India, Aug. 11 -- The national song Vande Mataram will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time at this year's Independence Day celebrations, which will focus on 150 years of the song and the contribution of young Indians to the goal of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Monday.

Around 27,000 people are expected to attend the 80th Independence Day celebrations, with youth innovators, interns, entrepreneurs and students among those invited, Singh said at a media briefing.

Vande Mataram will be sung in full when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Red Fort, after which he will hoist the national flag and deliver his customary address to the nation. Invitation cards issued by t...