India’s global partners, including France, Russia and Australia, on Saturday (August 15, 2026) extended greetings to the country on its 80^th Independence Day, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu were among leaders who hailed ties with India on the occasion.

Mr. Macron took to X to extend his greetings. “Congratulations to the Indian people on your 80th Independence Day!” he said.

Mr. Putin extended greetings to President Droupadi Murmu as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing confidence that the constructive bilateral partnership will help enhance international security and stability.

The Russian President said Russia-India relations are developing successfully in the spirit of a “particularly privileged strategic partnership”.

He pointed out that Moscow and New Delhi are engaged in “fruitful cooperation” across a wide range of areas and coordinate closely within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), BRICS, and other multilateral institutions.

“I am confident that, through our joint efforts, we will continue to comprehensively strengthen the constructive Russia-India partnership for the benefit of our friendly peoples and in the interests of enhancing international security and stability,” the Russian President said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also conveyed his greetings on the occasion, asserting that India has gone “from strength to strength” in the eight decades since its independence.

In a statement, Mr. Albanese said that India, as the world’s largest democracy and fastest-growing major economy, “fills us with awe at the scale of its achievements and the vastness of its potential”.

He recalled his Mr. Modi’s recent visit to Australia, where he told the Prime Minister, “Our relationship has never been more consequential”.

“We are excited to further deepen Australia and India’s engagement in new and growing areas with the support of the many Australians of Indian heritage who are the living bridge in our valued friendship. I join you in celebrating India’s history and culture, rich diversity and extraordinary achievements – and in celebrating the promise our shared future holds,” he said.

In his greeting, Maldivian leader Mr. Muizzu reiterated the archipelago’s commitment to enhance bilateral ties with India. “Eight decades of Independence reflect the aspirations, resilience and enduring spirit of the Government and people of India.

“On this auspicious occasion, I reaffirm the commitment of the Government of Maldives to further advance our close partnership built upon mutual respect, shared prosperity and enduring friendship between our two peoples,” he said on X.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also wished India’s top leadership and the “wonderful people” of the country on Independence Day. “May we continue to strengthen the beautiful friendship between Israel and India,” he said in a social media post.

In a letter to President Murmu, her Singaporean counterpart Tharman Shanmugaratnam congratulated her and the people of India on the occasion, asserting that both countries share an “enduring interest in a peaceful, open, and connected region”.

The city-state will continue working closely with India, as one of ASEAN’s oldest Dialogue Partners, to strengthen regional integration and resilience, especially in trade, the digital economy, energy security, and the energy transition, he said.

Calling the Singapore-India ties “multifaceted”, he said the two nations also share a robust and forward-looking Comprehensive Strategic Partnership underpinned by close people-to-people ties.

“By drawing on our complementary strengths, I am confident that our two countries will continue to identify fresh opportunities for the benefit of our peoples,” he said.

On the occasion, Nepal Prime Minister Balendra ‘Balen’ Shah extended “heartfelt greetings” to Prime Minister Modi and the “friendly people” of India.

“May the deep historical ties, close people-to-people relations and cooperation between Nepal and India continue to strengthen in the years ahead,” Mr. Shah said, according to a social media post by his office.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay also wished the government and people of India on Independence Day.

In a social media post, he said, “To my elder brother PM Narendra Modi and the people of India, I extend my warm wishes on the 80th Independence Day.” “May the enduring friendship and close ties between Bhutan and India continue to flourish.”

In his message, former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih called India’s journey since 1947 an “inspiration to developing countries”. “India’s journey since 1947 has been an inspiration to developing countries such as the Maldives on our own path to democracy. May the close ties of cooperation and friendship that exist between Maldives–India grow ever stronger,” he said on X.

Earlier on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also extended his greetings and asserted that the bilateral ties were stronger than ever due to the personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Mr. Modi.

In a statement, Mr. Rubio said the deep ties of friendship and family between the people of the two countries form the foundation of a partnership that is innovative, resilient and forward-looking.

“On behalf of the United States of America, I extend warm congratulations to the people of India on their Independence Day,” Mr. Rubio said, adding that bilateral collaboration is making both nations, and the broader Indian Ocean region, safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

Published – August 15, 2026 09:27 pm IST

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday (August 13, 2026) called for a “peaceful revolution” in the way India chooses its political leadership, saying the country needs a major change if it is to remain a “respectable nation” by 2047.

In a video message ahead of Independence Day, Mr. Wangchuk also called for “India’s second Independence movement”, urging citizens to suggest “selfless, fearless men and women of character and substance” who can help shape the country’s future.

He said he had been unwell over the past few days and had spent time thinking about the country and its future.

“Fifty years ago, the neighbouring countries that were behind us, or were equal to us, have now gone miles away from us,” he said, naming Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“If we talk about per capita GDP, and if this continues, then in 2047, we will not be a developed country, but we will not even be able to show our face in the world market,” he said.

Mr. Wangchuk congratulated those who had sought change and protested over the past two months, saying the agitation had also seen a change in the Union Education Ministry.

“I would like to congratulate you, on one hand, that you wanted change and you protested in the last two months. And even though there was change…the Minister of Education resigned. But the next Minister of Education, I don’t see any miracle from him either,” he added.

Mr. Wangchuk said the country’s progress was closely linked to its education system.

“And as long as education is behind, the future of the country will also be behind,” he said.

He said the issue of governance could not be reduced to one political party, claiming that dissent had been suppressed by governments of different parties.

“Voice was raised against one party’s government in Delhi, and that voice, then in another states, another party government, they also did the same injustice, and suppressed it in the same way. So it’s not even a matter of parties,” he said.

Mr. Wangchuk also referred to the political change that followed the anti-corruption movement of 2012-13, saying the subsequent change in government had not eliminated corruption and injustice.

“But today, after 12 years, corruption and injustice have taken on a new form. But it is also 2-3 times bigger than that, and is staring into our eyes, and is scaring us,” he said.

He called for a fundamental change in the manner in which political leaders are chosen.

“So we need a very big change, we need a revolution, we need a peaceful revolution in this country, so that we can move forward with the right leaders,” he said.

“Because the biggest shortcoming is in choosing our leadership. Until the leaders are right, the entire country will be on the wrong path,” he added.

Raising concern over the criminal cases declared by elected representatives, Mr. Wangchuk said there were still several leaders who followed the path of truth and deserved respect.

“But do you know, if you look at our Parliament, then almost half of the Parliament members are accused of crimes. One third are seriously accused of murder, rape, kidnapping. So how can the country develop in such a situation?” he said.

He stressed that his criticism was not directed at any particular political party or the opposition.

“And I am not talking about any particular party or opposition, I am talking about the country,” he said.

Mr. Wangchuk said he wanted to bring together people from across the country to discuss what needed to change.

“I want to consult the best minds in the country wherever they are, to brainstorm about what must change and how,” he said.

He clarified that he was looking beyond people who were merely intellectuals.

“Not just intellectuals who think but people who are selfless, fearless men & women of character & substance,” he said in his X post.

Mr. Wangchuk, who is based in Ladakh, said he did not know where to find such people and sought help from citizens.

“Sitting in remote Ladakh I don’t know who & where they are, so you can help by proposing at least one such name from the nation, and your region,” he said.

In the video, he appealed to people to give him such names as an Independence Day gift and said he wanted to meet people who could help “make a new map of our country”.

He also said he wanted to travel to different states and cities to seek people’s suggestions.

Mr. Wangchuk ended his X post with a call to “start India’s 2nd Independence movement” and urged people to spread the message and translate it into regional languages.

Published – August 14, 2026 07:55 am IST