PM Modi arrives at Red Fort for 78th Independence Day celebration

New Delhi [India], August 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived at the Red Fort to celebrate the 78th Independence Day.
Dressed in white kurta and blue attire and a traditional multicolour safa, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries. He will unfurl the national flag and will deliver his annual address to the nation shortly.
This year's celebration marks the 11th time PM Modi will address the nation from the Red Fort on Independence Day, making him the third Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to achieve this milestone.
The theme for this year's Independence Day is 'Viksit Bharat @ 2047,' aiming to drive the Government's efforts to transform India into a developed nation by 2047.
Among the attendees will be the Indian contingent from the recently concluded Paris Olympics.
Guests include tribal artisans, Van Dhan Vikas Members, and tribal entrepreneurs funded by the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation. Also present will be students benefiting from the Atal Innovation Mission and PM SHRI (Prime Minister's Schools for Rising India) scheme, and volunteers of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) and National Service Scheme under 'Meri Maati Mera Desh'
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Anganwadi workers, elected women representatives, and beneficiaries of initiatives such as Sankalp: Hub for Empowerment of Women, Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi, Sakhi Kendra scheme, Child Welfare Committees, and District Child Protection Units will also be in attendance.
Approximately 2,000 people from various States and Union Territories, dressed in traditional attire, have been invited to witness the grand ceremony. Additionally, 3,000 winners from different online competitions organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with MyGov and Akashvani will participate in the celebrations.
A total of 2,000 boy and girl cadets (Army, Navy and Air Force) from different schools across the country will participate in the celebrations. These cadets will be seated on Gyanpath, opposite the Rampart. They will be forming 'My Bharat' logo with customised tricolour kits. Furthermore, 500 National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers will also take part in the celebrations.