August 15, 2026

India celebrates 80th Independence day NEW DELHI: From Washington and Jerusalem to Singapore and Kathmandu, leaders and institutions across the world extended greetings to India on Saturday as the country marked its 80th Independence Day, highlighting the strength of bilateral ties and the breadth of cooperation with New Delhi.IsraelIsrael’s president Isaac Herzog congratulated President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.“On behalf of the State of Israel, I warmly congratulate President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the wonderful people of India on your 80th Independence Day! May we continue to strengthen the beautiful friendship between Israel and India,” Herzog wrote on X. He also posted his wishes in Hindi.The message came after Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu reviewed progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and discussed the situation in West Asia during a recent phone call.United StatesUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said the India-US relationship continues to grow and is “stronger than ever”.“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day. Thanks to the personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the U.S.-India relationship continues to grow and is stronger than ever,” Rubio said.He highlighted cooperation in defence, energy security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation and commerce.“From defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, and commerce, our collaboration is making both of our nations, and the broader Indian Ocean region, safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Rubio said. He added: “The United States looks forward to the future our two countries will build together.”SingaporeSingapore president Tharman Shanmugaratnam congratulated India on the “joyous occasion” and underscored the countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.“On behalf of the people of Singapore, I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of India on the joyous occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day,” Tharman wrote in a letter addressed to President Murmu.He also pointed to close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation in skills development, digitalisation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.NepalNepal prime minister Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah extended greetings and best wishes to PM Modi, the Government of India and the people of India.“On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to PM Narendra Modi and the friendly people and Government of India,” the Office of the Prime Minister of Nepal said in a post on X.MaldivesMaldives president Mohamed Muizzu also joined the global chorus of greetings, extending his “warmest greetings” to the President and PM Modi on the country’s 80th Independence Day. Muizzu said eight decades of independence reflected India’s “aspirations, resilience and enduring spirit” and reaffirmed Male’s commitment to advancing the close partnership between the two countries, built on “mutual respect, shared prosperity and enduring friendship”.Additionally, the former president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also greeted India, writing, “Warm felicitations to President Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and our dear friends, the people of India, on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.” He described India’s journey since 1947 as an inspiration and said, “May the close ties of cooperation and friendship that exist between Maldives-India grow ever stronger.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLatviaLatvia’s ministry of foreign affairs conveyed its greetings, saying: “Happy Independence Day to India from Latvia! Wishing India continued progress, unity, and prosperity.”AustraliaAustralia’s high commissioner to India Philip Green joined the celebrations, sharing visuals of the Australian High Commission illuminated in the colours of the Indian Tricolour.“The High Commission is glowing in saffron, white & green, with our team proudly dressing in the colours of the Indian tricolour,” Green said. “From all of us, a very Happy Independence Day to Indians across the globe,” he added.IrelandThe Irish embassy in India also extended greetings, saying, “Happy 80th Independence Day, India! Warm wishes from the Embassy & CG Mumbai to Indians everywhere.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins
India celebrates 80th Independence day NEW DELHI: From Washington and Jerusalem to Singapore and Kathmandu, leaders and institutions across the world extended greetings to India on Saturday as the country marked its 80th Independence Day, highlighting the strength of bilateral ties and the breadth of cooperation with New Delhi.IsraelIsrael’s president Isaac Herzog congratulated President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.“On behalf of the State of Israel, I warmly congratulate President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the wonderful people of India on your 80th Independence Day! May we continue to strengthen the beautiful friendship between Israel and India,” Herzog wrote on X. He also posted his wishes in Hindi.The message came after Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu reviewed progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and discussed the situation in West Asia during a recent phone call.United StatesUS secretary of state Marco Rubio said the India-US relationship continues to grow and is “stronger than ever”.“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day. Thanks to the personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the U.S.-India relationship continues to grow and is stronger than ever,” Rubio said.He highlighted cooperation in defence, energy security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation and commerce.“From defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, and commerce, our collaboration is making both of our nations, and the broader Indian Ocean region, safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Rubio said. He added: “The United States looks forward to the future our two countries will build together.”SingaporeSingapore president Tharman Shanmugaratnam congratulated India on the “joyous occasion” and underscored the countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.“On behalf of the people of Singapore, I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of India on the joyous occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day,” Tharman wrote in a letter addressed to President Murmu.He also pointed to close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation in skills development, digitalisation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.NepalNepal prime minister Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah extended greetings and best wishes to PM Modi, the Government of India and the people of India.“On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to PM Narendra Modi and the friendly people and Government of India,” the Office of the Prime Minister of Nepal said in a post on X.MaldivesMaldives president Mohamed Muizzu also joined the global chorus of greetings, extending his “warmest greetings” to the President and PM Modi on the country’s 80th Independence Day. Muizzu said eight decades of independence reflected India’s “aspirations, resilience and enduring spirit” and reaffirmed Male’s commitment to advancing the close partnership between the two countries, built on “mutual respect, shared prosperity and enduring friendship”.Additionally, the former president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also greeted India, writing, “Warm felicitations to President Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and our dear friends, the people of India, on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.” He described India’s journey since 1947 as an inspiration and said, “May the close ties of cooperation and friendship that exist between Maldives-India grow ever stronger.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesLatviaLatvia’s ministry of foreign affairs conveyed its greetings, saying: “Happy Independence Day to India from Latvia! Wishing India continued progress, unity, and prosperity.”AustraliaAustralia’s high commissioner to India Philip Green joined the celebrations, sharing visuals of the Australian High Commission illuminated in the colours of the Indian Tricolour.“The High Commission is glowing in saffron, white & green, with our team proudly dressing in the colours of the Indian tricolour,” Green said. “From all of us, a very Happy Independence Day to Indians across the globe,” he added.IrelandThe Irish embassy in India also extended greetings, saying, “Happy 80th Independence Day, India! Warm wishes from the Embassy & CG Mumbai to Indians everywhere.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke


'Warmest congratulations': World leaders wish India 80th Independence Day, hail growing ties
India celebrates 80th Independence day

NEW DELHI: From Washington and Jerusalem to Singapore and Kathmandu, leaders and institutions across the world extended greetings to India on Saturday as the country marked its 80th Independence Day, highlighting the strength of bilateral ties and the breadth of cooperation with New Delhi.

Israel

Israel’s president Isaac Herzog congratulated President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.“On behalf of the State of Israel, I warmly congratulate President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the wonderful people of India on your 80th Independence Day! May we continue to strengthen the beautiful friendship between Israel and India,” Herzog wrote on X. He also posted his wishes in Hindi.The message came after Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu reviewed progress in the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership and discussed the situation in West Asia during a recent phone call.

United States

US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the India-US relationship continues to grow and is “stronger than ever”.“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day. Thanks to the personal relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the U.S.-India relationship continues to grow and is stronger than ever,” Rubio said.He highlighted cooperation in defence, energy security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation and commerce.“From defence and energy security to critical minerals, artificial intelligence, space cooperation, and commerce, our collaboration is making both of our nations, and the broader Indian Ocean region, safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” Rubio said. He added: “The United States looks forward to the future our two countries will build together.”

Singapore

Singapore president Tharman Shanmugaratnam congratulated India on the “joyous occasion” and underscored the countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.“On behalf of the people of Singapore, I extend my warmest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of India on the joyous occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day,” Tharman wrote in a letter addressed to President Murmu.He also pointed to close people-to-people ties and expanding cooperation in skills development, digitalisation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing.

Nepal

Nepal prime minister Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah extended greetings and best wishes to PM Modi, the Government of India and the people of India.“On the occasion of India’s 80th Independence Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to PM Narendra Modi and the friendly people and Government of India,” the Office of the Prime Minister of Nepal said in a post on X.

Maldives

Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu also joined the global chorus of greetings, extending his “warmest greetings” to the President and PM Modi on the country’s 80th Independence Day. Muizzu said eight decades of independence reflected India’s “aspirations, resilience and enduring spirit” and reaffirmed Male’s commitment to advancing the close partnership between the two countries, built on “mutual respect, shared prosperity and enduring friendship”.Additionally, the former president, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also greeted India, writing, “Warm felicitations to President Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, and our dear friends, the people of India, on the occasion of India’s Independence Day.” He described India’s journey since 1947 as an inspiration and said, “May the close ties of cooperation and friendship that exist between Maldives-India grow ever stronger.”

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As the date changed from August 14 to August 15, 1947, India emerged as an independent nation. “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.”With those words, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, gave voice to one of the most consequential moments in the country’s history.As the date changed from August 14 to August 15, 1947, nearly two centuries of British rule formally came to an end and India emerged as an independent nation.But midnight was not the culmination of the story. The first hours of freedom brought exhilaration, ceremony and celebration, but also the enormous responsibility of running a new country. A government had to begin functioning, the machinery of the state had to be inherited and reorganised, and millions of people were already caught in the upheaval of Partition.The new nation marked its freedom with flags, crowds, prayers and speeches. Yet beyond the celebrations, refugees were on the move, communal violence was spreading and India’s final borders were still unknown.A midnight that turned into historyThe story of India’s freedom began before the clock struck 12. On the evening of August 14, members of the Constituent Assembly gathered in New Delhi for the historic session that would mark the transfer of power.The Assembly, which had been working on India’s constitutional future, was now poised to become the central political institution of a sovereign country.Just before midnight, the chamber was charged with the knowledge that the date itself was about to change.Then came Nehru.His speech the “Tryst with Destiny”, transformed the formal transfer of power into a moment of history. He spoke of stepping “out from the old to the new”, of an age ending and the “soul of a nation” finding expression after a long period of suppression.It was the beginning.In his message to the nation published on August 15, the Prime Minister described India as “awake, vital, free and independent”, but immediately turned to the responsibilities that came with freedom. Poverty, ignorance and disease had to be fought; democratic and social institutions had to be built; and political freedom had to translate into opportunity for ordinary people.That distinction is crucial to understanding India’s first day as an independent country. The midnight ceremony was not simply a celebration of Britain’s departure. It was the first public act of a government that suddenly had to govern.The new governmentEven before the midnight ceremony, Nehru had announced the Cabinet that would take charge from August 15. As per the announcement Nehru would handle the external affairs and commonwealth relations in addition to the Prime Minister’s responsibilities. Vallabhbhai Patel took charge of home, information and broadcasting, and states. Rajendra Prasad handled food and agriculture. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was given education. Baldev Singh took defence. B R Ambedkar was given law. R.K. Shanmukham Chetty handled finance and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was given health, among other portfolios.Why did India get Independence on August 15, 1947?The choice of August 15 was not part of the original timetable for India’s independence. The British government had initially planned to transfer power by June 1948, but Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, brought the date forward by almost a year.One reason, he later explained, was the urgency of preventing further riots, protests and bloodshed amid the worsening political and communal situation. But the date also had a personal significance for Mountbatten. August 15 was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied powers in 1945, marking the end of the Second World War. As Supreme Allied Commander of the South-East Asia Command, Mountbatten had accepted the Japanese surrender in Singapore.Years later, in Freedom at Midnight, Mountbatten was quoted as explaining that the date had essentially “come out of the blue”. He said he wanted to demonstrate that he was in control of the transfer of power and, when pressed for a date, settled on August 15 because of its connection with Japan’s surrender.But there was a problem: August 15 was considered inauspicious by astrologers consulted at the time. According to the Hindu calendar, the new day traditionally began at sunrise, making the daytime of August 15 unsuitable for such a momentous occasion.The solution was unusual but symbolic. The Constituent Assembly would meet at midnight between August 14 and August 15, allowing India to enter its new era at the precise moment the date changed in the Western calendar.That is why India’s independence was ushered in not at dawn on August 15, but at the stroke of midnight.Delhi turns into a sea of peopleAs dawn approached on August 15, the mood in Delhi shifted from solemn ceremony to public celebration. Crowds filled streets and public spaces, flags appeared everywhere and people who had spent their lives under British rule suddenly found themselves living in a country that was politically their own.The Tricolour, formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly only a few weeks earlier, became the most visible symbol of that transformation.But there was no established Independence Day script. There was no decades-old tradition of the Prime Minister appearing at the Red Fort every August 15, no familiar sequence of ceremonies for officials to repeat. India was inventing its Independence Day even as it celebrated the first one.The ceremony Indians now instinctively associate with August 15, the Prime Minister unfurling the national flag from the Red Fort, did not happen on that date in 1947.The first Independence Day was different.The flag was not first raised at the Red FortThe Red Fort, now synonymous with India’s Independence Day celebrations, was not the setting for the country’s first flag-hoisting ceremony.One of the earliest known hoistings of the Tricolour in independent India took place in Madras, now Chennai, at Fort St George at 5:30 am on August 15, 1947, just hours after India formally became independent.The 12ft by 8ft pure-silk flag used for the ceremony is preserved at the Fort St George Museum and remains one of the surviving flags from that historic day. It offers a tangible link to the dawn of freedom, when the Tricolour was being raised across the country for the first time.Later that morning, Nehru hoisted the national flag at Princess Park near India Gate, rather than at the Red Fort. Historical records preserved in the Nehru Archive note that the official Independence Day function was held there.The Red Fort ceremony came the following day. Nehru unfurled the Tricolour there for the first time on August 16, 1947.That ceremony would eventually become the defining ritual of August 15, turning the Mughal-era monument into the enduring backdrop of India’s annual Independence Day celebrations.Mountbatten, the British Viceroy who stayed onThere was another striking contradiction at the heart of India’s first hours of freedom: Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, did not leave with the British Raj.Instead, he became independent India’s first Governor-General. The Indian Independence Act provided for the creation of two new Dominions, India and Pakistan, while Mountbatten continued in Independent India in his new constitutional role.His presence reflected the complicated nature of the transfer of power. Independence did not mean that every British institution, official or administrative arrangement disappeared at the stroke of midnight. Political authority had passed from the British Crown, but the machinery through which the subcontinent had been governed had to be repurposed almost overnight.Railways had to keep moving, communications had to be maintained, food supplies managed, finances administered, armed forces commanded, courts operated and cities policed, all while the same administrative system was being divided between India and Pakistan.Freedom, in other words, had arrived with a long to-do list.Gandhi away from the celebrationsWhile Delhi prepared to celebrate independence with flags, speeches and crowds, Mahatma Gandhi chose to spend August 15, 1947, far from the capital, in violence-hit Calcutta.At the Constituent Assembly, his name was invoked, while outside, crowds raised cries of “Mahatma Gandhi ki jai”. But Gandhi himself was in Beliaghata, trying to prevent Hindus and Muslims from turning on each other.On August 14, Gandhi attended a packed prayer meeting and announced that he would undertake a 24-hour fast, prayer and spinning on August 15. The Gandhi Heritage Portal records that he spent Independence Day on a long fast, receiving a constant stream of visitors.Gandhi had left Delhi about two weeks earlier. After spending four days in Kashmir, he travelled to Calcutta, where communal tensions remained dangerously high.Historian Ramachandra Guha, in India After Gandhi, writes that Gandhi arrived in Calcutta on the afternoon of August 13 and took up residence in Beliaghata, at Hyderi Mansion, a building surrounded by a deeply divided neighbourhood.Gandhi deliberately chose to stay in a Muslim-owned house in a predominantly Hindu locality, accompanied by Bengal’s former premier Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, in an attempt to demonstrate that reconciliation was still possible.The building, now known as Gandhi Bhawan, became closely associated with one of the most extraordinary episodes surrounding Independence. Gandhi stayed there from August 13 to September 7, even as the rest of the country celebrated the end of British rule.His presence in Beliaghata was later associated with what came to be known as the “miracle of Calcutta”, after the communal violence subsided.Freedom and Partition arrived togetherFor millions, there was no clean separation between August 15 and Partition. The creation of India and Pakistan triggered one of the largest mass migrations in modern history, as Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who had lived for generations in the same towns and villages suddenly faced the prospect of displacement.Punjab became one of the worst centres of the violence. Lahore, a major city of undivided Punjab with a substantial Hindu and Sikh population and extensive property ownership among these communities, was caught in the upheaval. As communal tensions intensified, many had already begun leaving for Delhi and eastern Punjab, abandoning homes, businesses and belongings.Across Punjab and Bengal, the drawing of new borders turned ordinary questions of homes, farms, shops and neighbourhoods into matters of survival. Trains carrying refugees became symbols of the upheaval, with some journeys ending in massacre, while roads filled with families carrying whatever they could save. The first morning of freedom was therefore also the beginning of a traumatic displacement that would reshape the subcontinent for generations.The law came first. Independence came next.The dramatic events of August 15 can sometimes obscure the legal process that made the transfer of power possible. The Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947, in a remarkably low-key proceeding.A Times of India report the following day noted that the actual reading took only moments, with Prime Minister Clement Attlee rising and bowing before the Clerk read out the Bill’s title.Behind that brief parliamentary ritual was legislation that would end British rule over a subcontinent of nearly 400 million people and create the two independent Dominions of India and Pakistan from August 15.The Bill provided for the partition of Punjab and Bengal, separate governments and Governor-Generals, and boundary commissions to determine territories that had yet to be finalised. It also ended British paramountcy over more than 500 princely states, with treaties and agreements between the Crown and the rulers lapsing and the states left to determine their future.Mountbatten urged the rulers to act quickly, telling them at a July 25 conference, according to The Times of India archives: “Remember that the day of transfer of power is very close at hand.” But the passage of the Act did not complete Partition. The armed forces, civil services, finances, railways, postal systems and government departments still had to be divided, while the Boundary Commissions continued their work and millions were already on the move.At the centre of this unfinished process was Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the British barrister tasked with drawing the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Having never previously travelled to India, he was given roughly five weeks to divide villages, districts, rivers, roads, canals, property and communities between the two new countries.He arrived on July 8 and worked under intense pressure, relying largely on maps and census data as communal tensions deteriorated. Radcliffe handed the Boundary Awards to Mountbatten on August 13, but they were withheld until after independence and ultimately released on August 17.India therefore celebrated its first Independence Day without knowing its complete territorial boundaries.The announcement suddenly gave places such as Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur new political identities, forcing families to decide whether to stay or flee. The border was not merely a line on a map but it determined who could remain in their homes and who would become a refugee.What followed was one of the largest forced migrations in history, with an estimated 20 million people uprooted from their ancestral homes. Refugees moved across the new borders as trains, roads and villages became scenes of violence, arson and death. Hundreds of thousands, and possibly close to a million people, are estimated to have died in the communal carnage accompanying Partition.Andrew Mellor, in India Since Partition, records attacks on trains carrying people between the two new countries and describes widespread rioting in Punjab in the days after August 15. Killings, arson, abductions, forced conversions and attacks on entire communities turned the journey to freedom into a terrifying ordeal for millions.Years later, journalist Kuldeep Nayar recalled Radcliffe telling him that he had nearly awarded Lahore to India before deciding that Pakistan needed a major city. While the recollection cannot be independently established in every detail, it captures the extraordinary uncertainty surrounding decisions that would reshape millions of lives. For Radcliffe, the task was over. He left India on August 17 and never returned.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe beginning of a traditionThat is what makes India’s first Independence Day so different from the August 15 that Indians know today. There was no established Red Fort ceremony. There was only a country experiencing its first morning of freedom.Yet, amid all of this, something irreversible had happened.At midnight, authority had changed hands.By morning, the Tricolour was flying.The British Raj was over, and Indians were now responsible for the country they had fought to free.The first Independence Day was therefore not simply the celebration of an ending. It was the first, uncertain and extraordinary day of the much harder task that followed, building India after freedom had been won.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKanchan YadavKanchan Yadav is a writer at The Times of India, where she covers business, politics, international affairs and social issues. Her reporting also focuses on policy, governance and economic developments, with a close lens on how decisions in corridors of power affect everyday lives and community well-being.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesAbhishek Malhan’s luxurious mansion: A private swimming pool, home theatre, private lifts and moreTrisha Krishnan keeps it classic in a mustard saree as she attends CM Vijay’s first Independence Day ceremonyBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence Day123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

As the date changed from August 14 to August 15, 1947, India emerged as an independent nation. “At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. It is fitting that at this solemn moment, we take the pledge of dedication to the service of India and her people and to the still larger cause of humanity.”With those words, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, gave voice to one of the most consequential moments in the country’s history.As the date changed from August 14 to August 15, 1947, nearly two centuries of British rule formally came to an end and India emerged as an independent nation.But midnight was not the culmination of the story. The first hours of freedom brought exhilaration, ceremony and celebration, but also the enormous responsibility of running a new country. A government had to begin functioning, the machinery of the state had to be inherited and reorganised, and millions of people were already caught in the upheaval of Partition.The new nation marked its freedom with flags, crowds, prayers and speeches. Yet beyond the celebrations, refugees were on the move, communal violence was spreading and India’s final borders were still unknown.A midnight that turned into historyThe story of India’s freedom began before the clock struck 12. On the evening of August 14, members of the Constituent Assembly gathered in New Delhi for the historic session that would mark the transfer of power.The Assembly, which had been working on India’s constitutional future, was now poised to become the central political institution of a sovereign country.Just before midnight, the chamber was charged with the knowledge that the date itself was about to change.Then came Nehru.His speech the “Tryst with Destiny”, transformed the formal transfer of power into a moment of history. He spoke of stepping “out from the old to the new”, of an age ending and the “soul of a nation” finding expression after a long period of suppression.It was the beginning.In his message to the nation published on August 15, the Prime Minister described India as “awake, vital, free and independent”, but immediately turned to the responsibilities that came with freedom. Poverty, ignorance and disease had to be fought; democratic and social institutions had to be built; and political freedom had to translate into opportunity for ordinary people.That distinction is crucial to understanding India’s first day as an independent country. The midnight ceremony was not simply a celebration of Britain’s departure. It was the first public act of a government that suddenly had to govern.The new governmentEven before the midnight ceremony, Nehru had announced the Cabinet that would take charge from August 15. As per the announcement Nehru would handle the external affairs and commonwealth relations in addition to the Prime Minister’s responsibilities. Vallabhbhai Patel took charge of home, information and broadcasting, and states. Rajendra Prasad handled food and agriculture. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was given education. Baldev Singh took defence. B R Ambedkar was given law. R.K. Shanmukham Chetty handled finance and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was given health, among other portfolios.Why did India get Independence on August 15, 1947?The choice of August 15 was not part of the original timetable for India’s independence. The British government had initially planned to transfer power by June 1948, but Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, brought the date forward by almost a year.One reason, he later explained, was the urgency of preventing further riots, protests and bloodshed amid the worsening political and communal situation. But the date also had a personal significance for Mountbatten. August 15 was the second anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allied powers in 1945, marking the end of the Second World War. As Supreme Allied Commander of the South-East Asia Command, Mountbatten had accepted the Japanese surrender in Singapore.Years later, in Freedom at Midnight, Mountbatten was quoted as explaining that the date had essentially “come out of the blue”. He said he wanted to demonstrate that he was in control of the transfer of power and, when pressed for a date, settled on August 15 because of its connection with Japan’s surrender.But there was a problem: August 15 was considered inauspicious by astrologers consulted at the time. According to the Hindu calendar, the new day traditionally began at sunrise, making the daytime of August 15 unsuitable for such a momentous occasion.The solution was unusual but symbolic. The Constituent Assembly would meet at midnight between August 14 and August 15, allowing India to enter its new era at the precise moment the date changed in the Western calendar.That is why India’s independence was ushered in not at dawn on August 15, but at the stroke of midnight.Delhi turns into a sea of peopleAs dawn approached on August 15, the mood in Delhi shifted from solemn ceremony to public celebration. Crowds filled streets and public spaces, flags appeared everywhere and people who had spent their lives under British rule suddenly found themselves living in a country that was politically their own.The Tricolour, formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly only a few weeks earlier, became the most visible symbol of that transformation.But there was no established Independence Day script. There was no decades-old tradition of the Prime Minister appearing at the Red Fort every August 15, no familiar sequence of ceremonies for officials to repeat. India was inventing its Independence Day even as it celebrated the first one.The ceremony Indians now instinctively associate with August 15, the Prime Minister unfurling the national flag from the Red Fort, did not happen on that date in 1947.The first Independence Day was different.The flag was not first raised at the Red FortThe Red Fort, now synonymous with India’s Independence Day celebrations, was not the setting for the country’s first flag-hoisting ceremony.One of the earliest known hoistings of the Tricolour in independent India took place in Madras, now Chennai, at Fort St George at 5:30 am on August 15, 1947, just hours after India formally became independent.The 12ft by 8ft pure-silk flag used for the ceremony is preserved at the Fort St George Museum and remains one of the surviving flags from that historic day. It offers a tangible link to the dawn of freedom, when the Tricolour was being raised across the country for the first time.Later that morning, Nehru hoisted the national flag at Princess Park near India Gate, rather than at the Red Fort. Historical records preserved in the Nehru Archive note that the official Independence Day function was held there.The Red Fort ceremony came the following day. Nehru unfurled the Tricolour there for the first time on August 16, 1947.That ceremony would eventually become the defining ritual of August 15, turning the Mughal-era monument into the enduring backdrop of India’s annual Independence Day celebrations.Mountbatten, the British Viceroy who stayed onThere was another striking contradiction at the heart of India’s first hours of freedom: Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of British India, did not leave with the British Raj.Instead, he became independent India’s first Governor-General. The Indian Independence Act provided for the creation of two new Dominions, India and Pakistan, while Mountbatten continued in Independent India in his new constitutional role.His presence reflected the complicated nature of the transfer of power. Independence did not mean that every British institution, official or administrative arrangement disappeared at the stroke of midnight. Political authority had passed from the British Crown, but the machinery through which the subcontinent had been governed had to be repurposed almost overnight.Railways had to keep moving, communications had to be maintained, food supplies managed, finances administered, armed forces commanded, courts operated and cities policed, all while the same administrative system was being divided between India and Pakistan.Freedom, in other words, had arrived with a long to-do list.Gandhi away from the celebrationsWhile Delhi prepared to celebrate independence with flags, speeches and crowds, Mahatma Gandhi chose to spend August 15, 1947, far from the capital, in violence-hit Calcutta.At the Constituent Assembly, his name was invoked, while outside, crowds raised cries of “Mahatma Gandhi ki jai”. But Gandhi himself was in Beliaghata, trying to prevent Hindus and Muslims from turning on each other.On August 14, Gandhi attended a packed prayer meeting and announced that he would undertake a 24-hour fast, prayer and spinning on August 15. The Gandhi Heritage Portal records that he spent Independence Day on a long fast, receiving a constant stream of visitors.Gandhi had left Delhi about two weeks earlier. After spending four days in Kashmir, he travelled to Calcutta, where communal tensions remained dangerously high.Historian Ramachandra Guha, in India After Gandhi, writes that Gandhi arrived in Calcutta on the afternoon of August 13 and took up residence in Beliaghata, at Hyderi Mansion, a building surrounded by a deeply divided neighbourhood.Gandhi deliberately chose to stay in a Muslim-owned house in a predominantly Hindu locality, accompanied by Bengal’s former premier Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, in an attempt to demonstrate that reconciliation was still possible.The building, now known as Gandhi Bhawan, became closely associated with one of the most extraordinary episodes surrounding Independence. Gandhi stayed there from August 13 to September 7, even as the rest of the country celebrated the end of British rule.His presence in Beliaghata was later associated with what came to be known as the “miracle of Calcutta”, after the communal violence subsided.Freedom and Partition arrived togetherFor millions, there was no clean separation between August 15 and Partition. The creation of India and Pakistan triggered one of the largest mass migrations in modern history, as Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who had lived for generations in the same towns and villages suddenly faced the prospect of displacement.Punjab became one of the worst centres of the violence. Lahore, a major city of undivided Punjab with a substantial Hindu and Sikh population and extensive property ownership among these communities, was caught in the upheaval. As communal tensions intensified, many had already begun leaving for Delhi and eastern Punjab, abandoning homes, businesses and belongings.Across Punjab and Bengal, the drawing of new borders turned ordinary questions of homes, farms, shops and neighbourhoods into matters of survival. Trains carrying refugees became symbols of the upheaval, with some journeys ending in massacre, while roads filled with families carrying whatever they could save. The first morning of freedom was therefore also the beginning of a traumatic displacement that would reshape the subcontinent for generations.The law came first. Independence came next.The dramatic events of August 15 can sometimes obscure the legal process that made the transfer of power possible. The Indian Independence Bill was introduced in the British House of Commons on July 4, 1947, in a remarkably low-key proceeding.A Times of India report the following day noted that the actual reading took only moments, with Prime Minister Clement Attlee rising and bowing before the Clerk read out the Bill’s title.Behind that brief parliamentary ritual was legislation that would end British rule over a subcontinent of nearly 400 million people and create the two independent Dominions of India and Pakistan from August 15.The Bill provided for the partition of Punjab and Bengal, separate governments and Governor-Generals, and boundary commissions to determine territories that had yet to be finalised. It also ended British paramountcy over more than 500 princely states, with treaties and agreements between the Crown and the rulers lapsing and the states left to determine their future.Mountbatten urged the rulers to act quickly, telling them at a July 25 conference, according to The Times of India archives: “Remember that the day of transfer of power is very close at hand.” But the passage of the Act did not complete Partition. The armed forces, civil services, finances, railways, postal systems and government departments still had to be divided, while the Boundary Commissions continued their work and millions were already on the move.At the centre of this unfinished process was Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the British barrister tasked with drawing the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Having never previously travelled to India, he was given roughly five weeks to divide villages, districts, rivers, roads, canals, property and communities between the two new countries.He arrived on July 8 and worked under intense pressure, relying largely on maps and census data as communal tensions deteriorated. Radcliffe handed the Boundary Awards to Mountbatten on August 13, but they were withheld until after independence and ultimately released on August 17.India therefore celebrated its first Independence Day without knowing its complete territorial boundaries.The announcement suddenly gave places such as Lahore, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur new political identities, forcing families to decide whether to stay or flee. The border was not merely a line on a map but it determined who could remain in their homes and who would become a refugee.What followed was one of the largest forced migrations in history, with an estimated 20 million people uprooted from their ancestral homes. Refugees moved across the new borders as trains, roads and villages became scenes of violence, arson and death. Hundreds of thousands, and possibly close to a million people, are estimated to have died in the communal carnage accompanying Partition.Andrew Mellor, in India Since Partition, records attacks on trains carrying people between the two new countries and describes widespread rioting in Punjab in the days after August 15. Killings, arson, abductions, forced conversions and attacks on entire communities turned the journey to freedom into a terrifying ordeal for millions.Years later, journalist Kuldeep Nayar recalled Radcliffe telling him that he had nearly awarded Lahore to India before deciding that Pakistan needed a major city. While the recollection cannot be independently established in every detail, it captures the extraordinary uncertainty surrounding decisions that would reshape millions of lives. For Radcliffe, the task was over. He left India on August 17 and never returned.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe beginning of a traditionThat is what makes India’s first Independence Day so different from the August 15 that Indians know today. There was no established Red Fort ceremony. There was only a country experiencing its first morning of freedom.Yet, amid all of this, something irreversible had happened.At midnight, authority had changed hands.By morning, the Tricolour was flying.The British Raj was over, and Indians were now responsible for the country they had fought to free.The first Independence Day was therefore not simply the celebration of an ending. It was the first, uncertain and extraordinary day of the much harder task that followed, building India after freedom had been won.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorKanchan YadavKanchan Yadav is a writer at The Times of India, where she covers business, politics, international affairs and social issues. Her reporting also focuses on policy, governance and economic developments, with a close lens on how decisions in corridors of power affect everyday lives and community well-being.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesAbhishek Malhan’s luxurious mansion: A private swimming pool, home theatre, private lifts and moreTrisha Krishnan keeps it classic in a mustard saree as she attends CM Vijay’s first Independence Day ceremonyBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence Day123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

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PM Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the tricolour pocket square he wore during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a picture of Modi’s outfit on X and sarcastically questioned the design of the pocket square, suggesting that it resembled the Irish tricolour. Watch PM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’In his post, Khera wrote, “Lagta hai sahib ne Urdu mein Tiranga pehna hai. Ya phir Bharat India ki jagah Ireland ka Independence Day mana rahay hain. (Looks like the sahib is wearing the Tricolour in Urdu. Or perhaps, instead of India, he is celebrating Ireland’s Independence Day).”The remark came as India marked its 80th Independence Day, with this year’s celebrations being held under the theme ‘Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047’.Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, continuing a tradition that began with his first such speech in 2014.For the occasion, the Prime Minister wore a red safa featuring yellow and white Bandhani patterns, along with a white kurta and pyjama. He completed the outfit with a brown Nehru jacket and a tricolour pocket square.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesModi’s Independence Day attire has become a recurring point of interest over the years. Since 2014, his colourful turbans and safas have reflected different regional textiles, designs and elements of India’s cultural heritage.His choice of headgear has also attracted attention from fashion enthusiasts and those interested in India’s traditional craftsmanship, making his Independence Day appearance a subject of discussion beyond the political events of the day.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

PM Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort. NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the tricolour pocket square he wore during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort.Congress leader Pawan Khera shared a picture of Modi’s outfit on X and sarcastically questioned the design of the pocket square, suggesting that it resembled the Irish tricolour. Watch PM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’In his post, Khera wrote, “Lagta hai sahib ne Urdu mein Tiranga pehna hai. Ya phir Bharat India ki jagah Ireland ka Independence Day mana rahay hain. (Looks like the sahib is wearing the Tricolour in Urdu. Or perhaps, instead of India, he is celebrating Ireland’s Independence Day).”The remark came as India marked its 80th Independence Day, with this year’s celebrations being held under the theme ‘Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047’.Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort, continuing a tradition that began with his first such speech in 2014.For the occasion, the Prime Minister wore a red safa featuring yellow and white Bandhani patterns, along with a white kurta and pyjama. He completed the outfit with a brown Nehru jacket and a tricolour pocket square.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesModi’s Independence Day attire has become a recurring point of interest over the years. Since 2014, his colourful turbans and safas have reflected different regional textiles, designs and elements of India’s cultural heritage.His choice of headgear has also attracted attention from fashion enthusiasts and those interested in India’s traditional craftsmanship, making his Independence Day appearance a subject of discussion beyond the political events of the day.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

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CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke speaks to the media alongside CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das and national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka (ANI) NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Saturday announced its plans to launch a statewide campaign to assess the condition of public hospitals in Maharashtra. The organisation’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, alleged that patients are forced to endure long delays and poor facilities in government-run healthcare institutions.The announcement came as the party expanded its broader push to scrutinise public welfare infrastructure after launching its “School Thik Karo” campaign, which seeks to audit basic amenities in government schools across Maharashtra and eventually nationwide.Addressing reporters during a visit to his native village in Hingoli district, Dipke said the CJP would now focus on healthcare facilities in public hospitals.“We are going to raise health-related issues. When we visit public hospitals, we see people sleeping on the floor. People have to wait for surgeries. For a CT scan, the wait extends to one week,” he alleged.Dipke said the proposed campaign would examine the condition of government hospitals and document deficiencies in infrastructure and access to treatment. He further argued that essential public services have been neglected.The hospital initiative follows the launch of the CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign, under which party workers are collecting data on basic facilities in government schools, including drinking water, toilets, benches, windows and overall infrastructure. Dipke has repeatedly argued that the government must improve public institutions that serve ordinary citizens, particularly students and patients.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe said the party believes that public well-being facilities, including schools and hospitals, require greater accountability and better utilisation of government funds.During the school campaign launch, Dipke had questioned why basic amenities remained unavailable in many government schools despite decades of public spending, and accused successive governments of neglecting state-run institutions. He has also alleged that poor infrastructure in public facilities disproportionately affects children and low-income families.The CJP convenor said the hospital campaign would similarly highlight issues faced by patients who depend on government healthcare, including overcrowding, delays in surgeries and diagnostic tests, and inadequate infrastructure.The party has said it intends to use findings from both campaigns to press governments for improvements in public education and healthcare infrastructure across Maharashtra.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke speaks to the media alongside CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das and national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka (ANI) NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Saturday announced its plans to launch a statewide campaign to assess the condition of public hospitals in Maharashtra. The organisation’s founder, Abhijeet Dipke, alleged that patients are forced to endure long delays and poor facilities in government-run healthcare institutions.The announcement came as the party expanded its broader push to scrutinise public welfare infrastructure after launching its “School Thik Karo” campaign, which seeks to audit basic amenities in government schools across Maharashtra and eventually nationwide.Addressing reporters during a visit to his native village in Hingoli district, Dipke said the CJP would now focus on healthcare facilities in public hospitals.“We are going to raise health-related issues. When we visit public hospitals, we see people sleeping on the floor. People have to wait for surgeries. For a CT scan, the wait extends to one week,” he alleged.Dipke said the proposed campaign would examine the condition of government hospitals and document deficiencies in infrastructure and access to treatment. He further argued that essential public services have been neglected.The hospital initiative follows the launch of the CJP’s “School Thik Karo” campaign, under which party workers are collecting data on basic facilities in government schools, including drinking water, toilets, benches, windows and overall infrastructure. Dipke has repeatedly argued that the government must improve public institutions that serve ordinary citizens, particularly students and patients.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe said the party believes that public well-being facilities, including schools and hospitals, require greater accountability and better utilisation of government funds.During the school campaign launch, Dipke had questioned why basic amenities remained unavailable in many government schools despite decades of public spending, and accused successive governments of neglecting state-run institutions. He has also alleged that poor infrastructure in public facilities disproportionately affects children and low-income families.The CJP convenor said the hospital campaign would similarly highlight issues faced by patients who depend on government healthcare, including overcrowding, delays in surgeries and diagnostic tests, and inadequate infrastructure.The party has said it intends to use findings from both campaigns to press governments for improvements in public education and healthcare infrastructure across Maharashtra.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

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Target of 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, 5 new nuclear reactors to be operational within 6-7 years: PM Modi NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced an ambitious expansion of India’s nuclear power programme, setting a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and saying five new nuclear reactors will be operationalised during this decade as the country seeks greater energy security and self-reliance.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said India had taken an important step towards self-reliance in nuclear energy with the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attaining first criticality in April this year.PM Modi said nuclear power would be an important component of India’s energy security as demand for electricity rises with the expansion of technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centres. He also referred to the government’s nuclear policy reforms and the SHANTI Act, enacted in December 2025, as part of efforts to expand the sector.“The new world cannot run without energy. Whether they are (semiconductor) chips, AI or data centres, the country needs lots of electricity … That’s why we have already taken strong steps to ensure energy security,” he added.PM Modi said India had set the goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with five new reactors expected to become operational in the current decade.India enters second stage of three-stage nuclear programmeThe PFBR at Kalpakkam marks India’s entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, originally conceived by Homi J Bhabha.The 500 MWe reactor, developed and built indigenously at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex, attained first criticality on April 6, 2026. It is being built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited, or BHAVINI, under the Department of Atomic Energy, with technology developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.The first stage of India’s nuclear programme relies on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, or PHWRs, which use natural uranium as fuel and produce plutonium as a byproduct.The second stage uses this plutonium in fast breeder reactors. The PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide, or MOX, fuel and is designed to produce more fissile material than it consumes.The third stage of the programme is aimed at using India’s large thorium reserves to produce uranium-233 for nuclear power generation.The PFBR is therefore intended to serve as a bridge between India’s existing uranium-based nuclear programme and its longer-term thorium-based energy strategy.Why PFBR matters for India’s nuclear expansionThe PFBR is a 500 MWe sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor designed to use plutonium-based fuel while breeding additional fissile material.A blanket of uranium-238 around the reactor core can be converted into plutonium-239 through the action of fast neutrons. This allows the reactor to generate electricity while producing additional fuel.The reactor’s technology is particularly relevant to India’s nuclear strategy because the country has relatively limited uranium resources but substantial thorium reserves.The Department of Atomic Energy has said the PFBR will eventually help lay the foundation for the third stage of India’s nuclear programme, in which thorium would be used to produce uranium-233.PM Modi had earlier described the PFBR milestone as a major development in India’s civil nuclear programme.“Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme.”PM Modi had also said, “This advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise. It is a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves in the third stage of the programme.”Nuclear power seen as key to meeting rising electricity demandIn his Independence Day address, PM Modi linked India’s nuclear expansion with the country’s rapidly increasing demand for electricity.He pointed to the growing power requirements of semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data centres, saying energy security would become increasingly important as India expands its technology and manufacturing sectors.“It is difficult to build a new world. That is why, whether it is a chip, AI, or data centre, we need electricity in large quantity. The new era demands energy.”PM Modi said India had taken steps to strengthen energy security by expanding both nuclear and renewable energy capacity.He said nuclear energy was vital for ensuring a stable supply of electricity while the country simultaneously expands solar, wind and other renewable sources.India targets 500 GW renewable energy by 2030Alongside the nuclear expansion, PM Modi highlighted the growth of India’s renewable energy capacity.He said India’s solar energy capacity had risen from 2 GW in 2014 to 160 GW, while the country had set a target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.PM Modi also referred to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, saying around 50 lakh households had been covered under the rooftop solar programme.Thousands of consumers, he said, were also earning through electricity generated from rooftop solar systems.Beneficiaries under the scheme can receive a subsidy of up to Rs 80,000 per household for installing rooftop solar systems.PM Modi also said India’s railway electrification had expanded sharply, helping reduce diesel consumption and imports.He said India had also started work on a hydrogen train as part of its broader clean-energy transition.SHANTI Act seeks to reshape India’s nuclear power frameworkPM Modi also referred to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, or SHANTI Act, enacted in December 2025.The legislation is intended to modernise India’s nuclear legal framework and facilitate greater participation in the nuclear sector under regulatory oversight.The law forms part of the government’s broader effort to expand nuclear power capacity and bring new investment and technology into the sector.The Union Budget 2025-26 had also announced a Nuclear Energy Mission with an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors.The government has set a target of having at least five indigenously designed small modular reactors operational by 2033.India’s nuclear capacity to expand from 8.78 GWIndia’s installed nuclear power capacity currently stands at around 8.78 GW, according to government data.Nuclear power accounted for about 3.1% of India’s electricity generation in 2024-25, when nuclear plants generated 56,681 million units of electricity.The government has projected that India’s nuclear capacity could reach around 22.38 GW by 2031-32 through the development of indigenous 700 MW reactors and larger reactors being developed through international cooperation.The 100 GW target by 2047 would therefore require a substantial expansion in both the number and scale of nuclear power projects over the next two decades.Five reactors to be operationalised this decadePM Modi said India would operationalise five nuclear reactors during the current decade as part of its push towards greater nuclear capacity.The expansion is expected to involve multiple reactor technologies, including India’s indigenous PHWR designs and advanced reactor technologies.The government is also developing small modular reactor designs, including the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor and the 55 MWe SMR-55, as well as other advanced reactor concepts.The expansion is aimed at increasing the contribution of nuclear energy to India’s electricity mix while maintaining the country’s broader clean-energy and net-zero commitments.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesNuclear power and India’s 2070 net-zero targetThe expansion of nuclear power is also linked to India’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.Unlike solar and wind power, nuclear reactors can provide continuous electricity and are not dependent on weather conditions. This makes nuclear generation a potential source of firm, low-carbon electricity alongside renewable energy.The government has therefore positioned nuclear power as part of a wider energy mix that includes solar, wind, hydrogen and other clean-energy sources.PM Modi’s announcement of the 100 GW target marks a substantial increase in India’s long-term nuclear ambitions and places nuclear power at the centre of the country’s energy security strategy as it works towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Target of 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047, 5 new nuclear reactors to be operational within 6-7 years: PM Modi NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced an ambitious expansion of India’s nuclear power programme, setting a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047 and saying five new nuclear reactors will be operationalised during this decade as the country seeks greater energy security and self-reliance.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, PM Modi said India had taken an important step towards self-reliance in nuclear energy with the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attaining first criticality in April this year.PM Modi said nuclear power would be an important component of India’s energy security as demand for electricity rises with the expansion of technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centres. He also referred to the government’s nuclear policy reforms and the SHANTI Act, enacted in December 2025, as part of efforts to expand the sector.“The new world cannot run without energy. Whether they are (semiconductor) chips, AI or data centres, the country needs lots of electricity … That’s why we have already taken strong steps to ensure energy security,” he added.PM Modi said India had set the goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, with five new reactors expected to become operational in the current decade.India enters second stage of three-stage nuclear programmeThe PFBR at Kalpakkam marks India’s entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme, originally conceived by Homi J Bhabha.The 500 MWe reactor, developed and built indigenously at the Kalpakkam Nuclear Complex, attained first criticality on April 6, 2026. It is being built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited, or BHAVINI, under the Department of Atomic Energy, with technology developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.The first stage of India’s nuclear programme relies on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, or PHWRs, which use natural uranium as fuel and produce plutonium as a byproduct.The second stage uses this plutonium in fast breeder reactors. The PFBR uses uranium-plutonium mixed oxide, or MOX, fuel and is designed to produce more fissile material than it consumes.The third stage of the programme is aimed at using India’s large thorium reserves to produce uranium-233 for nuclear power generation.The PFBR is therefore intended to serve as a bridge between India’s existing uranium-based nuclear programme and its longer-term thorium-based energy strategy.Why PFBR matters for India’s nuclear expansionThe PFBR is a 500 MWe sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor designed to use plutonium-based fuel while breeding additional fissile material.A blanket of uranium-238 around the reactor core can be converted into plutonium-239 through the action of fast neutrons. This allows the reactor to generate electricity while producing additional fuel.The reactor’s technology is particularly relevant to India’s nuclear strategy because the country has relatively limited uranium resources but substantial thorium reserves.The Department of Atomic Energy has said the PFBR will eventually help lay the foundation for the third stage of India’s nuclear programme, in which thorium would be used to produce uranium-233.PM Modi had earlier described the PFBR milestone as a major development in India’s civil nuclear programme.“Today, India takes a defining step in its civil nuclear journey, advancing the second stage of its nuclear programme.”PM Modi had also said, “This advanced reactor, capable of producing more fuel than it consumes, reflects the depth of our scientific capability and the strength of our engineering enterprise. It is a decisive step towards harnessing our vast thorium reserves in the third stage of the programme.”Nuclear power seen as key to meeting rising electricity demandIn his Independence Day address, PM Modi linked India’s nuclear expansion with the country’s rapidly increasing demand for electricity.He pointed to the growing power requirements of semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence and data centres, saying energy security would become increasingly important as India expands its technology and manufacturing sectors.“It is difficult to build a new world. That is why, whether it is a chip, AI, or data centre, we need electricity in large quantity. The new era demands energy.”PM Modi said India had taken steps to strengthen energy security by expanding both nuclear and renewable energy capacity.He said nuclear energy was vital for ensuring a stable supply of electricity while the country simultaneously expands solar, wind and other renewable sources.India targets 500 GW renewable energy by 2030Alongside the nuclear expansion, PM Modi highlighted the growth of India’s renewable energy capacity.He said India’s solar energy capacity had risen from 2 GW in 2014 to 160 GW, while the country had set a target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.PM Modi also referred to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, saying around 50 lakh households had been covered under the rooftop solar programme.Thousands of consumers, he said, were also earning through electricity generated from rooftop solar systems.Beneficiaries under the scheme can receive a subsidy of up to Rs 80,000 per household for installing rooftop solar systems.PM Modi also said India’s railway electrification had expanded sharply, helping reduce diesel consumption and imports.He said India had also started work on a hydrogen train as part of its broader clean-energy transition.SHANTI Act seeks to reshape India’s nuclear power frameworkPM Modi also referred to the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India, or SHANTI Act, enacted in December 2025.The legislation is intended to modernise India’s nuclear legal framework and facilitate greater participation in the nuclear sector under regulatory oversight.The law forms part of the government’s broader effort to expand nuclear power capacity and bring new investment and technology into the sector.The Union Budget 2025-26 had also announced a Nuclear Energy Mission with an allocation of Rs 20,000 crore for the design, development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors.The government has set a target of having at least five indigenously designed small modular reactors operational by 2033.India’s nuclear capacity to expand from 8.78 GWIndia’s installed nuclear power capacity currently stands at around 8.78 GW, according to government data.Nuclear power accounted for about 3.1% of India’s electricity generation in 2024-25, when nuclear plants generated 56,681 million units of electricity.The government has projected that India’s nuclear capacity could reach around 22.38 GW by 2031-32 through the development of indigenous 700 MW reactors and larger reactors being developed through international cooperation.The 100 GW target by 2047 would therefore require a substantial expansion in both the number and scale of nuclear power projects over the next two decades.Five reactors to be operationalised this decadePM Modi said India would operationalise five nuclear reactors during the current decade as part of its push towards greater nuclear capacity.The expansion is expected to involve multiple reactor technologies, including India’s indigenous PHWR designs and advanced reactor technologies.The government is also developing small modular reactor designs, including the 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor and the 55 MWe SMR-55, as well as other advanced reactor concepts.The expansion is aimed at increasing the contribution of nuclear energy to India’s electricity mix while maintaining the country’s broader clean-energy and net-zero commitments.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesNuclear power and India’s 2070 net-zero targetThe expansion of nuclear power is also linked to India’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.Unlike solar and wind power, nuclear reactors can provide continuous electricity and are not dependent on weather conditions. This makes nuclear generation a potential source of firm, low-carbon electricity alongside renewable energy.The government has therefore positioned nuclear power as part of a wider energy mix that includes solar, wind, hydrogen and other clean-energy sources.PM Modi’s announcement of the 100 GW target marks a substantial increase in India’s long-term nuclear ambitions and places nuclear power at the centre of the country’s energy security strategy as it works towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgePM Modi From Red Fort On 80th Independence Day: ‘India Must Dream Big And Move Forward’79 Years Of Freedom: What Do Indians Really Want From Their Country, Leaders And Democracy Now?NALSAR Row Erupts: CJI Raps BCI, As CJP Demands Resignation Of Bar Council Chief‘Why Rockets?’ Jaipur Residents Mock Potholes With Astronaut Protest After Monsoon RainsRajnath Singh Announces Rs 8.75 Lakh Crore Defence Modernisation Push on 80th Independence DayBomb Threat Email Targets Delhi Courts, Airport, Metro Ahead Of August 15; Security Checks BeginCM Vijay Urges PM Modi To Keep Lok Sabha Strength At 543, Opposes Population-Based Delimitation123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Tamil 10 ‘The Common Man’: From contestants to telecast time, here’s everything you need to knowRashtrapati Bhavan’s Independence Day At Home reception to serve these 7 dishes from 4 Indian statesIdli to Cheela: 9 ways to add sooji to daily breakfast7 quiet dog breeds that make great companions for familiesFrom lakeside retreats to Aravalli resorts: 5 luxury escapes in and around Delhi for the Independence Day weekendRani Mukerji goes from Sabyasachi saree to power suit as she collects an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Australia’s La Trobe University10 unusual baby girl names with fascinating historical roots10 naturally tricolour Indian foods to make this Independence DayInside Ruhaanika Dhawan’s luxury home: A massive living room, elegant decor and moreWhat happens to your brain when you slowly reduce your screen time before bed? Neurologist answers123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingOil Prices TodayIndiGo Fight CancelledDelhi High Court Bomb ThreatAmbala Sikh Community ProtestManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke

Vamsikrishna 0