set of trials between New Delhi and Jind in June this year.
7:55 am: PM Modi addressed the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission and said that India cannot be dependent on other nations. He also hailed India’s semiconductor plants and more ambitions in the domain. He addressed subjects of energy security, critical minerals, nuclear power and semiconductors, among others.
7:51 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the government’s resolve to make India a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, saying every Indian has contributed to the country’s progress over the past 12 years. He said this collective effort had helped 25 crore Indians come out of poverty in a short period.
7:49 am: PM Modi said that dreams can be fulfilled if we aim higher. “When dreams are bigger, our capabilities also grow,” he said.
7:41 am: PM Modi addresses floods across India amid monsoons, expressing support for affected families.
7:38 am: PM Modi begins speech, wishes people on 80th Independence Day and pays respects to freedom fighters.
7:34 am: National Flag hoisted at the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day.
Full version of Vande Mataram played on Independence Day
7:30 am: In a first for Independence Day celebrations, ‘Vande Mataram’ was rendered at the Red Fort complex during the 79th anniversary of the historic occasion on August 15, followed by the recitation of the national anthem at the grand event.
The mega function commemorates 150 years of the enduring legacy of the national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, as floral decoration on the ramparts depicted the national flag at the centre, flanked by ‘Vande Mataram’ in Hindi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort amid patriotic fervour and multi-layer security.
An Army band played the tune of ‘Vande Mataram’ as the guests present on the occasion sang the national song. This was followed by the prime minister hoisting the national flag, and then the national anthem was recited.
7:15 am: PM Modi arrives at the ramparts of the Red Fort ahead of flag hoisting. Guard of Honour presented.
6:58 am: PM Modi paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi.
