Shekhawat Marks 80th Independence Day as Modi Hoists Flag at Red Fort
Synopsis
PM Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag from the Red Fort ramparts on India's 80th Independence Day, 15 August 2026. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat marked the moment on X, continuing a tradition unbroken since 1947.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag from the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 , marking India's 80th Independence Day .
The flag-hoisting ceremony at Red Fort has been held every year since 1947 — an unbroken 80-year constitutional tradition.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat acknowledged the occasion on X, reflecting his ministry's role in organising the event.
The ceremony is jointly managed by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defence in coordination with Delhi authorities.
PM Modi's address from the ramparts is the traditional platform for the government to outline national priorities — the full speech will be watched for policy signals.
On the 80th Independence Day, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat marked the occasion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi on Saturday, 15 August 2026 — continuing an unbroken tradition that stretches back to the very first dawn of independent India.
Shekhawat shared the moment on X, noting in Hindi: '80वें स्वतंत्रता दिवस के अवसर पर माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेंद्र मोदी जी ने लाल किले की प्राचीर से ध्वजारोहण किया' — 'On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hoisted the flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort.'
A Ceremony Eight Decades in the Making
The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal monument in the heart of Old Delhi, has served as the nation's symbolic stage for this moment every 15 August since 1947. Every Prime Minister of India has stood on those same sandstone ramparts to address the country — a constitutional continuity that no change of government has ever interrupted. For Modi, who first hoisted the flag here in 2014, this marks another year of that unbroken stewardship. The flag-hoisting ceremony is jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture — the ministry Shekhawat himself leads — and the Ministry of Defence, in coordination with Delhi authorities, making his acknowledgement of the event both personal and institutional.Why the 80th Carries Extra Weight
Round-number milestones tend to sharpen a nation's gaze at its own story. The 80th Independence Day invites reflection on eight decades of a republic that was born from one of history's largest and most consequential transfers of power. The Prime Minister's address from the Red Fort is traditionally the platform where the government of the day presents its vision — past achievements, current priorities, and the road it intends to walk. The full text of Modi's 2026 address will be closely watched for any fresh policy signals. For now, the tricolour flies.Point of View
But milestone years amplify its political resonance. For the Modi government, the Red Fort address doubles as the year's most-watched national broadcast — a moment to consolidate narratives around development, security, and India's global standing. Shekhawat's post, as the minister whose ministry co-organises the event, signals institutional ownership of the occasion. The full address will be the real news; the flag-hoisting is the frame around it.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who hoisted the flag on India's 80th Independence Day?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 2026, India's 80th Independence Day.
Why is the flag hoisted at Red Fort on Independence Day?
The Red Fort in Delhi has been the site of India's national flag-hoisting ceremony every 15 August since 1947, when the country gained independence from British rule. It is a constitutional tradition followed by every Prime Minister.
What is the role of the Ministry of Culture on Independence Day?
The Ministry of Culture, led by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, co-organises the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort alongside the Ministry of Defence and Delhi authorities.
What did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat post about Independence Day 2026?
Shekhawat posted on X noting that PM Modi hoisted the national flag from the Red Fort ramparts on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, using the hashtags #IndependenceDay and #IndiaIndependenceDay.
How many times has PM Modi addressed the nation from Red Fort?
PM Modi first hoisted the flag at the Red Fort on Independence Day in 2014. The 2026 ceremony marks his continued stewardship of the tradition across more than a decade in office.
