Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to hoist the tricolor at the Red Fort for the 13th time today. Every Independence Day, PM Modi’s attire, especially his turban, remains in the headlines.
In the last 12 years, PM Modi has worn a saffron turban four times. Besides 2025, he also wore a saffron turban in 2021, 2020, and 2018.
Nehru-Indira gave the shortest speech
Before Modi, the record for the longest speech from the Red Fort was held by Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru gave a 72-minute speech in 1947. Subsequently, in 1997, I.K. Gujral gave the longest speech of 71 minutes.
PM Modi broke Nehru’s record in 2015 with an 83-minute long speech from the Red Fort. Former Prime Minister Nehru in 1954 and Indira Gandhi in 1966 hold the record for the shortest speeches (14 minutes) on Independence Day.
Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee also gave some of the shortest speeches from the Red Fort. In 2012 and 2013, Manmohan Singh gave speeches of only 32 and 35 minutes respectively. In 2002 and 2003, Vajpayee delivered speeches of 25 and 30 minutes.
