Independence Day 2025 highlights: PM Modi's record-time speech, celebrations across nation

BSF jawans perform various bike stunts at Punjab's Attari border on the occasion of Independence Day 2025.

Gujarat BSF celebrated the 79th Independence Day with a programme at the India-Pakistan border in Banaskantha's Nadabet.

Gujarat BSF IG Abhishek Pathak said, "The Prime Minister appealed to all sections of the society today to make the country 'Aatmnirbhar' and 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. We are also pledging to make our best contribution to the country's prosperity in every field we work in... Yesterday, on 14th August, two Vir Chakras and 16 gallantry medals were awarded to the brave jawans of BSF for their outstanding contribution in Operation Sindoor. We all feel proud of their heroic acts."

Union minister G Kisan Reddy, referring to PM Modi's Independence Day speech said, "40 crore people of India know what RSS stands for...It is a committed organisation that works for India's welfare. It doesn't need a certificate from Congress or any other party."

Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta extended her wishes on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day and announced that workers will get a complete meal for ₹5 at ‘Atal Canteen’, which will be opened across national capital.

Atal Canteens are subsidised food outlets established in several Indian states to provide affordable, nutritious meals to economically disadvantaged individuals.

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha hoisted the Tricolour at Srinagar's Raj Bhavan on Independence Day.

Celebrations for the 79th Independence Day were held at the High Commission of India in London, the United Kingdom.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and members of the Indian diaspora were among the attendees at the celebrations.

Hoisting the flag on Independence Day in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, SDRF and police personnel paid silent tributes to those who lost their lives in the recent Dharali flash floods.

Congress workers in Mumbai are protesting against Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation's order banning the sale of meat on Independence Day.

Congress leader Sachin Pote told reporters, "We had requested the KDMC (Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation) to withdraw the order banning the sale of meat (on I-Day). But KDMC ignored our request. We are protesting against this order."

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said after hosting tricolor, "Through Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army has demonstrated India's strength to the world. We have demonstrated to the world what New India truly stands for. I sincerely congratulate and thank all the officers and soldiers who took part in 'Operation Sindoor'... Today, no one can halt India’s development story. India is making advances in various fields and has now entered the space sector as well. This development story will keep moving forward."

During his address at the Red Fort earlier today, PM Modi announced Mission Sudarshana Chakra, a new weapons system by India capable of not just neutralising the attacks from the enemy but also hitting back, he said. But what is the new powerful system? Is it India's ballistic missile defence? Read full report.

RJD leader Manoj Jha on Friday slammed PM Modi's Independence Day speech, saying he hopes every year that the PM would speak “without malice, prejudice, or bias”, but he “disappoints every time".

“It is Independence Day, and if there had been a discussion on the role of the RSS, we would have been very happy. It is a cultural organisation, and the Prime Minister of the country should evaluate its role in the freedom struggle... Today, it has become difficult to distinguish whether it is an election speech or an address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort,” the RJD leader told news agency ANI.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended greetings on India's 79th Independence Day, saying the country “enjoys well-deserved respect on the global stage and actively contributes to addressing key issues on the international agenda”.

His remarks come ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, the results of which could have an impact on the India-US trade ties.

“We highly value our special, privileged strategic partnership with India. I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to expand constructive bilateral cooperation across multiple areas. This aligns fully with the interests of our friendly peoples and supports the strengthening of security and stability both regionally and globally,” Putin's message, shared by the Russian embassy in India, read

When asked about PM Modi praising the RSS during his Independence Day speech, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, "There are two views about RSS in the country. One is our view, and the other is PM Modi and his allies' view. There is a huge difference between the two views, so I believe we should not touch that issue on such an auspicious day..."

Several Congress leaders lashed out at PM Modi on Friday following his mention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during his Independence Day speech at Red Fort. PM Modi had heaped praise on the outfit for completing 100 years, and called it "world's biggest NGO".

Reacting to the praise, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the PM's remarks were "most troubling", adding that it was a "breach" of the spirit of constitutional and secular republic.

"It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month," AICC general secretary, communications, Ramesh said in a post on X.

Maharashtra Congress vice president Husain Dalwai said the RSS was not part of freedom struggle as he reacted to PM Modi's Independence Day speech. “The country attained independence due to the leadership of Congress...It is unfortunate that RSS was not a part of it (freedom struggle). They speak of Hindutva today. But they were working as British agents back then,” Dalwai said.

“Today, PM appreciated the RSS...He lied today that RSS is a patriot and that it works for the welfare of people. RSS divides people and pits them against each other...PM supported RSS today because RSS and he are at loggerheads. 'What after 75' is a question before him. So, he is speaking for RSS. But it doesn't seem that RSS and he are in tandem with each other…” he added, reported ANI.

Talking about the 79th Independence Day, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Today, when we are celebrating Independence Day, we will have to accept the challenges of the world. The stronger our farmers are, the stronger our country is economically, and the better our future will be for the youth, our country will be able to compete with the world markets. We Indians should be ready to make any sacrifice to make our country strong... From time to time, the countries of the world threaten our country, sometimes in the name of the market, sometimes in the name of land. We will have to accept those challenges as well.”

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh hoisted the national flag on the 79th Independence Day and also heaped praise on PM Modi's speech at the Red Fort. He said the PM's address “was full of determination and a call to change the times”.

"It also mentioned the contributions of every section of society and the nation in nation-building, as well as the facts about what the country is doing for them..." he said.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla on Friday reacted to PM Modi's Independence Day speech saying there's now a “tradition not to give credit to the previous PMs”. He asserted that plans for the semiconductor plant were swung into motion “from the era of Nehru ji".

“We give credit to even Vajpayee ji. Semiconductor Plant was established in Chandigarh and the process had begun from the era of Nehru ji. This is a wrong precedent that only they have done something and no one has done anything. Congress made great contributions to the freedom movement...World knows who else contributed or didn't contribute,” Shukla was quoted as saying by ANI.

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi hoisted the tricolour in Hyderabad on the 79th Independence Day on Friday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) celebrated Independence Day on the at Attari-Wagah border in Amritsar on Friday.

PM Modi spoke for 103 minutes at the Red Fort this morning as he addressed the nation on Independence Day. This was his longest Independence Day speech.

BJP national president JP Nadda hoisted the tricolour at the party's headquarters, following which he hailed PM Modi's leadership and said, "In the last 11 years, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the country is advancing towards becoming a leading economy, towards becoming a strong economy. When there is instability in the world and there is economic difficulty, besides a strong economy, India is leading as a leading economy."

India is celebrating Independence Day today, but Bengaluru, a bustling city in Karnataka, is yet to be free from unplanned sprawl, aggravating floods, traffic congestion, and infrastructure stress. Read full report here.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended wishes on the 79th Independence Day, saying India achieved this freedom through the sacrifices of great freedom fighters. He said that the freedom “is a resolve to build an India where justice rests on the foundation of truth and equality, and every heart is filled with respect and brotherhood. It is the duty of all of us to protect the pride and honor of this precious heritage.”