PM Modi hoists Tricolour at Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day
Synopsis
For the first time since Independence, 'Vande Mataram' rang out from the Red Fort — and Modi used the historic moment to double down on the Viksit Bharat pledge. His 13th consecutive address from the monument set a record for non-Congress prime ministers, framing India's 2047 centenary as the defining national ambition for 140 crore citizens.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort on 15 August 2025 , setting a record among non-Congress prime ministers.
India celebrated its 80th Independence Day , with celebrations centred on the 150th anniversary of 'Vande Mataram' . 'Vande Mataram' was performed at the Red Fort on Independence Day for the first time since Independence .
Modi reiterated the Viksit Bharat by 2047 goal, calling on 140 crore Indians to dream big and drive the country's development.
The Prime Minister expressed solidarity with victims of recent floods and offered condolences to bereaved families.
The theme of Yuva Shakti (youth power) was highlighted as central to realising the Viksit Bharat vision.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 15 August 2025, hoisted the National Flag at the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi and delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the historic monument, as India marked its 80th Independence Day. The occasion was distinguished by the first-ever rendition of the national song 'Vande Mataram' from the Red Fort since Independence, coinciding with the song's 150th anniversary.
Ceremony and Tributes
The unfurling of the Tricolour was followed by a 21-gun salute and a ceremonial showering of flowers from a helicopter. Opening his address with an invocation of 'Vande Mataram', Modi paid tribute to India's freedom fighters. 'Today, every heartbeat is echoing with Vande Mataram; today, there is 'Har Ghar Tiranga'. My best wishes to all of you on Independence Day. The nation today remembers those great sons who sacrificed for independence, carrying only one aim, freedom, and dedicating their lives to it. I pay my heartfelt tribute to Pujya Bapu and every other freedom fighter,' he said.
Highlighting the significance of the moment, Modi noted: 'It is a historic day today. After Independence, on August 15, for the first time, Vande Mataram is echoing from the Red Fort. As we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram today, no other day could be more appropriate for this.'
Solidarity With Flood Victims
Modi also expressed condolences to families affected by recent floods across parts of the country. 'In the last few days, there has been devastation because of floods in some parts of our nation. Our condolences are with the victims' families, and I want to give you the assurance and confidence that the whole nation stands with all those who are affected,' he said, offering a direct pledge of national solidarity.
The Viksit Bharat Vision
The Prime Minister used the address to reinforce India's goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, when the country will complete 100 years of Independence. Stressing the power of ambition, he said: 'Any nation becomes great when it progresses on the strength of its capabilities and goals. We do not need to have small dreams; we should dream big. Big dreams increase the pace of progress. When the resolve is firm, possibilities find their own way.'
He framed the Viksit Bharat mission as a collective endeavour: 'India has dreamed a big dream, to touch new heights. The dream is that when we complete 100 years of Independence, we will make Viksit Bharat in 2047, with the contribution, efforts and participation of 140 crore people of our nation.' He also noted that global perceptions shift when a nation dares to dream large: 'It changes the way the world sees us when we dream big.'
A Record-Setting Address
This year's address marked Modi's 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, setting a new record among non-Congress prime ministers for unbroken appearances at the monument. The 2025 celebrations were themed around the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram and the role of Yuva Shakti — India's youth — in driving the Viksit Bharat agenda forward to 2047.
As the country enters the final stretch of its centenary countdown, the political and policy weight of the Viksit Bharat framework is expected to intensify, with the government likely to anchor future schemes and budgets to the 2047 milestone.
Point of View
But with 2047 still over two decades away, the risk is that it becomes a perennial horizon rather than a measurable commitment. The first-ever Independence Day rendition of Vande Mataram from the Red Fort is a powerful symbolic gesture, yet the harder question — what structural reforms will close the gap between India's current development indices and a 'developed nation' benchmark — remains unanswered in the speech. Solidarity with flood victims was acknowledged, but the address offered no policy specifics on disaster preparedness or climate resilience, gaps that critics are likely to flag.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi say in his Independence Day 2025 speech at Red Fort?
PM Modi hoisted the Tricolour at the Red Fort on 15 August 2025 and called on Indians to dream big in pursuit of the Viksit Bharat goal by 2047. He paid tribute to freedom fighters, expressed condolences to flood victims, and highlighted the historic first-ever rendition of Vande Mataram at the Red Fort on Independence Day.
What is the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision Modi spoke about?
Viksit Bharat 2047 is India's stated goal of becoming a fully developed nation by 2047, the centenary of Independence. Modi described it as a collective mission involving the contribution of all 140 crore Indians, driven by ambition and determination.
Why was Vande Mataram significant at this year's Independence Day?
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, and for the first time since Independence, the national song was performed at the Red Fort during the Independence Day ceremony. Modi called it a historic occasion befitting the song's anniversary.
What record did PM Modi set with his 2025 Independence Day address?
Modi's 2025 address was his 13th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, setting a new record among non-Congress prime ministers for unbroken appearances at the monument on Independence Day.
Did PM Modi address the flood situation in his Independence Day speech?
Yes, Modi expressed condolences to families of flood victims and assured those affected that the entire nation stands with them. He did not announce specific relief measures in the address but pledged national solidarity.
