India to Mark 80th I-Day with ‘Vande Mataram’ Tribute

• ‘Vande Mataram’ to be sung from Red Fort ramparts for the first time.
• PM Modi will unfurl the National Flag and address the nation.
• Around 5,000 special guests invited for the celebrations.
• Youth achievements and India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047 to be highlighted.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Aug: India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the national celebrations from the historic Red Fort, with this year’s programme focusing on 150 years of Vande Mataram and the contribution of India’s youth towards building a Viksit Bharat@2047.

According to Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Vande Mataram will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time when the Prime Minister arrives at the venue. PM Modi will thereafter unfurl the National Flag and address the nation.

150 Years of Vande Mataram
The celebrations will feature a floral depiction of ‘Vande Mataram’, with around 2,500 NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers forming the words on Gyanpath opposite the Red Fort ramparts.

An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter will carry a banner commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram and shower flower petals over the gathering.

Military band performances dedicated to Vande Mataram are also being organised at 343 locations across the country from August 8 to August 15. Bands from the armed forces, Coast Guard, CAPFs, NCC and other organisations will participate.

Youth at the Centre of Celebrations
The 2026 celebrations will highlight India’s youth and their contribution to the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision. Nineteen medal-winning students from the 2026 International Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical Olympiads have been invited to attend the ceremony.

Around 5,000 special guests from different walks of life will also witness the celebrations. They include young innovators, startup founders, PM Internship Scheme interns, skilled youth, My Bharat volunteers, women entrepreneurs, farmers, artisans, sanitation workers, healthcare staff and other grassroots contributors.

More than 1,500 Delhi-based guests from different states and Union Territories, dressed in traditional attire, will also attend the ceremony, showcasing India’s cultural diversity.

Public Participation and Facilities
Several competitions and quizzes have been organised ahead of Independence Day, including contests on AI, India’s constitutional heritage, women’s contribution to the freedom movement, space technology and nuclear technology. Around 600 winners will participate in the celebrations.

For visitors, 25 cloak rooms, helpdesks staffed by 200 volunteers, wheelchair assistance and other facilities have been arranged. Delhi Metro services will begin at 4 am on August 15, with free travel for invitees carrying valid e-invitations and QR codes.

Authorities have also made arrangements for rain protection, pedestrian movement, parking and drainage management in view of possible rainfall.

Swachhta Drive After Celebrations
Following the ceremony, NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers will undertake a cleanliness campaign at the Red Fort. The initiative will involve plogging and removal of waste after the dispersal of spectators.

The seating enclosures at the Red Fort will also be named after major lakes of India, continuing the practice of using geographical and environmental themes for the ceremonial arrangements.

The 2026 Independence Day celebrations will seek to combine the legacy of India’s freedom movement with the country’s aspirations for a developed India by 2047, while placing youth achievement, national unity and public participation at the centre of the celebrations.