72nd Independence Day: Here are the LIVE UPDATES

Update at 10:15 am - 'God of Cricket' Sachin Tendulkar, 'Nawab of Najafgarh' Virender Sehwag and BCCI were amongst the many from cricketing area celebrating the 72nd Independence Day.
 

 

 

Update at 10:00 am - Rahul Gandhi hoists the national flag on Independence Day for the first time since becoming the Congress President. On the other side, senior BJP leader LK Advani celebrates the Independence Day by hoisting the flag at his residence.
 

Update at 9:50 am - A proud BSF Jawan sings a song on as other soldiers tune along on India's 72nd Independence Day celebrations.
 

Update at 9:45 am - Former Finance minister and present member of PM Modi's cabinet, Arun Jaitley wished the country on the Independence Day.
 

Update at 9:30 am - In Surat, a 1,100m long Indian flag was carried out by the citizens on the road.
 

Update at 9:02 am - PM Modi greets swarmed by children as he goes up to meet them.
 

Update at 8:57 am - "Ek Surya ugaana hai, Ambar se uucha jaana hai, Ek Bharat naya banana hai. Vande Mataram!", says PM Modi concluding his Independence Day speech.

Update at 8:56 am - Kids shout out Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai, before singing the national anthem as PM Modi ends his speech.
 

Update at 8:55 am - Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vande Mataram: PM Modi as he concludes his speech
 

Update at 8:53 am - We are only looking ahead, we are only looking at the future. India is breaking all shackles: PM Modi

Update at 8:50 am - Hum goli aur gaali ke raaste par nahi par gale laga ke aage badhna chahte hain. Aane wale kuch hi mahino mein Kashmir mein gaon ke logon ko apna haq jatane ka avsar milega aur panchayat chunav honge: PM Modi

Update at 8:45 am - I assure Muslim sisters and daughters that their rights will be protected and the government will protect them. We are committed to bill against Triple Talaq: PM Modi
 

Update at 8:43 am - Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and present Home Minister Rajnath Singh listen to the Independence Day speech of PM Modi
 

PM Modi speaks about the constitution of India.

Update at 8:40 am - Women shining in all fields. The nation is deeply pained by the rapes. Rapists shall not be spared: PM Modi

Update at 8:37 am - We have curbed the corruption by making things online. All those who were indulging in corrupt activities are behind the bars. Those who take bribes we have cracked down on them and 3 lakh companies neck deep in corruption have been shut down: PM Modi

Update at 8:35 am - We want your contribution for the development of the country. If you contribute, country will grow: PM Modi

Update at 8:30 am - We provide the poor of our country food in 2-3 rupees, but the credit doesn't go to the government: PM Modi

Update at 8:26 am - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan will be launched on 25th September this year. It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get access to good quality and affordable healthcare: PM Modi

Update at 8:25 am - PM Modi announces Ayushman Bharat scheme

Update at 8:24 am - With a 'Beej Se Bazar Tak' approach, we are bringing remarkable changes in the agriculture sector. The aim is to double farmer incomes by 2022: PM Modi

Update at 8:20 am - PM Modi applauds the recently concluded Parliament session.
 

Update at 8:14 am - PM Modi eyes to implement Project Gaganyaan , India's first manned space mission, by 2022.

Update at 8:12 am - There was a time when North East India used to feel that Delhi is very far from them, but today we have brought Delhi to the doorstep of the North East: PM Modi

Update at 8:10 am - PM Modi credits his government for implementing MSP.
 

Update at 8:06 am - Any Indian who is in trouble abroad, knows that his country is there to take care of him: PM Modi

Update at 8:02 am - The OROP demand was pending for decades.  The people of India, our brave army personnel had faith in us and we were able to take a decision on OROP. We will always take decisions in the interests of our nation: PM Modi

Update at 8:00 am - Who did not want the passage of the GST yet it was pending for years?  Last year GST became a reality. I want to thank the business community for the success of the GST: PM Modi

Update at 7:58 am - PM Modi speaks of the benefits of Digital India
 

Update at 7:55 am - We are proud of what we have achieved and at the same time, we also have to look at where we have come from. That is when we will realised the remarkable strides the nation has made: PM Modi
 

Update at 7:51 am - Prominent BJP leaders like LK Advani, Niramala Sitharaman and Amit Shah in attendance as PM Modi attacks Congress-led UPA.

Update at 7:48 am - Today, I would like to say that in 2014 people didn't only elect new govt, but also made new India: PM Modi

Update at 7:45 am - Many parts of the nation witnessed a good monsoon but at the same time parts of India have been affected by flooding. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to floods in various parts of India: PM Modi

Update at 7:43 am - PM Modi pays tribute to the Security Forces of our country.
 

Update at 7:42 am - On behalf of the people of India, I bow to all those great women and men who sacrificed themselves for the nation during the freedom movement: PM Modi

Update at 7:40 am - We are celebrating this day on the day when our daughters of Uttrakhand, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and many other states have made us proud in overseas : PM Modi
 

Update at 7:35 am - Today our nation is touching new heights of development: PM Modi 
 

Update at 7:35 am - PM Modi begins his Independence Day speech.
 

Update at 7:30 am - PM Modi hoists the national flag as the country stands up for the national anthem.
 

Update at 7:25 am - Army chief Bipin Rawat in attendance at Red Fort as the country celebrates Independence Day.
 

Update at 7:20 am - PM Modi arrives at Red Fort amidst loud cheers from the crowd present there.
 

Update at 7:15 am - Google honors India as the country celebrates Independence Day.
 

Update 7:10 - Congress President Rahul Gandhi is in attendance as the country waits for PM Modi's speech on Independence Day.
 

Update 7:05 am - Here is the complete schedule for Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort.

Update 6:50 am - PM Modi will arrive at Red Fort at 7 am, and will deliver his speech at 7:35 am.
 

Update 6:30 am - Home Minister Rajnath Singh hoists the Indian national flag at his residence. 
 

Update 6:10 am - Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi wishes the country on the 72nd Independence Day.

---

The mere sound of the date 15 August fills every Indian's heart with pride and honour. On the night of 15 August 1947, India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the Indian flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi. 

The iconic lines of the first speech that was given by the Prime Minister still echoes in all our hearts. He started his speech by saying: 

"Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history when we step out from the old to the new when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity". 

This year marks as India's 72nd Independence day, which is a celebration of the success story in which many of our dedicated freedom fighters laid their lives for one cause, freedom of our country. 

India on the day of Independence wakes to the iconic celebrations which start with the hoisting of the flag at the Red Fort by the Prime Minister. Like every year, the Prime Minister will first hoist flag following which the National Anthem will be sung. The celebration will then proceed on to the PM's address to the nation, in which he will highlight the country's past years achievements and raises important issues. He will then pay homage to the freedom fighters who were a part of the Indian Independence when the struggle for a free nation had incepted. 

The speech is then followed by march past by various divisions of the Indian Armed Forces and paramilitary forces. The celebrations will then proceed with parades and pageant which showcase scenes from the independence struggle and India's diverse cultural traditions. Similar events will take place in the state capitals where the Chief Ministers will hoist the flag followed by parades and demonstrations.