India's Independence Day - August 15th 1947

Independence Day, in India, national holiday celebrated annually on August 15. Independence Day marks the end of British rule in 1947 and the establishment of a free and independent Indian nation.

Independence Day is marked throughout India with flag-raising ceremonies, drills, and the singing of the Indian national anthem. Additionally, various cultural programs are made available in the state capitals. After the prime minister participates in the flag-raising ceremony at the Red Fort historic monument in Old Delhi, a parade ensues with members of the armed forces and police. The prime minister then delivers a televised address to the country, recounting the major accomplishments of India during the previous year and outlining future challenges and goals. Kite flying has also become an Independence Day tradition, with kites of various sizes, shapes, and colours filling the sky. Also, to commemorate the day, government offices in New Delhi remain lit throughout the holiday, even though they are closed.

Prime Minister's Independence Day Speeches

1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011 2021

1952 1962 1972 1982 1992 2002 2012

1953 1963 1973 1983 1993 2003 2013

1954 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014

1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015

1956 1966 1976 1986 1996 2006 2016

1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997 2007 2017

1948 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008 2018

1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009 2019

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Here are some facts about Independence Day:

1. The Indian Independence Act passed by the British parliament on July 5, 1947, was based upon the Mountbatten plan of June 3, 1947. The act mentioned the date of independence as August 15, 1947.

2. The date August 15 was also chosen by the last viceroy and first governor-general of India Lord Mountbatten as it was the same day in 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the World War II.

3. The Indian national flag has gone through a lot of changes in the past before its current form. It was adopted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, and became the official flag on August 15, 1947.

4. Hubli-based Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha is the only institution designated to supply the national flag for the entire country by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and in conformation with the standards laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

5. Jana-Gana-Mana anthem was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 and officially adopted as India’s national anthem in 1950

6. The Mughal-era Red Fort has seen Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, unfurling the national flag 17 times. He was followed by his daughter Indira Gandhi, who got the honour 16 times.

7. Bahrain, North Korea, South Korea, Liechtenstein and Republic of Congo are the five other countries which also celebrate their Independence Day on August 15.

8. Google has been commemorating India’s Independence Day since 2003 with a special doodle on its India homepage.