For the first time, Vande Mataram was rendered during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony after arriving at the historic venue, where the national song was performed before the traditional flag-hoisting proceedings. The event also featured the unfurling of the Tricolour, the national anthem and a 21-gun salute. The inclusion of Vande Mataram marked a significant change in the ceremonial programme and highlighted the song’s historical and cultural importance in India’s freedom movement. The development added a notable element to this year’s Independence Day celebrations.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia’s Flores Island early Saturday, August 15, causing buildings and homes to shake, crack and collapse. The shallow quake occurred about 68 kilometres north-northwest of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara, according to the US Geological Survey. At least two deaths were initially reported, with later updates putting the toll higher as authorities assessed the damage. Several strong aftershocks followed the main tremor. A tsunami warning was issued for nearby coastal areas, prompting residents to evacuate to higher ground, but the alert was later lifted. Hospitals also moved patients outdoors amid safety concerns. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address, invoked the idea of ‘Sapta Sindhu’, presenting seven streams as a framework for India’s national strength and development. Drawing on the ancient concept associated with seven rivers, the vision links India’s civilisational heritage with its modern aspirations. Modi’s message emphasised that the country’s progress depends on strengthening multiple areas simultaneously and harnessing their combined potential. The framework reflects his broader call for a developed India by 2047, with emphasis on youth, innovation, economic growth, social development, national security and cultural confidence. The seven pillars are presented as interconnected forces shaping India’s future.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to declare the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz a US territory after claiming Iran is being defeated. The remarks come amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran and a prolonged disruption of shipping through the crucial waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas normally passes. Iran strongly rejected Trump’s proposal, asserting that the status of the strait cannot be determined by US declarations. The escalating rhetoric has heightened geopolitical tensions and raised concerns over global energy supplies, maritime security and international stability as Washington and Tehran remain locked in confrontation. (PC: AP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort on August 15, 2026, placed Gen Z and Yuva Shakti at the centre of India’s development agenda. Speaking after recent student protests over examination paper leaks, Modi highlighted the aspirations of young Indians and announced measures aimed at expanding opportunities for them. He outlined a seven-point ‘Saptdhara’ reform framework covering key areas of national development. Modi also warned against what he termed “dimaagi Naxal”, urging the country to identify and isolate forces he said influence minds against India’s interests. The speech combined youth outreach, reforms and national security concerns. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 2026. For the first time, the national song Vande Mataram was rendered at the Red Fort before the Prime Minister hoisted the National Flag. The flag ceremony was accompanied by the national anthem, a 21-gun salute and a flower-petal shower by two Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopters. Addressing the nation, PM Modi highlighted India’s progress and reaffirmed the goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. This year’s celebrations also focused on the contribution of India’s youth, or Yuva Shakti.

India’s Census 2027 will introduce 11 additional questions, taking the population-enumeration questionnaire to 40, the highest ever. For the first time since Independence, the nationwide Census will record citizens’ caste based on their own declaration, without a pre-set list. New questions will also seek mobile, Aadhaar and Voter ID details, passport and driving-licence status, Covid-19 vaccination information and the number of bank accounts. The exercise will be conducted digitally through a dedicated mobile app, while self-enumeration will be available online. Population enumeration begins early in snowbound regions from September, while the rest of India will be counted in February 2027. The Census, delayed from 2021 due to Covid-19, has a ₹11,718-crore budget. (PC: HT)

India on Friday reaffirmed its “longstanding ties” with Afghanistan and the Afghan people, days before the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has maintained several engagements with Afghanistan over the past year, including multiple ministerial visits to India. He said these interactions have strengthened partnerships in areas including development cooperation, trade and connectivity. Jaiswal’s remarks underline New Delhi’s continued engagement with Afghanistan despite the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The statement comes amid India’s efforts to maintain diplomatic and economic links with Afghanistan while focusing on development assistance, regional connectivity and trade relations.

A video circulating on social media shows a Sikh youth purportedly stranded in Mexico warning Indians against using the illegal “dunki” route to enter the US. The clip, first posted on TikTok and later shared on platforms including X, shows the man lying on a bed with folded hands and crying as he describes his alleged ordeal. He claims he was severely beaten after attempting to escape and is now unable to walk properly. The youth repeatedly urges others not to travel to Mexico through the dangerous route, warning them about the hardships he says he experienced while trying to reach the US. The video highlights the risks faced by migrants attempting irregular journeys to America. (PC: X)

A second passenger train derailed in southeast England within 24 hours when the rear carriages of a Greater Anglia service came off the tracks near Wickford, Essex, on Friday. The train was travelling from Southend to London Liverpool Street with around 40 people aboard. It left Rayleigh at 2:06 PM but failed to reach Wickford as scheduled. The carriages remained upright and no injuries were reported, while British Transport Police, paramedics and firefighters attended. The incident followed a more serious derailment near Lewes in East Sussex less than a day earlier, which left two people seriously injured and 18 with minor injuries. Authorities have not confirmed whether the ongoing heatwave contributed to either derailment.