The national song Vande Mataram will be sung for the first time from the ramparts of the Red Fort

Amidst the ongoing protests by youths and students in different parts of the country, the theme of this year's Independence Day ceremony has been kept as 'Yuva Shakti' and for the first time, the national song 'Vande Mataram' will also be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Secretary of Defense Rajesh Kumar Singh provided information about the 80th Independence Day ceremony at a press conference here on Monday. He said that considering the importance of the contribution of youths in Viksit Bharat 2047, the theme of this year's ceremony has been kept as 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat 2047'. He said that on the occasion of the completion of 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram', which inspired lakhs of people during the freedom movement, Vande Mataram will be sung for the first time from the ramparts of the Red Fort. More than 5,000 special guests have been invited for the ceremony, including students who won gold medals in the 56th International Physics Olympiad. During the Independence Day ceremony, bands of the three armed forces will perform at 343 locations across the country on different days.
Mr. Singh said that as soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Red Fort, Vande Mataram will be sung, followed by the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag, the national anthem, and then the Prime Minister's address. In response to questions, the Secretary of Defense said that the theme of Yuva Shakti was already decided and this decision was made before the movement of youths and students.
The flower decoration will have a glimpse of 'Vande Matram'. In this, 2,500 boys and girls from the National Cadet Corps, as well as volunteers from 'Mera Bharat (My Bharat)', will together form the shape of 'Vande Matram' on the Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort. The Indian Air Force's MI-17 helicopter will fly with a banner on the occasion of the completion of 150 years of Vande Matram and shower flowers on the people present at the Red Fort. The ceremony will felicitate the achievements of youths in various fields. The achievements of 19 students who won medals in the International Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics Olympiad 2026 are an example of the success of Yuva Shakti in the field of science. They have been invited to the ceremony and will be seated with special guests.
The cutouts in the background will showcase India's progress in atomic and space technology, while the flower decoration in the salami guard section will give a glimpse of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Approximately 5,000 distinguished guests, who have achieved successes in various fields of life and are guiding India's Viksit Bharat journey, have been invited as special guests. In addition, beneficiaries of various government schemes have also been called. More than 1,500 people from different states and union territories living in Delhi have been invited to attend this grand ceremony in traditional attire. They will present a glimpse of 'Mini Bharat' at the Red Fort.