PM Modi shares glimpses from Red Fort ramparts on Independence Day
Synopsis
On Independence Day 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared photographs from the Red Fort ramparts in Delhi, where India's Prime Ministers have hoisted the tricolour and addressed the nation every 15 August since 1947.
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted photographs from the Red Fort ramparts on 15 August 2026 .
The images capture the scene during India's Independence Day flag-hoisting celebrations.
The tradition of the Prime Minister addressing the nation from the Red Fort has continued uninterrupted since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 .
The Red Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Old Delhi .
The ramparts of the Red Fort have witnessed 79 years of Independence Day mornings — and on 15 August 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered the nation a closer look at those storied battlements, sharing photographs from the day's flag-hoisting celebrations.
The images, posted on the afternoon of Independence Day, capture the scene atop the UNESCO-listed Mughal-era fort in Old Delhi — the same ramparts from which every Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 has hoisted the tricolour and addressed the nation. The tradition is one of India's most enduring constitutional rituals, unbroken across governments and decades.
A stage built on seven decades of ceremony
The Red Fort's role as the symbolic nerve-centre of India's Independence Day is no accident of geography. Chosen in 1947 as the site of the first flag-hoisting, the fort carries the weight of Mughal history and colonial memory in equal measure — making it a deliberate statement of sovereign continuity. Each year, the Prime Minister's address from its ramparts is watched by millions, blending pageantry with policy as the government outlines its national agenda for the year ahead.
Point of View
But it reinforces the symbolic currency of the Red Fort moment. What will draw closer scrutiny is the full text of the 2026 address, once released, for signals on economic priorities, social policy, and foreign affairs.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Prime Minister hoist the flag on Independence Day?
The Prime Minister hoists the national flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Old Delhi every year on 15 August , a tradition that began with Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947 .
Why is the Red Fort chosen for Independence Day celebrations?
The Red Fort was selected in 1947 as the site of India's first Independence Day flag-hoisting, symbolising the transfer of power and sovereign continuity. The choice carries historical and political weight that successive governments have maintained.
What did PM Modi post on Independence Day 2026?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared photographs from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 , offering glimpses of the Independence Day celebrations held there.
Is the Red Fort a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, the Red Fort in Delhi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , recognised for its outstanding Mughal-era architecture and historical significance.
When did the tradition of addressing the nation from the Red Fort begin?
The tradition began on 15 August 1947 , when India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour and addressed the nation from the Red Fort ramparts. It has continued uninterrupted ever since.
