Prime Ministers Who Have Hoisted the National Flag at the Red Fort Since Independence
The tradition began in 1947, when India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered the iconic "Tryst with Destiny" speech.

Every year on August 15, India celebrates its Independence Day, with the Prime Minister hoisting the National Flag at Delhi’s Red Fort, followed by an address to the nation. The tradition began in 1947, when India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, delivered the iconic “Tryst with Destiny” speech.
Here is a chronological list of Prime Ministers who have hoisted the national flag at the Red Fort, along with how many times and for how many years they did so.
1. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru: First PM to hoist the national flag at the Red Fort
Tenure | 17 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 17 Times |
2. Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964-1966)
Tenure | 2 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 2 Times |
3. Indira Gandhi (1966-1977, 1980-1984)
Tenure | 16 Years (Total) |
Flag Hoisted | 16 Times |
4. Morarji Desai (1977-1979)
Tenure | 2 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 2 Times |
5. Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989)
Tenure | 5 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 5 Times |
6. Vishwanath Pratap Singh (1989-1990)
Tenure | Less than 1 Year |
Flag Hoisted | 1 Time |
7. Chandra Shekhar (1990-1991)
Tenure | Less than 1 Year |
Flag Hoisted | 1 Time |
8. P. V. Narasimha Rao (1991-1996)
Tenure | 5 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 5 Times |
9. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1996, 1998-2004)
Tenure | 6 Years (Total) |
Flag Hoisted | 6 Times |
10. H. D. Deve Gowda (1996-1997)
Tenure | 1 Year |
Flag Hoisted | 1 Time |
11. Inder Kumar Gujral (1997-1998)
Tenure | 1 Year |
Flag Hoisted | 1 Time |
12. Dr. Manmohan Singh (2004-2014)
Tenure | 10 Years |
Flag Hoisted | 10 Times |
13. Narendra Modi (2014 – Present)
Tenure | Since May 2014 |
Flag Hoisted | 11 Times (as on 2024 |
The act of hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort is not a mere formality; it symbolises the indelible spirit of leadership, democracy, and independence of India. As of 2025, 13 Prime Ministers have performed this duty, and each has left their mark on the nation’s journey.