Independence Day 2023 LIVE | President pays tribute to martyres at National War Memorial

President Droupadi Murmu pays tribute to the martyred soldiers at the National War Memorial in New Delhi on Independence Day.

Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' extends best wishes and greetings to PM Narendra Modi and citizens of India, on 77th Independence Day. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi as India celebrates 77th Independence Day. 

Celebration is on across the nation. BSF troops in Bikaner recite "Aae Vatan, Aae Vatan" song.

105 mm Light Field Guns firing as part of the ceremonial salute on Tuesday, August 15. This is the first time that these indigenous guns have been used for ceremonial firing at the #IndependenceDay celebrations.

Indian Navy joined 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign and hoisted national flag on INS Rana. 

Balloons in the colours of the Tiranga released, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi.

"Today, 'parivarvaad' and appeasement has destroyed our country. How can a political party have only one family in charge? For them their life mantra is- party of the family, by the family and for the family," the Prime Minister said. 

The Prime Minister said that during his recent visit to the G20 Summit in Bali, developed countries of the world wanted to know the intricacies of the Digital India success story. He said that digital innovation in India is not limited to the top cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai but has reached the youth even in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech on Independence Day, said that the era of serial blasts is over and today the country is seeing a drop in terror attacks.

"I want to thank the mothers, sisters and daughters of my country for their capability. I want to thank the farmers for their efforts that India is moving ahead in the agriculture sector. I thank the workers and laborers for their contribution as India is moving modernity," says PM Modi at Red Fort.

PM Modi said, "We have taken many measures to control inflation in the country and our effort in this direction will continue".

PM Modi announced Vishwa Karma and said, "13-15 k crore for skilled labour will benefit from it."

PM Modi speaks of 'demon of corruption', scams of lakhs of crores of rupees before his government took charge. Furthr stating that India is now the 5th largest economy, PM Modi said, “When we came in power in 2014, India was world's 10 largest economy, and today we are the 5th largest."

Addressing the nation from Red Fort on 77th Independence Day, PM Modi said, "It is certain that India's capability and possibilities are going to cross new heights of trust. These new heights of trust will go ahead with the new capabilities. Today, India has received the opportunity to host G20 Summit. In the past year, the manner in which several events of the G20 were held in every corner of India has made the world aware of the capability of India's common people, India's diversity."

'Reform, perform and transform are changing the country,' said PM Modi on 77th Independence Day. 

"I can see that the country has an opportunity before it; this is the first year of Amrit Kaal - we are either living in our youth or have taken birth in the lap of Maa Bharti. What we do in this era, the steps we take, the decisions we make, will decide the golden history of the country," says PM Modi in his Independence Day speech at Red Fort.

"After the 2nd World War, there was a new world order, same like, after the pandemic, there is new world order coming forward where the whole world is watching India's courage," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Addressing the nation from Red Fort, PM Modi assured central and state government's support to the people of Manipur. "In Manipur, whatever violence happened, nation is with Manipur. But now there is peace in Manipur. State and central government stands with manipur."

"There is no dearth of opportunities in the country. The country has the ability to provide endless opportunities," said PM Modi to the youth of the nation on 77th Independence Day

"Today, we have demography, democracy and diversity - these three together have the ability to realise the dreams of the nation," said PM Modi on Independence Day 2023.

"I pay my tributes to all the brave hearts who gave their contribution in the India's freedom struggle," said PM Modi, adding, "The largest democracy of the world and now also the leading country in terms of population. Such a large country, 140 crore members of my family are celebrating Independence Day today."

'We are world's biggest democracy," said PM Modi as he begins his address to nation from Red Fort. 

Indian Air Force's Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruv, piloted by Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Squadron Leader Himanshu Sharma in the Line Astern formation.

Watch LIVE: India celebrates 77th Independence Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to begin his address to the nation shortly. 

CJI DY Chandrachud and Union Home Minister Amit Shah greet each other at Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hoist the national flag and address the nation from Red Fort shortly. Watch LIVE 

"Best wishes on Independence Day. We pay homage to our great freedom fighters and reaffirm our commitment to fulfilling their vision. Jai Hind!" tweeted PM Modi. 

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hoisted the national flag at his residence in Delhi on the occasion of Independence Day.

• Upon PM Modi's arrival at the Red Fort, the Prime Minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.
• The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth to the Prime Minister.
• The GoC Delhi Area will then conduct Narendra Modi to the Saluting Base where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present a general salute to the Prime Minister.
• Thereafter, the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour.
• PM Modi will hoist the National Flag on Red Fort's ramparts synchronised with the 21-Gun Salute. 
• As soon as the National Flag is unfurled by the Prime Minister, flower petals will be showered at the venue by two Advanced Light Helicopters Mark-III Dhruv of the Indian Air Force in the Line Astern Formation. 
• Later, Prime Minister will address the Nation. At the conclusion of the speech of the Prime Minister, the cadets of National Cadet Corps (NCC) will sing the National Anthem. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver on Tuesday his 10th consecutive Independence Day address which will also be his last before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a mood of anticipation builds around the annual showpiece event that he has used to present his government's report card, unveil flagship schemes and lay down his vision for the country.

Citizens across the nation eagerly seeking ways to engage in the celebrations can tune in to Republic TV’s YouTube channel to watch Independence Day celebrations. 

Smooth live streaming choices are available on websites including the Prime Minister's Office's (pmindia.gov.in) and government-run platforms like Doordarshan's (ddnews.gov.in) and the National Informatics Center's (independence day.nic.in). 

Selfie points dedicated to different schemes and initiatives of the government have been installed at 12 locations.

1. National War Memorial
2. India Gate
3. Vijay Chowk
4. New Delhi Railway Station
5. Pragati Maidan
6. Raj Ghat
7. Jama Masjid Metro Station
8. Rajiv Chowk Metro Station
9. Delhi Gate Metro Station
10. ITO Metro Gate
11. Naubat Khana
12. Sheesh Ganj Gurudwara

The schemes include Global Hope: Vaccine & Yoga; Ujjwala Yojana; Space Power; Digital India; Skill India; Start-up India; Swachh Bharat; Sashakt Bharat, Naya Bharat; Powering India; Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission.

As part of the celebrations, an online selfie contest will be conducted by the Ministry of Defence on the MyGov portal from August 15-20. People are encouraged to take selfies at one or more of the 12 installations and upload them on the MyGov platform to take part in the contest. Twelve winners, one from each installation, will be selected on the basis of the online selfie contest. The winners would be given prize money of Rs 10,000 each.

As part of the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, around 1,800 people from different vocations, with their spouse, have been invited from across the country to be a part of the celebrations at Red Fort as Special Guests. The initiative has been taken in line with the government’s vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.

These Special Guests include:

• Over 400 Sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages
• 250 from Farmer Producer Organisations scheme
• 50 participants each of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme & Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
• 50 Shram Yogis (construction workers) of the Central Vista Project, including the New Parliament Building
• 50 each Khadi workers, those involved in construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovar & Har Ghar Jal Yojana
• 50 each primary school teachers, nurses and fishermen.
• Seventy five (75) couples from each State/Union Territory, in their traditional attire, have also been invited to witness the ceremony at Red Fort.

Some of these Special Guests are scheduled to visit the National War Memorial and call on Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt as part of their stay in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 77th Independence Day from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15. The Prime Minister will unfurl the National Flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the historic monument. This year’s Independence Day will culminate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, which were launched by the Prime Minister from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on March 12, 2021 and will once again usher the country into ‘Amrit Kaal’ with renewed vigour to realise PM Modi’s dream of making India a developed country by 2047. 

Over 40,000 security personnel, anti-drone radars, anti-aircraft guns, facial recognition closed circuit TV cameras, and sealed borders are among the security 'bandobast' put in place in Delhi. "This time, August 15 is a more sensitive occasion as we have a G-20 meet scheduled three weeks from now in the Indian presidency and the main events will be held in New Delhi," HGS Dhaliwal, Commissioner of Police of the Special Cell of Delhi Police. India which holds the G20 Presidency this year is hosting the G20 Leaders' Summit in September this year in the national capital.

A nearly 11-metre-high metallic steel tower topped with a curved LED screen, known as 'Media Tree', lit up in tricolour theme on the eve of the 77th Independence Day in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.