What India Independence Day is

Marks the end of British rule on 15 August 1947. The Prime Minister addresses the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi each year.

The date was chosen by Lord Mountbatten to coincide with the second anniversary of the Japanese surrender.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This is a fixed date: it falls on the same day of the month every year, so only the weekday changes.

It is grouped here under National, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.