The opposition has reacted with 'retirement benefits' jibes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise of the RSS - the ruling BJP' ideological mentor - in his Independence Day speech Friday.

The Prime Minister's reference and praise infuriated the Congress, which pointed out the RSS, or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had refused to hoist the national flag for the 52 years.

The party also declared Mr Modi's RSS remarks 'overtures' to an organisation seen as controlling the ruling party and playing a key role in appointments to senior posts in the government, including PM.

"The PM was tired today. Soon, he will be retired," Congress comms chief Jairam Ramesh said on X, and criticised the Prime Minister's speech as "stale, hypocritical, insipid". Read Here

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised India's "well-deserved authority" in global affairs, in his Independence Day messages to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Putin also underlined Russia's commitment to strengthening the "special privileged strategic partnership" between the two nations.

"We value our relations of special privileged strategic partnership with India," Putin said.

The Russian president exuded confidence that through joint efforts, Russia and India will continue to comprehensively increase constructive bilateral cooperation in various areas.
(With inputs from PTI)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated "dear friend" Narendra Modi and the people of India on the Independence Day.

"Israel and India are two proud democracies, bound by history, innovation, and friendship. Our nations have achieved much together and the best chapters of our partnership still lie ahead," the official account of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel wrote on X

French President Emmanuel Macron extended his greetings on the occasion of its 79th Independence Day.

"Warm congratulations to the people of India on your 79th Independence Day! I fondly recall welcoming my friend Narendra Modi to France in February, and look forward to deepening our strategic partnership towards 2047 and beyond," he wrote in a post on X. 

Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Vipin Kumar, hoist the Tricolour on the 79th Independence Day.

The United States on Friday extended wishes to India on its 79th Independence Day and said the "historic ties" between Washington and New Delhi are "consequential and far-reaching." In a statement, US State Secretary Marco Rubio stressed that America shares a vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region with India and said the ties between the two nations will rise to modern challenges.

"On behalf of the United States, I extend our congratulations and warm wishes to the people of India as they celebrate their Independence Day on August 15. The historic relationship between the world's largest democracy and the world's oldest democracy is consequential and far-reaching," the statement read.

"Our two countries are united by our shared vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership spans industries, promotes innovation, pushes the boundaries of critical and emerging technologies, and extends into space," he added.

India will build a 'Sudarshan Chakra', a 'multi-layered framework' to integrate advanced surveillance, cyber protection, and physical safeguards to protect its citizens and infrastructure from enemy strikes, terrorist or otherwise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday.

This new defensive blanket will be similar to Israel's much-vaunted Iron Dome and the United States' proposed Golden Dome - in that it will act as a missile defence shield.

But Mission Sudarshan Chakra - a nod to a story in Hindu mythology, of Sri Krishna shielding the Sun to help Arjuna defeat Jayadrath - is expected to be more than a shield against missiles.

Read here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a demographic mission to protect the country from the dangers posed by illegal immigrants. Speaking on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, he alerted the citizens to a conspiracy to change the country's demography. This will not be tolerated, he asserted while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort this morning.

"I would like to alert the nation about a concern, a challenge. Under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the country's demography is being changed, and seeds of a new crisis are being sown. These infiltrators are snatching the livelihood of the youth of my country. They are targeting our sisters and daughters. They are misleading the adivasis and grabbing their lands. This will not be tolerated," said PM Modi.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party leader Mallikarjun Kharge skipped the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Friday, sparking speculation about the reason behind their absence.

There was no official statement from the opposition party or the two leaders but sources suggested Mr Gandhi gave the event a miss after he was upset with the seating arrangement last year.

The two leaders extended their greetings to all citizens by paying tribute to the country's freedom fighters on social media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's caution against "infiltrators" posing a threat to national security has drawn a backlash from the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. A "new enemy" has been flagged after the PM targeted "andolanjeevis" or those who thrive on protests, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has said in sharp criticism of his speech on the occasion of 79th Independence Day.

Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose also demanded that the Prime Minister address his own record of 11 years, as she accused the government of "under-achieving".

"As usual @narendramodi uses his Independence Day speech to target a new "enemy." After Andolanjeevis etc now "infiltrators" is the new target. Again new "missions" announced while targeting past governments. When will Modi give a 15 August address truthfully addressing his own record of 11 years marked by over - promising and under -achieving," said the Trinamool MP in an online post.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will boycott Governor RN Ravi's customary "At Home" Independence Day reception this evening, marking a sharp escalation in the state government's confrontation with Raj Bhavan.

The government has cited what it calls the Governor's "anti-Tamil Nadu acts" as the reason for the snub. In a coordinated move, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy will also skip two upcoming university convocations, amplifying the ruling DMK's protest.

At the heart of the standoff is the Governor's decision to refer to President Droupadi Murmu a Bill passed by the Assembly to establish Kalaignar University in honour of the late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The DMK sees this as a deliberate attempt to delay assent, undermining the legislative authority of the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the success of Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as a testimony to the strength of India.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort on the occasion of country's 79th Independence Day, PM Modi said Maha Kumbh saw the vibrancy of India coming alive.

"At Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, we saw how the vibrancy of India is lived. Crores of people at one place, one thought, one life, one effort... it is a great wonder for the world," he said.

"The success of Maha Kumbh is a testimony to the strength of India. Our country is filled with the vibrancy of languages..," the PM said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 79the Independence Day address to the nation lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes.

We will ensure of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed nation) by 2047, said PM Modi. "Unity of India our collective resolve," he added.

PM Modi announces launch of Sudarshan-Chakra Mission.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about "infiltrators" and said they are "targeting our sisters".

Land of tribals is being snatched, added PM Modi as he talked about "demographic change" being a major threat.

"Bastar was always identified with Maoism. We have freed the area of Maoism," said PM Modi in his address to the nation on 79th Independence Day. 

"Red corridors have been transformed into green corridors of progress. We have broken the back of red terror. India will soon be free of red terror," he added.

"We want to celebrate diversity. Diversity is our strength," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to fight obesity and suggested every family purchases and used 10 per cent less cooking oil.

"Every family in our country should be concerned that obesity is becoming a big concern for our country today. In the coming times, every third person will be obese. We have to avoid this. I had suggested that every family should purchase 10 per cent less cooking oil and use 10 percent less oil," he said.

"Garibi Hatao was just a slogan. ," said PM Modi. "25 crore people have been pulled out of poverty," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to stand like a wall for farmers and not abandon them.

"Farmers contribute a lot to our economy, they have made India top producer of several commodities...Modi will stand like a wall for farmers. Won't tolerate any anti-farmer policies. I will not abandon my farmers," said PM Modi.

Two crore women have become 'lakhpati didis' in no time, several are seated in front of me at Red Fort, said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, Rs 1 lakh crore scheme for youth.

The scheme will benefit over 3.5 crore youth, PM Modi said.

"India is on a path to becoming the third-largest economy in the world. Our macro-economic indicators are very strong. Rating agencies are bullish on India," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises big Diwali gift in form of next generation GST reforms which will empower nation's growth.

"We have reduced tax burden with GST reform. Next-generation reforms by Diwali. Major decrease in prices of essentials soon," he said.

"We brought in reforms based on welfare of people, including in income tax. These reforms are beyond the economic arena," said PM Modi as he talked about "being trapped in colonial laws."

"We reformed the Penal Code on war footing," added PM Modi and asked the Opposition to help in pushing reforms. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called to broaden the horizons. "World will take note of our progress," he said.

"Economic selfishness is on the rise. We must chart our own path. We have weeded out unnecessary compliances," he said. 

We should take pride in Swadeshi, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We have to rule the world market and so, lower the cost. The mantra should be ‘Daam Kam, Dum Zyada’," said PM Modi.

"Vocal for local should be the citizen mantra," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for innovative ideas and urged youth to take the initiative."India is unstoppable. We don’t want to waste even a second. I appeal for innovative ideas. This is the time to dream, and I am with the youth," PM Modi said.

"I casually asked in a Mann Ki Baat episode, why are we using foreign-made toys? And today, I am proud to say that we are exporting toys," said PM Modi.

Mudra scheme is benefitting our daughters. Women self-help groups have created a revolution, said PM Modi.

"Our UPI platform is ruling the world," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "India alone is leading the way in digital transactions, with UPI accounting for 50% of these transactions. This means there is potential. So why should we rely on others? We have confidence in our capabilities. I believe in the capabilities of our youth," he added.

This is the era of information technology, said PM Modi adding, "We want to have our own AI ecosystem." 

"Our aim is to develop Made-in-India fighter jets. We have to reshape India’s future," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We are preparing for Gaganyaan on our own. There are 300 space start-ups in India, our youth are powering space tech," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Shubhanshu Shukla recently returned from space and will soon come to India," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to the nation from Red Fort on India’s 79th Independence Day, praising Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's journey to International Space Station.

India has surpassed clean energy deadline, achieving the goal five years earlier, said PM Modi.

Currently, India has to import fuel. It is important to be "self-reliant in energy," said PM Modi.

"We have to import fuel, so it’s important to become self-reliant in energy too. There is a 30% rise in solar energy use," said PM Modi.

"We are taking big initiatives for nuclear energy. By 2047, our nuclear energy capacity will increase by 10 times," he added.

Technology is the path to progress, said PM Modi as he talked about semi-conductors.

"The idea to manufacture semi-conductors came 50-60 years ago. But the push could never see the light of the day, it remained stillborn. Now, the semi-conductor push is on mission mode. I want to assure you that made-in-India chip will hit the market and flood the world market very soon," said PM Modi.

"A shining example of Made-in-India is Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor became successful because we were self-reliant," said PM Modi in his address to the nation from Red Fort on India’s 79th Independence Day.

PM Modi urged the nation to be self-reliant as that is the "true freedom."

"It is dangerous to rely on others too much, self-reliance not limited to import-export. We must expand our capabilities," PM Modi said in his address to the nation from Red Fort on India’s 79th Independence Day.

Hunger was a big challenge after Independence. Our farmers came to the rescue in such a scenario. India is 'aatmanirbhar' (self-reliant) in food security now, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected the Indus Water Treaty, calling it "one-sided".

"Indus water was being used to irrigate enemies' soil while my land remained thirsty. Now, India and its farmers will have rights on the water that belongs to it," said PM Modi.

Blood and water won’t flow together, said PM Modi as he talked about suspending the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that India "won't tolerate Pakistan's nuclear blackmail."

We reduced terror hubs to rubble, said Prime Minister Modi, lauding the efforts of the armed forces in Operation Sindoor.

"Pak terror headquarters are in ruins," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said terrorists carried out bloodshed in Pahalgam, killing 26 people in front of their families.

"India was furious after Pahalgam. Operation Sindoor is an expression of the anger," he added.

PM Modi said Indian armed forces were given full freedom to take revenge. They decided time and place of retaliation, he added.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, that killed 26 civilians, and gave a salute to the soldiers who "punished enemies beyond their imagination."

In his address to the nation on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about natural calamities including recent cloudbursts in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi and Jammu and Kashmir's Chashoti leading to flash floods.

Saluting the founders of the constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Constitution is our guiding force."

Addressing the nation on the 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it is a festival of pride and a celebration of our collective achievements.

PM Modi said India is growing from strength to strength and is united in hailing the motherland.

"This is a festival of pride, of 140 crore promises": Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation from Red Fort on India’s 79th Independence Day

PM Narendra Modi addresses nation on the 79th Independence Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurls national flag at Red Fort, leads Independence Day celebrations.

On India's 79th Independence Day, Google Doodle features tile artwork showcasing national achievements. The Doodle artwork, illustrated by artists Makarand Narkar and Sonal Vasave of Boomranng Studio, features artistic expression of India — traditional tile.

The tiles are a diverse array of styles and textures from different regions in India, ranging from Jaipur blue pottery (Rajasthan) to terracotta relief (West Bengal).

Each tile showcases a different style and a different national achievement, from space missions and world chess titles, to cricketing glory and international film recognitions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Red Fort for Independence Day celebrations.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to social media to greet the fellow Indians on Independence Day.

"This day is not just a celebration of our freedom but a sacred remembrance of the courage, sacrifice and supreme selflessness of countless heroes who gave us the honour of a free India," Mr Singh wrote.

Mr Singh called to work together to build a secure, strong and prosperous ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The Red Fort is all decked up for the 79th Independence Day celebrations, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoisted the national flag at his residence on the occasion of Independence Day 2025. Wishing the nation on the 79th Independence Day, he said, "We bow before all those whose sacrifice attained Independence for the country. We bow before everyone who is still at the borders of the country and safeguarding us."

"For independence, self-reliance is essential. For self-reliance, 'swadeshi' is essential. We should all take a pledge today that when our economy is the fourth-largest in the world, we will strive to reach the number one position. To strengthen our economy, especially craftsmen, SHGs, local artists, MSME, and make them economically strong, we should use everything 'swadeshi' in our daily life," he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah wished the nation on 79th Independence Day and paid homage to the freedom fighters "who sacrificed everything in the independence movement".
"I also salute the brave soldiers who work tirelessly for the unity, integrity, and pride of the nation. Let us all come together to fulfill the dreams of the immortal martyrs of the freedom struggle and resolve to contribute our utmost to building a developed, self-reliant, and exemplary India in every field," he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Ahead of leading 79th Independence Day celebrations from the ramparts of Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) and wished the nation. In his wish, PM Modi talked about building a Viksit Bharat (developed nation).

To promote patriotic fervor among citizens and to celebrate victory of Operation Sindoor, a number of band performances will be conducted pan-India for the first time in the evening of Independence Day celebrations. The performances will be conducted by the bands of Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, NCC, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, BSF, IDS, RPF and Assam Rifles at over 140 prominent locations throughout the country.

Seven top military officers will be honoured with gallantry medals for their valour during Operation Sindoor on Independence Day, sources on Thursday said, adding that four Indian Air Force (IAF) officers will be awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal - the country's highest wartime distinguished service decoration.

The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated during the Independence Day celebrations this year. View cutter at Gyanpath will have the Operation Sindoor logo. Floral decoration will also be based on the operation.Invitation cards are also carrying the Operation Sindoor logo, along with the water mark of Chenab bridge, depicting the rise of ‘Naya Bharat’.

The theme of 79th Independence Day is Naya Bharat. The celebrations will serve as a platform to commemorate the continuing rise of a prosperous, secure and bold Naya Bharat and provide renewed power to surge further ahead on the path to progress.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations from the iconic Red Fort in Delhi.

Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, the Prime Minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar to the Prime Minister. The GoC, Delhi Area will then conduct Narendra Modi to the Saluting Base where a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard will present general salute to the Prime Minister. Thereafter, the Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour.