New Delhi: India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebration of Independence from the historic Red Fort in Delhi on this day. This year’s event will be based on the theme ‘New India’, which will reflect the nation’s progress, self-reliance and the goal of developed India by 2047.
A statement from the Ministry of Defense said that the Prime Minister will hoist the national flag and address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. This Independence Day celebration will serve as a platform to commemorate the continued rise of a prosperous, secure and bold new India and will infuse a new energy to move forward on the path of progress.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will welcome PM Modi
On August 15, PM Modi will be welcomed at the Red Fort by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth and Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the GOC Delhi Area will escort Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the saluting dais where a joint contingent of inter-services and Delhi Police Guard will salute the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour.
Guard of Honour
The Guard of Honour contingent for the Prime Minister will comprise 96 personnel (one officer and 24 personnel each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police). The Indian Air Force is the coordinating force for the Independence Day celebrations this year. The Guard of Honour will be commanded by Wing Commander AS Sekhon. The Army contingent for the Prime Minister will be commanded by Major Arjun Singh, the Navy contingent by Lieutenant Commander Komaldeep Singh and the Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Rajan Arora. The Delhi Police contingent will be commanded by Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh.
After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort, where he will be welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. The GoC of Delhi Area will take the Prime Minister to the platform on the ramparts to hoist the national flag.
Flying Officer Rashika Sharma will assist the PM in hoisting the flag
Flying Officer Rashika Sharma will assist the Prime Minister in hoisting the national flag. Along with this, 21 gun salute will be given by 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) from indigenous 105 mm light field gun, which will be led by Major Pawan Singh Shekhawat. At the same time, the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (Assistant Instructor in Artillery) Anutosh Sarkar. The National Flag Guard, which will comprise one officer each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police and 32 other ranks, will render the national salute when the Prime Minister unfurls the national flag. Wing Commander Tarun Dagar will command the inter-service guard and police guard.
For the first time, 11 Agniveer air musicians will be part of the band that will play the national anthem
The National Flag Guard will have the Army contingent commanded by Major Prakash Singh, the Navy contingent commanded by Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Parvez and the Air Force contingent commanded by Squadron Leader V.V. Sharavan. The Delhi Police contingent will be commanded by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Abhimanyu Poswal. After the tricolour is hoisted, it will be given the ‘National Salute’. The Air Force band, which will comprise one JCO and 25 other ranks, will play the national anthem during the unfurling of the national flag and the ‘National Salute’. Junior Warrant Officer M. Deka will conduct the band. For the first time, 11 Agniveer air musicians will be part of the band that will play the national anthem.
Operation Sindoor logo on invitation cards
As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists the national flag, two Mi-17 helicopters of the Air Force will shower flowers. One will display the national flag and the other the flag of ‘Operation Sindoor’. The captains of these helicopters will be Wing Commander Vinay Poonia and Wing Commander Aditya Jaiswal. This year, the success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated during the Independence Day celebrations. The view cutter on Gyanpath will have the logo of Operation Sindoor. Floral decorations based on this operation will also be done. The logo of Operation Sindoor will also be printed on the invitation cards. At the same time, the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’ will be a special highlight of this year’s celebrations.
Watermark of Chenab Bridge also printed on the invitation cards
The watermark of Chenab Bridge will also be printed on the invitation cards, which shows the rise of ‘New India’. After the shower of flowers, Prime Minister Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. At the conclusion of his speech, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and ‘Mera Bharat’ volunteers will sing the national anthem. A total of 2,500 boy and girl cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) and ‘Mera Bharat’ volunteers will participate in the ceremony. These cadets and ‘Mera Bharat’ volunteers will sit on Gyanpath, in front of the ramparts. They will form the logo of ‘New India’.
Celebrating the victory of Operation Sindoor
Around 5,000 distinguished guests from various fields are expected to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort this year.More than 1,500 people in traditional costumes from various states and union territories have also been invited to join this grand celebration. To promote the spirit of patriotism among the citizens and celebrate the victory of Operation Sindoor, for the first time, several band performances will be given across India on the evening of Independence Day celebrations.
These performances will be given by the bands of Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, NCC, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, BSF, IDS, RPF and Assam Rifles at more than 140 prominent locations across the country.
