Overview
- President Droupadi Murmu delivered the eve-of-Independence Day address on Friday, August 14, 2026, and approved 78 gallantry awards for Defence Forces and central armed police personnel.
- She framed recent moves as national‑security actions, praising Operation Sindoor as a precision counter‑terror operation and calling the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty a decisive step taken in farmers' interest.
- Murmu announced comprehensive reforms to public examinations to eliminate paper leaks and unfair means after this summer's student protests that contributed to the resignation of the education minister.
- The President highlighted social‑welfare achievements cited by the government, saying more than 25 crore people were lifted from poverty and noting large coverage under Jan Dhan, free‑ration and Ayushman Bharat programmes along with the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
- Though the presidency is largely ceremonial, the address sets a clear policy frame ahead of the Red Fort speech and could shape near‑term action on security, river diplomacy, welfare delivery and exam reform in the weeks to come.