Vande Mataram to be sung at Red Fort during Independence Day ceremony

What happened: Independence Day at Red Fort includes Vande Mataram from the ramparts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August will include singing of the national song Vande Mataram from the ramparts as the Prime Minister arrives. The ceremony will start with the rendition of Vande Mataram, followed by the unfurling of the national flag and the Prime Minister’s address.

The ceremony’s theme will emphasise “Yuva Shakti”, highlighting the role of young people in the government’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

For the commemoration, 2,500 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and MY Bharat volunteers will form the words “Vande Mataram” on Gyanpath. An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter will fly over the venue carrying a banner marking the 150th anniversary of the national song and will shower flower petals over the venue.

The ceremony will also include youth participation from science and defence-linked events. The Defence Secretary said 19 medal winners from the International Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematical Olympiads 2026 will be seated on the ramparts. The event will also feature 19 medal winners from these Olympiads alongside other youth-centric participants seated on the ramparts, reflecting the youth theme.

The Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, also outlined the scale of participation and logistics. Nearly 5,000 special guests will attend, including young innovators, entrepreneurs, skilled workers, farmers, artisans, sanitation workers, and beneficiaries of government schemes. Over 1,500 Delhi-based invitees in traditional attire will be present, and about 600 winners of Defence Ministry quizzes and competitions conducted with MyGov will also take part.