Independence Day 2026: PM Modi’s 13th Red Fort Speech, Records and Prime Ministers’ Flag Hoisting History

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the historic Red Fort on August 15, 2026, marking his 13th Independence Day speech from the iconic ramparts. Over the years, PM Modi’s Independence Day addresses have become notable for their duration, with several speeches crossing the one-hour mark. In 2025, he delivered a speech lasting around 103 minutes, becoming the longest Independence Day speech by an Indian Prime Minister. He had also set a record in 2024 with a speech of approximately 98 minutes.

PM Modi delivered his first Independence Day address from the Red Fort in 2014, soon after taking charge as Prime Minister. His first speech lasted around 65 minutes. In 2015, he delivered an 86-minute address, surpassing the previous record held by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Since then, PM Modi’s Independence Day speeches have focused on government initiatives, national development, security, economic growth, and future goals.

Among PM Modi’s Independence Day addresses, his shortest speech came in 2017, when he spoke for around 56 minutes. His other speeches from the Red Fort included a 65-minute address in 2014, an 86-minute speech in 2015, a 94-minute speech in 2016, a 56-minute speech in 2017, an 82-minute speech in 2018, a 92-minute speech in 2019, an 86-minute speech in 2020, an 88-minute speech in 2021, an 83-minute speech in 2022, a 90-minute speech in 2023, a 98-minute speech in 2024, and a 103-minute speech in 2025.

In 2015, PM Narendra Modi broke the record of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who delivered a 72-minute Independence Day speech from the Red Fort in 1947. PM Modi’s 86-minute address became one of the longest Independence Day speeches delivered by any Indian Prime Minister.

Jawaharlal Nehru continues to hold the record for hoisting the national flag from the Red Fort the highest number of times. During his tenure as Prime Minister from 1947 to 1964, Nehru unfurled the Tricolour on Independence Day 17 times. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ranks second, having hoisted the national flag from the Red Fort 16 times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh share the third position, with both leaders having hoisted the Tricolour 10 times each from the historic venue.

Indian political history also records the names of two Prime Ministers who never got the opportunity to hoist the Tricolour from the Red Fort. Gulzarilal Nanda, who served as Acting Prime Minister twice for 13 days each, and Chandra Shekhar, who served as Prime Minister from November 1990 to June 1991, never delivered an Independence Day address from the Red Fort due to their short tenures.

Several other Prime Ministers have also contributed to this historic tradition. Atal Bihari Vajpayee hoisted the Tricolour from the Red Fort six times during his tenure, while Rajiv Gandhi and P.V. Narasimha Rao did so five times each. Morarji Desai hoisted the flag twice, whereas Chaudhary Charan Singh, V.P. Singh, H.D. Deve Gowda, and I.K. Gujral each addressed the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day once during their respective terms.

The annual Independence Day address from the Red Fort remains one of India’s most significant national traditions, offering Prime Ministers a platform to highlight the country’s achievements, challenges, policy priorities, and vision for the future.