Red Fort ceremony on 80th Independence Day: 21-gun salute from indigenous guns, Mi-17 petal shower and 5,000 special guests
The 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026, coordinated by the Indian Army, featured a 21-gun salute from indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns, an IAF Mi-17 petal shower and about 5,000 special guests including Olympiad medallists and PM Vishwakarma artisans.
Summary
The 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026 was themed on '150 Years of Vande Mataram' and 'Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047', with the Indian Army as the coordinating service, according to the Ministry of Defence. The Prime Minister received a combined Guard of Honour of one officer and 24 personnel each from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Delhi Police, and Capt Ritika Khareta assisted him in unfurling the National Flag. The 21-gun salute was fired by 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) using indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns, while two IAF Mi-17 helicopters showered flower petals, one trooping the National Flag and the other a 'Vande Mataram' flag. About 2,500 NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers formed 'वंदे मातरम्' on Gyanpath. Around 5,000 special guests attended, including 100 PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries from Delhi-NCR and the 2026 International Science and Mathematical Olympiad medallists, whose training is run by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) of TIFR under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Key facts
- Themes
- 150 Years of Vande Mataram; Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047
- Coordinating service
- Indian Army
- Guard of Honour
- 1 officer + 24 personnel each from Army, Navy, IAF, Delhi Police
- Flag hoisting aide
- Capt Ritika Khareta
- 21-gun salute
- 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial), indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns
- Petal shower
- Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters
- Gyanpath
- 2,500 NCC cadets and MY Bharat volunteers
- Special guests
- ~5,000 incl. 100 PM Vishwakarma beneficiaries, Olympiad medallists
- Olympiad programme
- HBCSE (TIFR), Department of Atomic Energy
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which guns were used for the 21-gun salute at the Red Fort on 15 August 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns
The 21-gun salute was fired by 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) using indigenous 105 mm Light Field Guns.
Which IAF helicopters showered flower petals during the 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort?
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Correct answer: C — Mi-17
Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters showered petals, one trooping the National Flag and the other a 'Vande Mataram' flag.
Consider the following statements about the 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort: 1. The Indian Army was the coordinating service for the ceremony. 2. India's National Olympiad Programme, whose medallists were special guests, is run by a centre under IIT Bombay. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The National Olympiad Programme is spearheaded by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, a national centre of TIFR, which is an aided institution under the Department of Atomic Energy.