Kathmandu, Aug. 15: The 80th Independence Day of India was celebrated at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu on 15 August 2026 with the participation of Indian community and friends of India in Nepal.

The event commenced with the singing of 'Vande Mataram', followed by hoisting of the national flag by the Ambassador of India to Nepal and singing of the National Anthem. This was followed by the broadcast of the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation on the eve of the 80th Independence Day. 

On the occasion, the Ambassador honoured the widows and next of kin of the 11 deceased personnel of the Indian Armed Forces, and handed over AGIF (Army Group Insurance Funds) cheques with a total value of NPR 8.2 Crores. 

The Ambassador also felicitated the winners of various competitions organized by the Embassy to commemorate the 80th Independence Day. These included a painting competition on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat’, the Viksit Bharat Run, and an Inter-School Quiz Competition. Winners of the special edition of the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz were also felicitated on the occasion.

The Embassy also announced a book grant for 22 educational institutions and libraries spread across 7 provinces of Nepal. This initiative is aimed at enhancing access to educational resources.

The celebrations of the 80th Independence Day of India in Kathmandu witnessed enthusiastic participation from members of the Indian community in Nepal, friends of India, as well as Embassy officials and their families. The occasion also featured vibrant cultural performances and patriotic songs, presented by teachers and students from the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center of the Embassy.