11 August,2026 11:29 AM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi to lead India`s 80th Indpendence Day celebrations at Red Fort (File pic)
In a historic first, the national song 'Vande Mataram' will be sung during the Independence Day celebrations at the iconic Red Fort on August 15, and the event's theme will be the contributions of youth power toward making India a developed nation by 2047, the government announced on Monday.
According to PTI, Defence Secretary R K Singh while addressing a press conference on Monday, said that the plan to celebrate the success and contribution of youths during the event "predates" the students' protest at the Jantar Mantar.
Singh said, "Youths are a critical part of our journey towards Viksit Bharat because they will both be contributing to it and will be hopefully gaining from it. That is the only reason," as cited by PTI.
"The plan to celebrate the success and contribution of youth at the Independence Day celebrations predates any other event. I can assure you that this planning predates the Jantar Mantar agitation," the Defence Secretary added.
India will mark its 80th Independence Day on August 15, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the celebrations from the Red Fort in Delhi.
Defence Secretary Singh further stated that as 2026 marks 150 years of 'Vande Mataram,' the national song that inspired millions during the freedom struggle will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time as a tribute to its enduring legacy.
'Vande Mataram' will be sung upon the prime minister's arrival at the Red Fort. Thereafter, he will unfurl the national flag and deliver the customary address to the nation, according to the defence secretary.
"The celebrations this year will also commemorate 'Yuva Shakti' (youth power), acknowledging the contribution of young India in building a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047," he further added.
A Mi-17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force will carry a banner commemorating 150 years of 'Vande Mataram' and shower flower petals over the people gathered at the Red Fort.
To a question, the defence secretary said the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been invited to the event, and the seating arrangements for the invitees will be strictly followed as per the Table of Precedence (ToP), as per PTI.
Singh said as per ToP, LoP Rahul Gandhi's seat will be after the cabinet ministers.
The Independence Day celebrations will acknowledge the success of youth in different spheres, another defence ministry official said.
The official said, "Achievements of 19 medal winners of International Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical Olympiad 2026 are an example of the success of Yuva Shakti in the field of science. They have been invited for the function and will be seated on the rampart," as per PTI.
Approximately 5,000 special guests, who are achievers from different walks of life and are guiding the country in its 'Viksit Bharat' journey, have been invited as special guests for the celebrations, he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
