Title: Celebrating India’s 78th Independence Day: A Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047
On August 15, 2024, India will celebrate its 78th Independence Day, marking yet another milestone in our journey as a free and sovereign nation. This year’s celebrations, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will be held at the historic Red Fort in Delhi, where he will unfurl the National Flag and deliver his customary address to the nation. The theme of this year’s Independence Day is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ reflecting the government’s ambitious vision to transform India into a developed nation by the centenary of our independence.
A Grand Celebration with Special Guests
This year’s Independence Day is set to be a grand affair, with around 6,000 special guests invited to witness the ceremony at Red Fort. These guests represent the diverse fabric of our nation, coming from different walks of life, including youth, tribal communities, farmers, women, and others who have excelled in their fields through various government initiatives.
Among the distinguished guests will be students benefiting from the Atal Innovation Mission and PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme, as well as volunteers from Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and the National Service Scheme under the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ initiative. Tribal artisans, Van Dhan Vikas Members, and Tribal Entrepreneurs, along with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, will also be in attendance.
In a display of the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), Anganwadi workers, elected women representatives, and beneficiaries of women-centric initiatives like Sankalp: Hub for Empowerment of Women, Lakhpati Didi, and Drone Didi initiatives will witness the event. Workers of Child Welfare Committees and District Child Protection Units will also be present.
The Indian contingent from the recently concluded Paris Olympics has been invited, along with representatives from every block of the Aspirational Blocks Programme, workers of the Border Roads Organisation, students from the PRERANA School programme, and sarpanches of Gram Panchayats that have achieved saturation in priority sector schemes. Additionally, nearly 2,000 people from various States and Union Territories, dressed in traditional attire, will join the celebrations, along with 3,000 winners of online competitions organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with MyGov and Akashvani.
The Ceremony: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
Upon his arrival at the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be received by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane. The Defence Secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, to the Prime Minister. Following this, the Prime Minister will proceed to the Saluting Base, where he will receive a general salute from a combined Inter-Services and Delhi Police Guard.
This year, the Indian Navy is the coordinating service for the Guard of Honour, which will consist of one officer and 24 personnel each from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police. The Guard of Honour will be commanded by Commander Arun Kumar Mehta, with the respective service contingents commanded by Major Arjun Singh (Army), Lieutenant Commander Gulia Bhavesh NK (Navy), Squadron Leader Akshara Uniyal (Air Force), and Additional DCP Anurag Dwivedi (Delhi Police).
After inspecting the Guard of Honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the ramparts of the Red Fort, where he will be greeted by key defense and government officials. Lieutenant Sanjeet Saini will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling the National Flag, synchronized with a 21 Gun Salute by the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial), commanded by Major Sabnis Kaushik. The National Flag Guard, comprising personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police, will present the Rashtriya Salute as the Tricolour is unfurled.
As the National Flag is unfurled, flower petals will be showered upon the venue by two Advanced Light Helicopters Dhruv of the Indian Air Force, piloted by Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Wing Commander Rahul Nainwal. Following this, the Prime Minister will deliver his address to the nation, outlining the government’s vision and roadmap for achieving a developed India by 2047.
Youth Participation: Shaping the Future
This year’s Independence Day celebrations will see significant participation from the youth of the nation. A total of 2,000 boy and girl cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will form the ‘My भारत’ logo on Gyanpath, opposite the Rampart. Additionally, 500 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers will participate in the ceremony, underscoring the critical role of India’s youth in shaping the nation’s future.