The Government of India has organized the 78th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort in New Delhi, Delhi. Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi addressed the nation and delivered his 11th consecutive Independence Day speech.
- 2024 Independence Day signified the theme ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’ i.e. transforming India into a developed nation by 2047.
- It was his first address of his third term.
Contingent for the PM:
i.The Guard of Honour for the PM consisted of officer and 24 personnel from the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), Indian Air Force (IAF), and Delhi Police. The IN is the coordinating service in 2024.
- The Guard of Honour was commanded by Commander Arun Kumar Mehta.
- Major Arjun Singh, commanded the IA contingent in the PM’s Guard, Lieutenant Commander Gulia Bhavesh NK led the naval contingent, Squadron Leader Akshara Uniyal led the IAF contingent, and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anurag Dwivedi led the Delhi Police contingent.
ii.The 21 Gun Salute was fired by the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns under Major Sabnis Kaushik and the Gun Position Officer Naib Subedar (AIG) Anuthosh Sarkar.
iii.The National Flag Guard, consisting of 1 officer and 32 personnel from IA, IN, IAF, and Delhi Police, presented the Rashtriya Salute during the flag unfurling.
- Commander Vinay Dubey commanded this Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard.
iv.The Punjab Regiment Military band played the National Anthem during the flag unfurling under Subedar Major Rajinder Singh.
v.After the flag unfurling, two IAF Advanced Light Helicopters (Dhruv) showered flower petals at the venue in the Line Astern Formation.
- It was led by Wing Commander Amber Agarwal and Wing Commander Rahul Nainwal.
vi.Approximately 2,000 boy and girl cadets from different schools across the country participated in the celebrations, forming the ‘My भारत’ logo with customised tricolour kits.
1037 Personnel of Police, Fire, HG&CD and Correctional Services awarded Gallantry/Service Medals
During the occasion, a total of 1037 Personnel of Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD) and Correctional Services have been awarded Gallantry and Service Medals.
| Name of the Medals | Number of Medals Awarded |
|---|---|
| President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) | 01 |
| Medal for Gallantry (GM) | 213(Police Service-208, Fire Service-04, Home Guard & Civil Defence-01) |
The PMG and GM are awarded for exceptional acts of bravery and courage in saving lives, property, and preventing crime, taking into account the risk involved and the officer’s duties.
Winner of PMG:
Head Constable Chaduvu Yadaiah, Head Constable of Telangana Police received the PMG for his exceptional bravery during a robbery on July 25, 2022. Despite being attacked by two criminals with a knife and sustaining severe injuries, he managed to apprehend them.
GM Awardees:
Out of 213 GM awards, 208 have been awarded to Police Personnel:
- 31 personnel from J&K Police
- 17 personnel each from Uttar Pradesh & Maharashtra
- 15 personnel from Chhattisgarh
- 12 personnel from Madhya Pradesh
- 133 from various personnel from other states/Union Territories (UTs) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)
Additionally, 5 GM awards were given to:
- 3 personnel from Delhi Fire Service
- 1 personnel from Jharkhand Fire Service
- 1 personnel from Uttar Pradesh (UP) Home Guard & Civil Defence
Click here for the list of GM Awardees
Service Medals:
i.President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM): It is awarded for exceptional service records, with 94 awards given to various services, including:
- 75 to Police Service
- 8 to Fire Service
- 8 to Civil Defence & Home Guard Service
- 3 to Correctional Service
ii.Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM): It awarded for valuable service marked by resource and devotion, with 729 awards given to various services, including:
- 624 to Police Service
- 47 to Fire Service
- 47 to Civil Defence & Home Guard Service
- 11 to Correctional Service
President approves 103 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and CAPF personnel
The President of India Droupadi Murmu approved 103 Gallantry awards (including 9 posthumous) to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel. These include the following:
- 4 Kirti Chakra (including 3 posthumous)
- 18 Shaurya Chakras (including 4 posthumous)
- 1 Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry)
- 63 Sena Medals (Gallantry/including two posthumous)
- 11 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- 6 Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry)
i.The President has gave her assent to 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including to Army Dog Kent (posthumous) for their significant contributions in different military operations.
ii.The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Sahayata, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid and Operation Katchal.
Click Here for Full List of Awards
President approves 1 President’s Tatrakshak Medal & 3 Tatrakshak Medals to ICG
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has approved one President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM/Distinguished services), one Tatrakshak Medal (TM/Gallantry) and two TM (Meritorious Service) to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel.
- These awards recognize exceptional devotion to duty, bravery, and distinguished/meritorious services.
- These awards are given to the personnel of the ICG on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day every year since January 26, 1990.
| Awards | Awardee (Name & Rank) |
|---|---|
| PTM(Distinguished Service) | IG (Inspector General) Donny Michael, TM (0258-L) |
| TM (Gallantry) | Dy Comdt Aaqil Pathan (1544-J) |
| TM (Meritorious Service) | DIG (Deputy Inspector General) Balakrishnan Murugan (0373-V) Girish Kumar Verma, P/Adh(RO), (01432-L) |
75 ASHAs and ANMs invited as Special Guests with their spouses to the Event
Over 6,000 Special Guests have been invited to the celebrations. This includes youth, tribal community, farmers, women, Indian Olympic participants from the Paris Olympics, and others from various fields. Notably, 75 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) invited with their spouses to the event.
Key Points:
i.Frequent natural disaster incidents, Viksit Bharat by 2047, Atmanirbhar Bharat, youth skill development, and women’s safety were among the key issues mentioned by PM Narendra Modi in his address speech.
ii.He also announced plans to bring 1 lakh youth into politics, aiming to fight nepotism and casteism, and add 75,000 new medical seats in 5 years to enhance medical education capacity.
iii.The Central Government aims to achieve 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2030, position India as a global education hub, and become a leader in semiconductor production, while reducing dependency on imports.
iv.The focus is shifting to “green growth” and “green jobs”, with initiatives to promote indigenous design capabilities, attract investments, and ensure good governance and law and order.
Param Vir Expedition:
78 swimmers from Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) completed the “Independence Day Swim” from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island to Marina Bay, visiting 21 islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees. The swim was part of the tri-services expedition “Param Vir” by ANC.
Historical Background: Independence Day of India
i.On August 15, 1947, India was declared independent of British colonialism, and sovereignty was given over to the country’s leaders.
ii.The Indian Independence Bill, which created the independent nations of India and Pakistan , came into effect at midnight on August 15, 1947.
iii.The provinces of Bengal and Punjab were divided between the two new nations.
iv.Lord Mountbatten continued as Governor-General and Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed India’s first PM.
- Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, hoisted the national flag above Delhi’s Red Fort at the Lahori Gate. This tradition has been continued by every subsequent PM.
About Delhi:
New Delhi is the National Capital of India.
Lieutenant Governor– Vinai Kumar Saxena
Chief Minister– Arvind Kejriwal
