Independence Day 2023 Live Updates: Burj Khalifa in Dubai illuminated in Indian tricolour

The Noida sky on Tuesday was coloured in the shades of India's tricolour as an array of over a 100 kites -- all attached to a single string -- were flown from the roof of the city's tallest building as part of 77th Independence Day celebrations. A team of over half a dozen people from a private agency went to the 66th floor of Supertech Supernova at Sector 94 here around 10.30 am and kept the kites flying for more than two hours.

Opposition parties Tuesday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech as a "crass election speech filled with distortions, lies, exaggerations and vague promises" and his "farewell" address from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The Congress said instead of bringing the country together on Independence Day, Modi made it all about himself and his image and not accepting the challenges ahead and celebrating the country's journey so far.

Observing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on Independence Day celebrations reflected the roadmap for a developed country till 2047, Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda on Tuesday said that the former's address to the nation from ramparts of Red Fort was inspiring for the youth.

When India celebrates 100 years of freedom in 2047, it will be a developed nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, exhorting 140 crore Indians not to pause or step back from that dream. Addressing the nation on the 77th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said the country is moving forward with the dream of a developed India by 2047.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the swift roll out of 5G technology in the country and said India is now getting ready for 6G and a task force has been set-up for the same. Addressing the nation on the 77th Independence Day Modi said the internet is now reaching every village and the country is now gearing up for quantum computers.

As the country celebrated Independence Day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said "Bharat Mata" is the voice of every single Indian, no matter how weak or strong. In his message on Independence Day, he talked about his 145-day Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and shared his experience on how the people during his journey touched him all along. "The object of my love had suddenly revealed herself. My beloved Bharat Mata was not a land. It wasn't a set of ideas. It wasn't a particular culture, history or religion. Neither was it the caste that people had been assigned.

BJP leaders on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address as "historic and inspiring", asserting that he laid down the road map for making India a developed country by 2047. BJP president J P Nadda said the address was inspirational and was also reflective of the country's growing self-confidence and capabilities. Modi laid down the road map for the country's development journey till 2047 and called for removing the festering wounds of corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement, he said in a statement.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said though the country has made considerable progress post-Independence, the goals set to be achieved by the country were not met. Speaking after hoisting the National Flag at the Golconda Fort here on the occasion of Independence Day, he said the country is endowed with natural resources and hard-working people, but these are not being utilised properly due to the inefficiency and bankruptcy of ideas of rulers. “People are suffering unnecessarily despite having everything," he said.

India has gained a new strategic strength in recent years and the country's borders are now more secure than ever, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, in his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort. The prime minister said a number of military reforms are being undertaken to modernise the armed forces and make them young and battle ready to deal with the future challenges. He also reiterated the government's unwavering resolve to ensure national security amid the current global security scenario. "India has gained a new strategic strength in recent years and today our borders are more secure than ever," Modi said.

The Congress on Tuesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech as a "crass election speech filled with distortions, lies, exaggerations and vague promises". The opposition party said instead of bringing the country together on Independence Day, he made it all about himself and his image and not accepting the challenges ahead and celebrating the country's journey so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday outlined a picture of a resurgent India globally on his watch and exuded confidence in his last Independence Day speech before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls that he will address people from Red Fort again next year, even as he attacked the opposition over issues of corruption, dynastic politics and appeasement. Modi called for promoting "suchita, pardarshita and nishpakshta" (probity, transparency and impartiality) in every sphere of life and governance and, in a clear re-election bid ahead of the national elections, warned people against dynastic parties who worked with the mantra of "by the family, of the family and for the family".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech outlined the notable achievements of his government in the last decade, which have laid the blueprint for India becoming a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, industry body CII said on Tuesday. India is at a decisive turning point and has the strength to shape the new world order that was emerging in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, Modi said on August 15 and assured the countrymen of a "New India" with a bright future in next five years.

Recalling the era of Covid-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India helped different countries during the time of crisis and that India has emerged as a "Vishwa Mitra" (friend of the world). "We have to make our country so strong that will contribute to Vishwa Mangal (Global welfare).After Covid, the way India helped the world during the time of crisis, India has emerged as Vishwa Mitra. When we talk about Vishwa Mangal which is India's basic idea that we have to expand," PM Modi said while addressing the countrymen from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, said the world is facing inflation but India has taken several measures to tackle inflation and will continue to do so. In his 10th address from the ramparts of the Red Fort today, PM Modi said, "The world has still not recovered from Corona. The war gave rise to another crisis. Today, the world is facing the crisis of inflation. Inflation has the entire global economy in its clutches...It is unfortunate that when we import goods of our necessity, we also import inflation."

After addressing the nation for the 10th time since assuming the country's highest office, on the 77th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with the special guests or invitees at the main celebratory event at the iconic Red Fort. As PM Modi concluded his speech, balloons in the colours of the national flag were released into the air even as the tricolour flew proudly from the ramparts of the iconic monument.

"As a new world order emerged after World War-2, I can clearly see a new world order, a new geopolitical equation is fast taking shape after Covid-19. I can see the strength of 140 crore Indians in shaping the changing world. You are at a decisive turning point," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated India on its 77th Independence Day and said New Delhi can count on Paris as a "trusted friend." On the social media account, X (formerly known as Twitter), Macron called Priem Minister Narendra Modi a "friend" and said that they had set new ambitions for Indio-French relations. "Congratulations to the Indian people on your Independence Day! A month ago in Paris, my friend @narendramodi and I set new Indo-French ambitions all the way to 2047, the centenary year of India’s Independence. India can count on France as a trusted friend and partner, always."

India is at a decisive turning point and has the strength to shape the new world order that was emerging in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday and assured the countrymen of a "New India" with a bright future in next five years. Addressing the nation on the 77th Independence Day, the Prime Minister urged fellow citizens not to lose the opportunity to realise the country's potential as the decisions and sacrifices made in this period will impact the country for the next 1000 years. "Today we have demography, democracy, diversity, and this 'Triveni' (three factors) has the potential to make every dream of India come true," he said. The Prime Minister said experts the world over are saying that India was now unstoppable. "As a new world order emerged after World War-2, I can clearly see a new world order, a new geopolitical equation is fast taking shape after Covid-19. I can see the strength of 140 crore Indians in shaping the changing world. You are at a decisive turning point," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 10th consecutive Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Tuesday lasted for nearly 90 minutes. His longest speech, however, was in 2016 when he spoke for 94 minutes. Till 2015, the longest speech ever given by an Indian PM was in 1947, when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spoke for 72 minutes.

Calling India a "fastest-growing major economy," Singapore High Commissioner Simon Wong on Tuesday wished "dearest friends" on the 77th Independence Day. On the social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), Wong said, "Happy 77th #IndependenceDay to our dearest friends! Frm ’s largest democracy, to fastest growing major econ, tech epicentre & more - has much to celebrate & aspire towards. is proud to be steadfast partner & look fwd to scaling greater heights tgt!"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that corruption and appeasement politics have damaged the country and noted that political parties who believe in dynastic politics have one mantra – “party of the family, by the family and for the family”. Addressing the 77th Independence Day function from the ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi said there is a need to fight corruption, dynasty and appeasement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday highlighted the country's development and said that global experts are lauding the country and are saying India will not stop now. Addressing countrymen from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 77th Independence Day, PM Modi said, "Global experts are saying that India will not stop now, all rating agencies lauding the country." He also lauded the contribution of youth in making the digital public infrastructure successful and said that those from Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities also making a lot of impact in various fields, including start-ups

In his 10th consecutive and the last Independence Day speech ahead of the 2024 elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I will give an account of the country's achievements on next August 15 from Red Fort."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sported a multicolour Rajasthani bandhani print turban with an off-white kurta and churidar for the 77th Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort. For his 10th Independence Day speech as prime minister, Modi also wore a black V-neck jacket with the turban which was a mix of yellow, green and red colour with a long tail. It was in keeping with the tradition of PM Modi wearing colourful turbans on every Independence Day since 2014. Flamboyant and colourful turbans have been a regular feature in the prime minister's attire for Independence Day and Republic Day events.

"India is feeling a sense of security now. Serial bomb blasts are a thing of past... Terror attacks, incidents in Naxalism-hit areas have gone down," PM Modi said in 10th consecutive Independence Day address on Tuesday.

"There is great faith and expectation from India," PM Modi says in his Independence Day address.

Union home minister Amit Shah extended warm wishes to the country on the occasion of Independence Day while paying his tributes to the heroes of India's freedom struggle. Taking to his official handle on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the Union Minister posted in Hindi, "I wish a very happy Independence Day to all my fellow countrymen. I bow to all the freedom fighters who got us independence."

The Prime Minister, in his speech on Tuesday, said, "Our decisions, sacrifices in this period will impact next 1,000 years."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, in his Independence Day address, said that India stands with Manipur, and that the situation in the northeastern state is improving.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The largest democracy of the world and now also the leading country in terms of population. Such a large country, 140 crore members of my family are celebrating Independence Day today."

The Prime Minister began his I-Day speech by addressing 140 crore Indians as 'parivarjan'.

The Prime Minister unfurls the Indian national flag at Delhi's Red Fort, ahead of his Independence Day speech.

PM Modi inspects guard of honour at Red Fort ahead of his Independence Day speech.

The Prime Minister has arrived at Red Fort. He will hoist the national flag and address the nation on the occasion of 77th Independence Day shortly.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has extended wishes to the people of India on its 77th Independence Day. He stated that India and US have a "strong bond" as the two nations work together for a world that is open, prosperous, secure, stable and resilient. "On behalf of the United States of America, we send our warmest wishes to the people of India as they commemorate 76 years of independence this August 15. On this momentous day, we reflect on the depth and breadth of our strategic partnership, and we celebrate the proud history of the Indian people, who are the key to the bright future we are building together," Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Multi-layer security is in place across Delhi on Tuesday, with more than 10,000 personnel manning the area in and around the historic Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on its 77th Independence Day, police said. Around 1,000 cameras with facial recognition and video analytic systems have been installed in and around the Mughal-era fort and at other strategic locations to ensure security and monitor VVIP movements, they said. Traffic has also been restricted near the Red Fort till the end of the celebrations.