Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Murmu's Independence Day Eve Address Grants Vande Mataram Legal Status
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, talked to the whole country the night before Independence Day.
Independence Day is a big holiday when India celebrates becoming free, and this year it marks the start of the 80th year of independence.
At the end of her address, a special song called 'Vande Mataram' was played in full for the first time.
The song now has the same legal protection as the national anthem, so nobody is allowed to disturb it.
The President said students are very important for India's future and that exams must be fair, safe and honest.
She said young people are India's greatest treasure, because most people in India are younger than 35.
She told everyone that India wants to become a fully developed country by 2047, the 100th year of its independence.
She celebrated women's success, including women athletes winning many gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
She also honored great leaders from the past, like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who helped build the nation.
At the end, she asked everyone to work together for a better India and wished them a happy Independence Day.
President Droupadi Murmu delivered her Independence Day-eve address on August 14, ahead of India's 80th Independence Day.
For the first time, the full version of 'Vande Mataram' was played before and at the conclusion of the address, after the song was given legal status at par with the national anthem.
Murmu called for comprehensive reforms to make public examinations transparent, secure and trustworthy, after student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak that led to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and agitation in Jharkhand over recruitment tests.
She described youth as India's most valuable asset — 65 per cent of the population is below 35 — and reiterated the Viksit Bharat goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
She praised women's achievements, noting that women athletes won 8 of India's 13 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
- Who
- President Droupadi Murmu, speaking to the nation from New Delhi.
- What
- Delivered her Independence Day-eve address, featuring the first full rendition of 'Vande Mataram' after its new legal status at par with the national anthem, and outlining priorities on youth, examination reforms, women's empowerment and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
- When
- Friday, August 14, 2026, on the eve of India's 80th Independence Day.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To mark the commencement of the 80th year of India's independence and set out the nation's priorities for development, unity and youth empowerment.
- Speaker
- President Droupadi Murmu
- Occasion and Date
- Independence Day-eve address, August 14, 2026
- Location
- New Delhi, India
- Key Development
- Full 'Vande Mataram' played for the first time; song granted legal status at par with the national anthem
- Related Law
- Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Youth Demographic
- 65 per cent of India's population is below the age of 35
- National Goal
- Viksit Bharat - developed nation by 2047
- Global Recognition
- 12 Maratha forts and Sarnath added to the UNESCO World Heritage List