LIVE: India celebrates 74th Independence Day

05:43 August 15

Jammu and Kashmir: Salal Dam in Reasi district illuminated in tricolour on the eve of 74th Independence Day.

01:33 August 15

I-Day celebrations: Beating retreat, BSF musical performance take place at Attari-Wagah border

Attari (Punjab):The Attari-Wagah border witnessed jubilant celebrations on August 14, a day ahead of the Independence Day.  

However, the day was celebrated less audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The beating retreat ceremony, an elaborate ritual of lowering the national flags of both the countries just before the sunset, took place as it does every year, followed by a musical performance by the Border Security Force band.

Meanwhile, the North Block and South Block of the Parliament House, and the India Gate illuminated with bright colours on the occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 74th Independence Day at the Red Fort in the national capital on Saturday. He will unfurl the national flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument.  

(ANI)

01:28 August 15

Major Shweta Pandey

Major Shweta Pandey to assist PM in unfurling flag on 74th I-Day

New Delhi: A woman army officer will assist Prime Minister Narendra Modi in unfurling the national flag during the 74th Independence Day function at the Red Fort, said a curtain-raiser issued by the defence ministry on Friday.  

Major Shweta Pandey will assist PM Narendra Modi in unfurling the national flag during the 74th Independence Day celebration tomorrow.  

She was part of an Indian military contingent at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in June this year.

The flag officer Major Shweta Pandey is an EME (electronics and mechanical engineers) officer from the Indian Army’s 505 base workshop.

00:46 August 15

Puducherry Legislative Assembly

Puducherry:Legislative Assembly building and statues of several leaders including that of Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr BR Ambedkar illuminated on the eve of 74th Independence Day.

00:46 August 15

India's tallest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower

Delhi: India's tallest Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at Delhi airport lit up in tricolour on the eve of 74th Independence Day

22:51 August 14

Seven 'corona warriors' to be special invitees at Delhi govt's I-Day event

The AAP government has invited seven "corona warriors", including an additional district magistrate, a doctor and an ambulance driver, for its Independence Day event, acknowledging their hard work in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the government, "corona warriors" working in the fields of administrative, medical, nursing, police, civil defense, and sanitation are serving the infected people by risking their lives. 

Among those who have been extended a special invitation by the government include ADM (Central) Rajeev Singh Parihar, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital's senior medical officer Hirdesh Kumar, LNJP Hospital's nursing officer Sonu, police constable Pradeep Chauhan, CATS ambulance driver Tej Bahadur, Civil Defence volunteer Dina Nath Yadav and municipal sanitation worker Ashok Kumar.

22:49 August 14

Trimmed guest list for Rashtrapati Bhavan 'At Home' event on I-Day

Select cabinet ministers, dignitaries from the judiciary, bureaucrats, diplomats and handpicked media personnel numbering less than 100 have been invited to attend the Rashtrapati Bhavan 'At Home' ceremony on Independence Day evening.

The VIPs visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan will not be allowed to bring their spouses, and the buffet system will be missing from the event in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There will be no freedom fighters at the ceremony this time and free interaction with VIPs won't be allowed. Expected to begin around 6 p.m., the event has an arrangement this time for four people on a table in view of safety of VIPs gathered there.

These are among the restrictions that will be in place in a new protocol-wrapped ceremony to be held against the backdrop of COVID-19.

22:47 August 14

Security tightened in Punjab, Haryana 

Tight security arrangements have been made in Punjab and Haryana ahead of the Independence Day, with vehicles being extensively checked at state borders.

Security has also been tightened in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of the two states.

A thick security blanket has been thrown around the venues where dignitaries, including governors and chief ministers, will unfurl the tricolour on August 15.

Police and security personnel have intensified checking of vehicles in the two states and Chandigarh.

Thorough checking of vehicles was being carried out at the inter-state borders and strict vigil was being maintained to keep an eye on anti-social elements.

19:47 August 14

India believes in peace but also capable of giving befitting response to any attempt of aggression, says Prez

In his address to the nation on the eve of the 74th Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday asserted that while India believes in peace it is also capable of giving a befitting response to any attempt of aggression as he said "some in our neighbourhood" tried to carry out misadventure of expansion. 

Kovind also spoke about the 'Aatmanirbhar' initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allayed fears of foreign investors saying India's self-reliance means being self-sufficient without alienating or creating distance from the world, with which it would continue to engage.

19:45 August 14

Party workers will hold flag-hoisting at 272 locations across Delhi says DCC Anil Kumar

Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar said on Friday that party workers will hold flag-hoisting at 272 locations across the national capital, including the DPCC office, to mark the Independence Day on August 15 even if they were to be booked by police.

"The Congress workers will peacefully defy the threatening and arm-twisting tactics of the Modi government and exercise their fundamental right to hoist the National Flag."

19:44 August 14

Huge cache of arms, explosives seized in Assam ahead I-Day

Huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered in Assam's Udalgiri district ahead of the Independence Day, police said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off, the recoveries were made in a joint operation by the Guwahati Police and the Udalguri Police at several places of the district on Thursday night, they said.

19:43 August 14

Time to drive out coronavirus on I-Day eve says Gujarat CM

On the eve of Independence Day, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani called on the state's people to drive out coronavirus through collective efforts.

Development had slowed down due to the pandemic, but people should convert the calamity into an opportunity which is something Gujaratis are known for, he said.

19:41 August 14

JK police DIG who nabbed suspended DSP Davinder Singh awarded gallantry medal

Jammu and Kashmir police's Deputy Inspector General Atul Kumar Goel, who broke a police-terrorist nexus by arresting now-suspended DSP Davinder Singh, is among 81 personnel of the force who have been awarded police medals for gallantry.

Overall, the J&K police's 81 medals are the maximum awarded to any police force this year, followed by the CRPFs 55. 

19:40 August 14

Prez approves gallantry award for defence personnel on eve of I-Day

On the eve of Independence Day, President Ram Nath Kovind approved gallantry awards for defence personnel, including Shaurya Chakra to three from the Army for counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the defence ministry said on Friday.

Wing Commander Vishak Nair from the Indian Air Force was also awarded the Shaurya Chakra.

Those from the Army who have been awarded the Shaurya Chakra are Lt.Col. Krishan Singh Rawat from the elite Special Forces, Major Anil Urs and Havildar Alok Kumar Dubey.

19:39 August 14

Documentary film on India's Smart Cities Mission to premiere on I-Day

A new documentary chronicling the "trailblazing journey" of India's mission to build Smart Cities will premiere on television on the occasion of Independence Day on Saturday.

The 44-minute film will focus on four cities -- Surat, Visakhapatnam, Pune and Varanasi -- exemplifying the focus of the project in various spheres like infrastructure, transportation, technology, renewable energy, restoration and preservation of heritage.

'The Next Frontier: India's Smart Cities' will premiere on August 15 at 6 pm on National Geographic channel, the network said in a statement on Friday.

19:39 August 14

32 CBI officers awarded presidential and police medals for distinguished services

A total of 32 CBI officers have been awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day, an official statement said Friday. 

While the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service has been awarded to six officers, the Police Medal for Meritorious Service has gone to 26 officers, it said.

The officers awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service are- ASP Prasenjit Roy, DSP Surinder Singh Bhullar, and Head Constables Vijay Goswami, Vazir Singh, S Ravi and Shyambir Singh, it said.

19:30 August 14

Security beefed up in Kolkata ahead of I-Day

Security has been beefed up in the city and other areas of West Bengal, particularly in border areas, ahead of the 74th Independence Day on Saturday.

At least three watchtowers have been erected at Red Road, the venue of the official Independence Day celebrations in the city, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will unfurl the national flag.

19:27 August 14

Tri-coloured cakes, pastries being prepared ahead I-Day event

Tri-coloured cakes and pastries being prepared at a bakery shop in Kolkata on the eve of 74th Independence Day. 

The owner of the bakery shop in Kolkata says, "We are selling them on discounted prices."

18:38 August 14

Most meaningful tribute to freedom fighters is to build an India they aspired for: Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday greeted people on the eve of 74th Independence Day, saying the most meaningful tribute to the freedom fighters is to build an India they aspired for.

"Let us also remember with gratitude the martyred heroes of our struggle for independence who laid down their lives for the cause of freedom," he said in his message.

The most meaningful tribute we can pay to these patriots is to build an India they aspired for, Naidu said.

17:20 August 14

Over 4,000 invited for Red Fort I-Day event: Defence Ministry

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 Friday.

It said the seating arrangement has been made under the guiding principle of Do Gaz ki Doori (maintaining distance of two yards) between any two guests.

It said members of the guard of honour have been under quarantine.

17:17 August 14

Andhra DGP, others inspect I-Day preparations at IGM Stadium in Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), along with Krishna District's Collector and Commissioner of Vijayawada Police visited Indira Gandhi Municipal (IGM) Stadium in Vijayawada to inspect arrangements for Independence Day celebrations on Friday.

Alternative arrangements are being made for the Independence Day celebrations. A road is being laid with concrete chips inside the stadium for conducting parade.

16:29 August 14

926 police personnel awarded medals

As many as 926 police personnel have been awarded medals on the occasion of Independence Day 2020, according to a release by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 

Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) have been awarded to 215 police personnel for their conspicuous gallant action, the MHA said.

16:26 August 14

Haryana DGP extends I-Day greetings, inspects security arrangements

Haryana's Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Yadav on Friday reviewed overall security arrangements in the state ahead of Independence Day (on August 15) celebrations.

"The DGP greeted families of freedom fighters, martyrs, members of Police and security forces and their families on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day," it said, adding that security arrangements were reviewed with all district Police Chiefs.

15:05 August 14

Defence ministry made special arrangements at Red Fort

Ministry of Defence is organising Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony on Saturday at Red Fort maintaining the balance between the sanctity and dignity of the National function while factoring in precautions related to the COVID-19 scenario. 

In order to facilitate seamless movement with the least chances of any crowding, seating enclosures and walkways are laid with wooden flooring and carpeting.

14:42 August 14

Heightened security for I-Day in riot-hit Bengaluru

Security has been stepped up and vigil enhanced across the tech city for the 74th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic and uneasy calm in the riot-hit areas, an official said on Friday.

"Additional forces have been deployed across the city and vigilance stepped up to ensure peaceful celebrations of the 74th Independence Day and prevent any untoward incident in the riot-hit northeast suburb where ban order on assembling of more than five people is in force," a police official told.

13:21 August 14

Security tightens in Jammu and Kashmir

Ahead of the Independence Day, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir Union territory have beefed up security arrangements in order to ensure peaceful celebrations.

The Independence Day main function in Srinagar will be held at the Sheri Kashmir cricket Stadium where tight security arrangements have also been made in and around the stadium.

12:57 August 14

12:44 August 14

Security tightens around Delhi's Red Fort ahead of Independence Day

New Delhi: The security has been tightened near Red Fort, ahead of Independence Day celebrations tomorrow. 

A full dress rehearsal was held at the Red Fort yesterday for the Independence Day celebrations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag and address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. 

The security has been tightened in the capital city in view of the celebrations. 

The Delhi Police has issued a traffic advisory to ensure safe and smooth vehicular movement across the national capital on Independence Day. (ANI)