Independence Day Celebrations 2020 LIVE Updates: The world saw our valour at Ladakh says PM
India
oi-Oneindia Staff
New Delhi, Aug 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unfurled the tricolour and is addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, to mark India's 74th Independence Day. This year's 'I-Day' celebrations have been overshadowed by the pandemic.
Stay tuned for live updates:
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9:01 AM, 15 Aug
PM Modi ends address with ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ Vande Mataram and Jai Hind
8:59 AM, 15 Aug
Let us take an oath that we move ahead and innovate. Let us be empowered and go vocal for local says PM Modi.
8:58 AM, 15 Aug
We should produce the best products and not do the ordinary says PM Modi.
8:57 AM, 15 Aug
Few days back the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Mandir was laid says PM Modi.
8:53 AM, 15 Aug
In the next 1,000 days Lakshadweep will get fast internet. This is our goal says PM Modi.
8:45 AM, 15 Aug
Be it an aggressor or a terrorist, India is fighting them says PM Modi. Out of 192, 184 countries supported us at the United Nations Security Council, the PM also said. This is because we are strong and secure says PM.
8:44 AM, 15 Aug
What our brave soldiers can do, the entire world has seen at Ladakh says PM.
8:43 AM, 15 Aug
Every inch of land from LoC to LAC will be protected says PM
8:43 AM, 15 Aug
Our Army paid back in their own coin. We will protect every inch of our land right from the LoC to LAC.
8:42 AM, 15 Aug
We have launched Project Tiger which has increased the number of tigers in the country. We will be launching Project Lion soon says PM Modi. We will also launch Project Dolphin says PM Modi. This will strengthen bio-diversity the PM also said.
8:37 AM, 15 Aug
By making Ladakh a Union Territory, we have fulfilled the long pending dream of the people of the region says PM Modi.
8:36 AM, 15 Aug
I commend the role played by all in the development of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The process of delimitation is on says PM Modi.
8:35 AM, 15 Aug
We have set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age for the marriage of our daughters says PM Modi. Appropriate decision will be taken after the recommendations come says PM Modi.
8:33 AM, 15 Aug
We will produce corona vaccine in large numbers once ready says PM
8:32 AM, 15 Aug
The big question is when will there be a vaccine for coronavirus. Three vaccines are being tested and once cleared they will produced in large numbers says PM Modi.
8:31 AM, 15 Aug
PM announces National Digital Health Mission. All will have a health identification card, the PM also said.
8:29 AM, 15 Aug
When the pandemic broke out we could conduct only 300 tests per day. Now it is 7 lakh tests per day says PM Modi.
8:25 AM, 15 Aug
PM speaks on cyber security. We are taking steps to ensure that our cyber space is safe says PM Modi.
8:25 AM, 15 Aug
Work on the optical fibre network will be completed in 6 lakh villages says PM Modi.
8:18 AM, 15 Aug
The middle class is empowered today. Cheap internet, cheaper home loans are being offered for their empowerment says PM Modi.
8:16 AM, 15 Aug
The Jal Jeevan Mission which I announced here last year is a success. It is giving clean drinking water to all says PM Modi. I am happy to say that more than 1 lakh houses are getting clean drinking water everyday says PM.
8:11 AM, 15 Aug
Today Multi National Companies from across the world are coming to India says PM Modi.
8:10 AM, 15 Aug
We should re-skill and up-skill says PM Modi while once again emphasising on vocal for local says PM Modi.
8:04 AM, 15 Aug
I am confident that measures like opening up the space sector will get employment for many and create opportunities for the youth says PM Modi.
8:02 AM, 15 Aug
Along with Make in India, we should now also Make for the World says PM Modi.
8:00 AM, 15 Aug
The entire world is watching our reforms such as one nation one ration card, one nation one tax says PM Modi.
7:59 AM, 15 Aug
Did anyone think that crores of Rupees would be transferred into the Jan Dhan accounts says PM Modi.
7:59 AM, 15 Aug
Let vocal for local be our motto says PM Modi.
7:59 AM, 15 Aug
We have proven that we are self reliant. During the pandemic, we were not able to get medical equipments from outside due to the challenges. India has made N-95 masks, ventilators etc. I commend this says PM Modi.
7:56 AM, 15 Aug
Reducing imports is not what Atma Nirbhar only means. We have to increase our creativity, enhance skill development also says PM Modi.
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4:56 AM, 15 Aug
Multilayered security arrangements and mandatory adherence to social distancing norms are in place for the 74th Independence Day celebrations at the Mughal-era Red Fort this year.
4:56 AM, 15 Aug
A security ring, including NSG snipers, elite SWAT commandos and kite catchers, will be placed around the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation.
4:56 AM, 15 Aug
Over 300 cameras have been installed for security and their footage is being monitored round the clock, police said. There will be around 4,000 security personnel at the Red Fort and they will stand in adherence with social distancing norms.
4:56 AM, 15 Aug
The security in and around railways stations has also been intensified.
4:56 AM, 15 Aug
The security arrangements were stringent and there were traffic restrictions during the rehearsal. The Red Fort has already been closed for the public ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.
5:01 AM, 15 Aug
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address on 74th Independence Day is all set to focus on the government’s pet theme of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the National Digital Health Mission and India’s revival plan to pull Asia’s third-largest economy from the deep economic abyss following the pandemic.
5:09 AM, 15 Aug
This will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seventh I-Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. The ceremony on Saturday morning shall consist of a guard of honour by the armed forces and the Delhi Police to PM Modi, unfurling of the national flag, firing of the 21-gun salute, speech by the PM, singing of the national anthem immediately after his speech, and release of tri-coloured balloons at the end.
Security check being conducted in Red Fort premises ahead of independenceDay celebrations.
6:56 AM, 15 Aug
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to first visit Rajghat to pay a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
6:56 AM, 15 Aug
Over 4,000 people including diplomats, officials and media personnel have been invited for the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort and it is being organised maintaining a balance between dignity of the event and factoring in Covid-19 protocols, the defence ministry said on Friday.
6:56 AM, 15 Aug
PM Narendra Modi will shortly address the nation on the occasion of Independence Day.
6:59 AM, 15 Aug
According to a Defence ministry statement, the prime minister will also receive the Guard of Honour contingent, consisting of one officer and 24 men each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police.
6:59 AM, 15 Aug
Major Shweta Pandey will assist the prime minister in unfurling the National Flag.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
On his arrival at 7.18 AM in front of the Lahore Gate of the Red Fort, the prime minister will be received by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
The defence secretary will introduce the General Officer Commanding (GoC), Delhi Area, Lt Gen Vijay Kumar Mishra to the prime minister.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
The GoC Delhi Area will then conduct the prime minister to the Saluting Base where a combined inter-services and police guards will present general salute to him, following which he will inspect the Guard of Honour, the statement said.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
This year, Army being the coordinating Service, the Guard of Honour will be commanded by Lt Col Gaurav S Yewalkar.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
Army contingent in the prime minister's Guard will be commanded by Major Palvinder Grewal, the Navy contingent by Lt Commander K V R Reddy, while Squadron Leader Vikas Kumar will lead the Air Force contingent and the Delhi Police contingent will be led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Jitender Kumar Meena.
7:00 AM, 15 Aug
After the tri-colour is unfurled by the prime minister, the National Guard will give 'Rashtriya Salute' to the National Flag, the statement said.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
The unfurling of the tri-colour will synchronise with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (Ceremonial). The ceremonial battery will be commanded by Lt Col Jitendra Singh Mehta and the Gun Position Officer will be Naib Subedar (AIG) Anil Chand.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
The National Flag Guard comprising 32 men and one officer each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police will present 'Rashtriya Salute' at the time of unfurling of the National Flag by the prime minister.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
Major Surya Prakash from the Army will be in command of this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard. The Naval Contingent for the National Flag Guard will be commanded by Lt Commander Vivek Tingloo, Air Force contingent by Squadron Leader Mayank Abhishek and Delhi Police contingent by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhanshu Dhama.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
After unfurling the National Flag, the prime minister will address the nation. After the speech of the prime minister is over, the National Cadet Corps cadets will sing the National Anthem.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
A total of 500 NCC cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) from different schools will be taking part.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
The sanctity and dignity of the national event are being factored in while also ensuring precautions relating to the pandemic.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
Display boards are being placed to attract the attention of the invitees about the precautions that would need to be maintained. Further, all invitees have been told to wear masks. There are also masks being kept handy for distribution at the various points at the venue.
7:01 AM, 15 Aug
The government has issued 4,000 invites for the event. Participation is only through invitation and those who do not have the formal invites have been asked to refrain from coming to the venue.
7:02 AM, 15 Aug
At the entrance, there would be thermal screening and in the run up to the event, regular sanitisation is being carried out. Several medical booths have also been put in place. These booths would cater to those who is detected to having any symptoms relating to COVID-19. The government has also put in place several ambulances.
7:02 AM, 15 Aug
The members of the Guard of Honour have been under quarantine to ensure safety. The seating enclosures and walkways have been laid with wooden flooring and carpeting to ensure seamless movement of the guests and also avoid crowding.