Where does the Indian Prime Minister hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day?

Question

Where does the Indian Prime Minister hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day?

1. A. Qutb Minar
2. B. Red Fort (Correct answer)
3. C. Jantar Mantar
4. D. India Gate

Correct Answer

Option B — Red Fort

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Red Fort.

Key Points

• The Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort (Lal Qila), Delhi on Independence Day, 15 August, and addresses the nation from its ramparts.
• The tradition dates to 15 August 1947, when Jawaharlal Nehru first unfurled the flag there.
• The distractors are all Delhi landmarks with no such role: India Gate is a war memorial, Jantar Mantar an 18th-century observatory, and the Qutb Minar a 12th-century victory tower.

Additional Information

• The distinction most often tested: on Independence Day the Prime Minister hoists the flag at the Red Fort, while on Republic Day (26 January) the President unfurls it at Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath).
• The difference in verb is deliberate — on 15 August the flag is hoisted from the bottom of the pole and raised, marking the nation's rise to freedom; on 26 January it is already at the top and is unfurled, since the nation was already independent.
• The Red Fort was built by Shah Jahan, completed in 1648 when the Mughal capital moved from Agra to Shahjahanabad, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
• The President, as head of state, presides on Republic Day because that is the day the Constitution came into force.