Independence Day 2024 highlights: PM Modi thanks world leaders for their wishes

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the longest speech by an Indian prime minister in his 11th consecutive address to the nation on the occasion of India's 78th Independence Day.

The 98-minute speech surpassed his previous record of 96 minutes in his 2016 speech. His shortest speech was 56 minutes in 2017. Read more here.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: "I extend my good wishes to all the citizens of the country on this day. Freedom fighters sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country... I salute them," says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde as he hoists the national flag at his official residence in Mumbai.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on the country's 78th Independence Day.

"Warm congratulations to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji and the people of India on 78th Independence Day!" Nepal PM wrote on X. “May this day strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our nations. Looking forward to advancing Nepal-India relations.”

Narendra Modi becomes the third prime minister to deliver 11 consecutive speeches on Independence Day, after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. While Nehru, the first prime minister of India, had delivered 17 consecutive speeches, Indira Gandhi, who was the PM from 1966 to 1977 and then from 1980 to 1984, addressed the nation on Independence Day 16 times. More details

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has vowed to protect democracy and the Constitution, which he termed as the two biggest shields for 140 crore Indians, as he greeted the country on the occasion of Independence Day.

"Democracy and the Constitution are the biggest shields for our 140 crore Indians. We will protect it till our last breath. The opposition is like the oxygen of democracy. Along with stopping the unconstitutional attitude of the government, it is also raising issues for the public. It is a matter of concern that constitutional and autonomous institutions have been turned into puppets by the government," he said.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat hoisted the national flag at RSS headquarters on the occasion of Independence Day.

“We have completed 78 years of Independence.... We got independence only after the sacrifices of countless people who sacrificed their lives for independence and the society that stood behind them has formed in the country... The generation who fought for our independence is no more, but the coming generations have to protect it...” he says in his address, according to ANI.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: After concluding his speech, PM Modi greeted NCC cadets at the Kartavya Path.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that frequent elections are creating obstacles in the country's progress.

“I request everyone to come together to achieve resolve of ‘one nation, one election',” the prime minister says before ending his speech.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Speaking about the violence in Bangladesh, PM Modi says that he hopes that the situation in the neighbouring country normalises soon.

“We hope the situation normalises in Bangladesh soon. Indians want the security of Hindus and minorities there to be ensured,” Modi says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says there is a need for a ‘secular civil code’ in India.

“It is need of hour to have a secular civil code and do away with discriminatory communal civil code,” the prime minister says in his Independence Day speech.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: “Today, we also have with us the youth who made the Indian flag fly high in the Olympics. On behalf of 140 crore countrymen, I congratulate all our athletes and players...In the next few days, a huge contingent of India will leave for Paris to participate in the Paralympics. I extend best wishes to all our Paralympians,” Modi says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India should host the Olympic games in 2036. “We are preparing for that,” he says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises 75,000 new seats in medical colleges across India. “Students spend lakhs and crores for medical education abroad. We will create 75,000 new medical seats in the next 5 years,” he says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Modi says that state governments must take cases of crimes against women seriously.

“...I would like to express my pain once again, from the Red Fort today. As a society, we will have to think seriously about the atrocities against women that are happening - there is outrage against this in the country. I can feel this outrage. The country, society, State Governments will have to take this seriously. Speedy investigation of crimes against women, those executing these monstrous deeds be awarded strict punishment at the earliest - this is important to instil confidence in society,” he says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: In his address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra says there is a need to stop atrocities against women. “Need of the hour is to widely publicise punishment for atrocities against women so that there is fear of consequences,” he says.

His remarks come amid a nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has extended his greeting on the occasion of 78th Independence Day.

“Best wishes to all the countrymen on Independence Day. For us, freedom is not just a word - it is our greatest shield, woven into constitutional and democratic values,” he writes on X. “It is the power of expression, the ability to speak the truth, and the hope of fulfilling our dreams.”

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: PM Modi is urging all levels of government, from panchayat to central government, to work on improving ease of living in a mission mode.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: India's contribution to global growth has increased, PM Modi says in his address to the nation from the Red Fort. He adds that the country's exports have gone up.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Modi hails the new criminal law, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, as having reformed the legal system. “We prioritised justice over punishment in new criminal laws,” he points out.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that hundreds of start-ups have come up in the space sector. “Private satellites and rockets are being launched,” he adds.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that 10 crore women have joined self-help groups in the last decade.

"In last 10 years, 10 crore women joined women self-help groups. 10 crore women are becoming financially independent. When women become financially independent they become part of the decision-making system in a household leading to social change...Till now, 9 lakh crores have been given to self-help groups in the country," he says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: "We have brought big reforms on ground. For the poor, middle class, deprived... for the aspirations of our youth, we choose the path to bring reforms in their lives. I want to assure the citizens of India that our commitment towards bringing reform is neither just for editorials, praise nor under compulsion. It is to strengthen the country," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: In his address, PM Modi hails the reforms in the banking sector saying that Indian banks now count among strongest in world.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: "We gave the mantra for 'Vocal for Local'. Today, I am happy that Vocal for Local has become a new mantra for the economic system. Every district has started taking pride in its produce. There is an environment of 'One District One Product'..." PM Modi says.

Independence Day 2024 LIVE updates: Addressing the nation from the Red Fort, PM Modi says that when armed forces carry out surgical and air strikes, every Indian is filled with pride.