Independence Day 2026 highlights: PM Modi, Union ministers attend President Murmu's At Home reception

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: PM Modi delivered his longest Independence Day speech in 2025, when he spoke for 103 minutes. Like this year, 'aatmanirbharta' or self-reliance was also a recurring a topic last time, apart from Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio greeted the people of India on its 80th Independence Day, asserting that bilateral ties were "stronger than ever" due to the personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day," Rubio said.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's absence from the I-Day celebrations at Red Fort can be traced back to a controversy over his seating arrangement during the same event two years ago. Gandhi was seated in the fifth or penultimate row in the VIP area when he came to hear PM Modi’s speech at the Red Fort that year. The Opposition saw this seating plan as an "insult", even as the government argued that arrangements were tweaked to accommodate Olympians attending the event.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: PM Modi has announced a nationwide sports talent hunt for ages 5 to 15 during his Independence Day speech at Red Fort. "We have to pay attention to our sons and daughters. Therefore, a talent hunt campaign will be conducted in every village, every city and every school to identify sporting talent among children aged five to 15," he said.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: In his Independence Day message, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk sought a “gift” from PM Narendra Modi.

“Can we seek this gift from PM on this Independence Day..! A Decriminalised Parliament, as promised by the Prime Minister in 2014. And I'm sure the LOP Sh. Rahul Gandhi and all parties will readily agree for this revolutionary step to clean up our democracy,” Wangchuk said in post on X.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: For the second year in a row, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge skipped Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort in Delhi. They missed the event last year too, after a row over their seating during the 2024 event.

Rahul Gandhi sat in the last few rows and Opposition alleged an “insult”, even as the government argued that the seating arrangement was tweaked to accommodate Olympians attending the event.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: PM Modi's Red Fort address lasted 75 minutes, the duration being the shortest in four years. His longest Independence Day speech was in 2025, when he spoke for 103 minutes.

A look at how long the PM spoke for on Independence Day over the years:

2014: 65 minutes

2015: 88 minutes

2016: 96 minutes

2017: 56 minutes

2018: 83 minutes

2019: 92 minutes

2020: 90 minutes

2021: 88 minutes

2022: 74 minutes

2023: 90 minutes

2024: 98 minutes

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: In his Independence Day message, Arvind Kejriwal listed examples from places like Hamirpur, Dehradun and Barmer, where students were demanding better roads and adequate teachers. He said that after Gen Z, Gen Alpha has started raising its voice for better facilities in government schools.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi extended wishes for Independence Day and wrote on X: "Freedom is not merely a gift bestowed upon us by our freedom fighters, but also a responsibility.

This responsibility is to walk the path of truth and non-violence, to hold the values of the Constitution and the Tricolour in our hearts, and to safeguard democracy under all circumstances."

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: PM Modi announced that one crore youth will be trained in artificial intelligence skilling courses. "This is the era of robotics, AI, quantum technology, space and data centres. Emerging technologies are presenting new challenges, and we must become a global hub of innovation," PM Modi said.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted NCC cadets and students present at the Red Fort after concluding his Independence Day address on Saturday.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: Here's a list of some big announcements made by PM Modi in his Independence Day speech from Red Fort:

• 1 crore youth to be trained in Artificial Intelligence over the next year via nationwide mission mode.
• Free online coaching will be provided to youth preparing for various examinations. The move aims to help students from poor or middle class families.
• Modernized defence training and enhanced capabilities to address evolving security needs.
• Sports talent hunt: Nationwide campaign targeting children aged 5–15 years across villages and cities.
• Semiconductor mission: 7–8 new production plants to operationalise within 1–2 years.
• Nuclear Energy: Target of 100 GW capacity by 2047 and 5 new reactors to be operational within 6–7 years.

Independence Day 2026 LIVE: PM Modi said that India transformed from 'Fragile Five' to the world's fastest-growing major economy over the past few years. India has, within just 12 years, emerged as the world's fastest-growing major economy, he said.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi said he needed one big help from the youth and urged them to give him “one to two hours”. He urged them to monitor the Census process and help out their parents in filling in the details.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: Explaining why he was announcing free online coaching classes for students, PM Modi said: “Coaching classes become a burden on poor and middle class.”

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi announced free online coaching for various exams to help students and their families save thousands. “For the youth, we have decided to launch free online coaching for students for various exams,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi hailed Indian youth during his Independence Day speech. “The youth have a very important role in the journey towards a developed India. Not only that, they will also be the biggest beneficiaries of a developed India. Therefore, we have to link the goal of a developed India with our youth and move forward. We have to make the youth our highest priority,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi listed many big ambitions for India across sectors, saying Centre and states need to work together.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: “We always talk about Fortune 500. Why shouldn't we aim to have 50 Indian companies under Fortune 500?,” PM Modi said during his Independence Day speech.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: Every global artist wants to perform in India, PM Modi said in his Independence Day speech, adding that India should look to boost concert economy.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi said India has “soft power”, namely yoga, Ayurveda, films, gaming and more. He also said that utilising India's soft power can attract tourists.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi listed sectors for blue economy - fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean technology.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: PM Modi said India should become an innovation hub. Emphasising how Artificial Intelligence, robotics, space, quantum and data centres are gaining prominence, PM Modi said: “Emerging technologies are challenging us every moment. We can't be a market for the world but should be an innovation hub”.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: “We need components as well as complete product,” PM Modi said, calling for India to become a focal point for global supply chain.

Issuing an appeal to people in the manufacturing sector, PM Modi called for attention on “cost, quality and scale” and become competitive on global stage. “Our packaging should attract people, and our precision should become our identity,” Modi said.

PM Modi Red Fort address LIVE: India on ‘reform express’, will move to next level in coming days, said PM Modi