Visuals of Qutub Minar illuminated in the colours of the National Flag — saffron, white and green — on the occasion of Independence Day.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals of Qutub Minar illuminated in the colours of the National Flag (saffron, white, and green) on the occasion of Independence Day in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/cC0vRi02ZS

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Visuals of the Indian Coast Guard headquarters illuminated in the colours of the National Flag — saffron, white and green — on the occasion of Independence Day.

#WATCH | Delhi: Visuals of the Indian Coast Guard headquarters illuminated in the colours of the National Flag (saffron, white, and green) on the occasion of Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/DQimd77kKQ

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets leaders and attendees at the At Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Independence Day.

#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the leaders and attendees at the At Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan being hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/754UMjqHEu

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader defended fellow minister Zameer Ahmed Khan after he missed an Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony, amid allegations by BJP leaders that his absence amounted to disrespect for the National Flag.

Khader said Zameer had officially informed the authorities that he could not attend the programme due to an unspecified reason. “If he has some emergency issues there, how can he participate? So officially he has written,” Khader said, urging people not to create a controversy over the minister’s absence.

Meanwhile, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded action against Zameer, alleging that he had insulted the National Flag and Independence Day ceremony. Yatnal said every public representative should respect the National Anthem and National Flag and called the alleged incident an “insult to the nation”.

Zameer Ahmed Khan was given the Housing Department in the latest Karnataka cabinet portfolio allocation.

(With inputs from ANI)

State leaders across India marked the 80th Independence Day on Saturday with speeches focusing on development, employment, youth and regional priorities.

In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured job aspirants that their hard work would not be left at the mercy of “paper leak mafia”, corruption or irregularities, as a student agitation over recruitment exam reforms entered its 22nd day. Jharkhand DGP Tadasha Mishra said 103 Naxalites had been arrested, 46 had surrendered and 22 were killed in encounters since January.

In Karnataka, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced the AI Akshara Abhiyana and Coding Gurukula programmes to introduce AI education in schools. He also said the state was working towards establishing India’s first government-owned AI university in Bengaluru.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta urged young people to use their talent beyond social media for startups, innovation, research and nation-building, while warning against what she described as the influence of “Urban Naxals”. In Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi urged young people not to be influenced by “external forces” and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could address their concerns.

Development and regional priorities

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu linked his government’s “Swarna Andhra” goal with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state was working to make every district a “growth engine”.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said the state had entered a new phase of peace and development following its declaration as free from armed Maoists on March 31, 2026.

In Bihar, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced a target of attracting ₹5 lakh crore in investment by November and said the government aimed to provide one crore government jobs and employment opportunities by 2030.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a planned ₹1.50 lakh crore capital expenditure over the next five years, while Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced ₹7,834 crore in investments between 2026 and 2029 for roads, rural connectivity and infrastructure after floods and landslides.

Political and constitutional issues

In Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah renewed his demand for restoration of the region’s special status and statehood, linking the issue to federalism.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay assured cooperation with the Centre on administrative matters but said his government would oppose policies it considers contrary to the state’s rights.

In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state would implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), describing it as a step towards equality and social harmony.

‘Vande Mataram’ incidents

The first rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ from the Red Fort during the Independence Day ceremony was also accompanied by incidents in some states.

In Rajasthan, BJP state president Madan Rathore apologised after ‘Vande Mataram’ was played to different music at an event in Jaipur.

In Kerala’s Kozhikode, BJP councillors sang ‘Vande Mataram’ while LDF and UDF members sang the National Anthem. In Thiruvananthapuram, BJP leader Shone George criticised the state government after ‘Vande Mataram’ was not played at the official event.

Across the country, state-level celebrations combined announcements on development and welfare with political messages on youth, employment, security, federalism and social issues.

(With inputs from PTI)

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) headquarters was illuminated in the vibrant hues of the Tricolour on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, reflecting the nation’s pride, unity and spirit.

Maharashtra: On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, RSS Swayamsevaks held a Path Sanchalan (route march) in Nagpur.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, RSS Swayamsevaks hold a Path Sanchalan (route march) in Nagpur. pic.twitter.com/4VMLmACGsY

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Responding to the controversy over the recitation of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Congress headquarters and the reaction of senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, YSRCP MP Golla Babu Rao said he was not aware of the details of the incident. He described the Congress leaders as senior and experienced politicians and said it was their choice, adding that he could not comment further on the matter.

#WATCH | Delhi: On controversy over Vande Mataram recitation at Congress HQ and senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Rahul Gandhi’s reaction, YSRCP MP Golla Babu Rao says, “I don’t know exactly… they are very legendary figures, very senior politicians. It is… pic.twitter.com/FJNc3YDJP2

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh hoisted the National Flag at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day.

#WATCH | Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh hoists the National Flag at the 1st Manipur Rifles Parade Ground in Imphal on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/ZbRbhzchaX

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused the Congress leadership of showing “discomfort” during the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ at the party headquarters and alleged that the party had insulted the National Song. Thakur said the Congress should apologise to the nation, claiming Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were seen fidgeting and whispering while the song was being performed. He said ‘Vande Mataram’ belongs to neither the BJP nor the Congress and is integral to India’s freedom struggle.

#WATCH | BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, “Today, the Congress leadership has once again demonstrated its deep discomfort with the full rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’. This is not merely a matter of protocol; it is a question of the nation’s honor. Driven by petty politics and a policy… pic.twitter.com/twQgsHn5f4

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: BJP leader and LoP Jai Ram Thakur said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address highlighted India’s journey since Independence, the achievements of the NDA government over the past 12 years and the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Thakur said the Prime Minister also highlighted India’s rapid progress across sectors and its growing confidence on the global stage. He added that, for the first time in history, the Red Fort celebrations began with the complete rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’.

#WATCH | West Bengal | North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik hoisted the Tiranga at Independence Day programme at Uttarkanya in Siliguri. pic.twitter.com/vj3YSS0HgC

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

West Bengal | North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik hoisted the Tiranga at an Independence Day programme at Uttarkanya in Siliguri.

State Minister Priyank Kharge questioned the RSS’s role in India’s freedom struggle and its response during communal riots after Partition. He said the Congress could provide a list of 500 members who were martyred during the freedom struggle and challenged the RSS to name 50. Kharge also questioned the organisation’s activities, saying it is not a registered organisation and therefore cannot be banned.

Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala hoisted the National Flag at the KPCC headquarters.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | Keralam Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala hoisted the National Flag at the KPCC headquarters. pic.twitter.com/12kHTIB2nk

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

‘Raksha Shakti’ is among the seven streams of power outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 2026 Independence Day address as key to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. From the Red Fort in Delhi, PM Modi stressed the need for Aatmanirbharta in defence and called for India to emerge as a global supplier of next-generation defence technologies. He said India must develop drones and counter-drone systems and take leadership in hypersonic defence technologies.

The Prime Minister said India cannot remain dependent on other countries for defence capabilities and reiterated the Government’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, Make in India, Swadeshi and Vocal for Local. He also highlighted cybersecurity as an area where the capabilities of India’s youth can be harnessed.

PM Modi said the nature of warfare is changing, with conflicts increasingly capable of targeting infrastructure such as refineries, banks, data centres and factories. He said work on ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’ is progressing rapidly as India seeks to strengthen its preparedness against emerging threats.

Highlighting the transformation in the defence sector over the last 12 years, PM Modi said defence production has increased nearly fourfold, while defence exports have risen almost 50 times, with Indian weapons reaching around 100 countries.

He also called for stronger civil defence preparedness, saying existing systems designed around the wars of the last century have become outdated. The Government plans to create a modern network of civil defence and a large voluntary force to respond to emerging challenges.

PM Modi also highlighted the growing role of Nari Shakti in the Defence Forces, saying women graduating from the National Defence Academy are demonstrating their capability to lead the country’s military with confidence and authority.

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today led Independence Day celebrations at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar

#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today led Independence Day celebrations at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar pic.twitter.com/NMlI91ZylB

— ANI (@ANI) August 15, 2026

Residents of Dumraon in Bihar’s Buxar district hold a second round of flag-hoisting ceremonies on 16 August each year, honouring four local youths killed while marching on a British-controlled police station during the 1942 Quit India Movement. Led by activist Kapil Muni, a crowd of nearly 5,000 had aimed to replace the colonial banner with the Indian Tricolour; police opened fire when the crowd refused to disperse, killing Muni along with Gopal Kahar, Ramdas Sonar and Ramdas Lohar. The tradition began a year later, in 1943, and has continued since, with the former police station converted into a martyrs’ memorial after independence, gaining official state recognition in 2015 and life-sized statues of the four martyrs installed in 2017.
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Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan remembered landslide and flood victims in his Independence Day address, saying poverty, disease and unemployment continue to hold society back. He said children and youth were caught amid issues ranging from exam conduct to job scarcity, describing the nation, world and Kerala as passing through a “very critical phase.” Satheesan said democracy thrives on continuous dialogue, with opposition, questioning and correction essential to revitalising it.

Citizens can participate in the Har Ghar Tiranga 2026 campaign, running from 9 to 17 August, by displaying the National Flag and uploading a selfie on harghartiranga.com to receive a digital certificate. The Ministry of Culture-led campaign, launched in 2022 under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, saw 7.50 crore selfies uploaded in 2025. Participants enter basic details, upload a photo showing respectful display of the flag, and generate a certificate after submission; the service is free, and citizens are cautioned against sites or individuals requesting payment or financial details in exchange for a certificate.
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Lord Mountbatten, British India’s last Viceroy, was originally ordered to hand over power by June 1948, but moved the date up by ten months. According to Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins’s book “Freedom at Midnight,” he chose 15 August on impulse during a press conference when pressed to name a date, settling on one that marked the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II — a moment tied to his role as Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia Command.
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These are the rules laid down under the Flag Code of India, first introduced in 2002 for handling the Tricolour with dignity.

Do’s:

• Never let the flag touch the ground, floor or water
• Saffron on top when horizontal, on the left (viewer’s perspective) when vertical
• Hoist briskly, lower slowly; keep the Ashoka Chakra visible
• Can be flown day and night if properly illuminated after sunset

Don’ts:

• Don’t use as decoration, tablecloth, clothing or for commercial purposes
• Don’t display torn, damaged or dirty flags; dispose of damaged flags with dignity
• Never hoist upside down or below another flag
• Don’t discard carelessly after use — fold and store respectfully

  Read more

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government aimed to create a “Delhi model of development” other states would want to emulate, in her Independence Day address, citing progress on clearing garbage mountains with 75 acres reclaimed so far. She acknowledged pollution as a major challenge requiring action rather than “blame game,” and outlined plans to position Delhi as a cultural and entertainment hub, as well as an “EV city” through its 4,500 electric buses and related infrastructure. Gupta said nine lakh people had registered under the Ayushman Yojana health scheme, and that Delhi would play a leading role in supporting the Centre’s Viksit Bharat vision, with speedy decision-making and timely scheme completion as government priorities.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said the state’s per capita income stood at Rs 4,18,931 in FY 2025-26, approximately 91% higher than the national average, in his Independence Day address. He said the government had spent nearly Rs 1.70 lakh crore on agriculture and farmer welfare over the past 32 months, with Telangana surpassing Punjab to become the top state in paddy cultivation area and yield, and setting a new procurement record of 81.12 LMT of paddy last Rabi season. He said Telangana had emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations for data centres, cloud computing and AI, and was developing “Bharat Future City” as the country’s first net-zero smart city and a hub for AI, data centres, research and innovation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge hoisted the national flag at party headquarters Indira Bhawan, with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders in attendance. Speaking at the event, Kharge said, “We brought right to Food, Right to Education, Right to Work but the current government has not done any such work,” adding that “some people have the habit of taking credit for the work they have not done. The history records everything.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, in his Independence Day address, called for the state and country to become “number one” by 2047, saying there was no difference between the goals of Viksit Bharat and SwarnaAndhra, since a strong state was needed for a strong nation. He said the state’s growth rate had risen to 11.3% after putting systems “back on track,” following a nearly Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden left by the previous government, and that Rs 1.56 lakh crore had been spent on welfare and Rs 1.34 lakh crore on development over 26 months. He said a job calendar with more than 10,000 positions had been released this year, with a target to build houses for all by 2029.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, in his Independence Day address in Bengaluru, announced the launch of AI Akshara Abhiyana and a Coding Gurukula programme, alongside plans to set up an AI university in Bengaluru. He said 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangha units would be established to foster leadership and national unity among youth, while an anti-rowdy squad would be set up in Bengaluru to create a “fear-free atmosphere.” Shivakumar said Rs 1.56 lakh crore worth of projects had been sanctioned for Bengaluru, and announced a new “Udyoga Nidhi” scheme aimed at creating one lakh jobs.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in his Independence Day address, said the appointment process through JPSC-JSSC would be expedited to boost youth confidence in government, acknowledging concerns raised over recruitment exams and assuring students that hard work “won’t go unnoticed.” He called paper leaks a “major problem,” pledging concrete steps to curb them with no leniency for those found guilty, and described exam reforms as a “personal mission,” inviting suggestions from students and parents. Soren said Jharkhand’s over 16 lakh MSMEs employ 60 lakh people and would be strengthened for international market access, and that the state had signed agreements with 10 corporate houses for Rs 1 lakh crore in investment, expected to create jobs for over 20,000 youth.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi skipped the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot told PTI that the women’s reservation bill had already been passed during the Manmohan Singh government but had yet to be implemented, accusing the government of attempting to bring in “an illegal delimitation bill” under the guise of women’s reservation. “We are against this… the entire opposition, country is against delimitation that they are trying to impose,” he said.