Prime Minister Modi to Unfurl National Flag at Red Fort on Independence Day

Strategic Insights -

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will unfurl the National Flag at the Red Fort in New Delhi tomorrow to celebrate the 69th Independence Day. The ceremony will begin with the Prime Minister receiving a general salute by a combined Inter-Services and Police Guards. He will then inspect the Guard of Honour, consisting of personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police. The Army contingent is drawn from the 8th Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, a highly decorated battalion with a rich history of valour and bravery. The battalion has been awarded numerous citations and honours, including the COAS Unit Citation in 2001 and the United Nations Unit Citation in 2007.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Prime Minister will unfurl the National Flag at the Red Fort tomorrow to celebrate the 69th Independence Day.
  • The ceremony will begin with the Prime Minister receiving a general salute by a combined Inter-Services and Police Guards.
  • The Prime Minister will then inspect the Guard of Honour, consisting of personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police.
  • The Army contingent is drawn from the 8th Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, a highly decorated battalion with a rich history of valour and bravery.
  • The battalion has been awarded numerous citations and honours, including the COAS Unit Citation in 2001 and the United Nations Unit Citation in 2007.
  • The battalion was raised as the First Battalion Border Scouts by volunteers who took up arms in the aftermath of communal passion and the smouldering embers of partition to check the multitude of Kabailies intruding into Poonch on 18 December 1947.
  • The battalion created history by capturing 'Quaid Post' at an altitude of 21,153 feet, the highest battlefield in the world.
  • The battalion is presently serving as the Ceremonial Army Guard to the President of India.
  • The National Flag Guard will present Rashtriya Salute at the time of unfurling of the National Flag by the Prime Minister.
  • Commander Harpreet Singh from the Indian Navy will be in command of the Inter-Services Guard and Police Guard.
  • The Naval Band will play the National Anthem when the National Guard presents 'Rashtriya Salute' while unfurling the National Flag by the Prime Minister.
  • Two Naval Officers will be positioned on either side of the saluting dais for the Prime Minister for ADC duties.
  • Lt Commander Deepika Choudhary will assist the Prime Minister in unfurling of the National Flag.

Statistics:

  • 21 Gun Salute will be fired by the elite 871 Field Regiment.
  • 700 cadets of the National Cadet Corps from 20 schools of Delhi Directorate will participate in the flag hoisting ceremony.
  • 3500 girl students from 45 government schools of eastern, north-eastern, northern, north-western, and central zones of Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi will sing the National Anthem.
  • The 8th Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry has been awarded the COAS Unit Citation in 2001.
  • The battalion has been awarded the United Nations Unit Citation in 2007.
  • The battalion has been awarded a Chief of Army Staff's Unit Appreciation in 1992.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Defence, The Government of India, 2015.
  • Ministry of Defence, The Government of India, No date provided.