
New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): The nation will mark its 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the grand celebrations from Delhi’s historic Red Fort.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Prime Minister will unfurl the National Flag and address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. This year’s theme, “Naya Bharat”, reflects the country’s strides toward achieving the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The celebrations aim to showcase a prosperous, secure, and confident India while inspiring continued progress.
Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, PM Modi will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, who will conduct the Prime Minister to the Saluting Base. There, a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present a general salute, followed by an inspection of the Guard of Honour.
This year’s Guard of Honour will consist of 96 personnel—one officer and 24 members each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police—with the Indian Air Force as the coordinating service. Wing Commander AS Sekhon will command the Guard, while Major Arjun Singh will lead the Army contingent, Lieutenant Commander Komaldeep Singh the Naval contingent, Squadron Leader Rajan Arora the Air Force contingent, and Additional DCP Rohit Rajbir Singh the Delhi Police contingent.
After the inspection, PM Modi will proceed to the ramparts, where he will be greeted by senior defence officials, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh. Flying Officer Rashika Sharma will assist the Prime Minister in hoisting the Tricolour, which will be synchronized with a 21-gun salute by the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial), using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns under the command of Major Pawan Singh Shekhawat.
The National Flag Guard will include 128 personnel—one officer and 32 members each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police—commanded by Wing Commander Tarun Dagar. The Air Force band, led by Junior Warrant Officer M. Deka, will play the National Anthem, with 11 Agniveer Vayu musicians participating for the first time.
In a spectacular aerial display, two Mi-17 helicopters will shower flower petals—one carrying the national flag and the other bearing a flag symbolizing Operation Sindoor, whose success will be a key highlight of this year’s celebrations. The operation’s logo will be featured on the view cutter at Gyanpath, floral decorations, and even the invitation cards, which also carry a watermark of the Chenab Bridge to symbolize India’s rise.
Following the floral tribute, PM Modi will deliver his Independence Day address. The ceremony will conclude with cadets of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and My Bharat volunteers—2,500 in total—singing the National Anthem and forming the Naya Bharat logo. Around 5,000 special guests, including over 1,500 people in traditional attire from across India, will attend the event.
For the first time, the Independence Day evening will see simultaneous band performances at more than 140 prominent locations nationwide. Bands from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, NCC, and various paramilitary forces—including CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, BSF, IDS, RPF, and Assam Rifles—will perform to foster patriotic fervour and celebrate the triumph of Operation Sindoor. (ANI)