Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolor at the Red Fort during the 74th Independence Day celebration on Saturday. PM Modi was assisted by Major Shweta Pandey in unfurling the national flag, news agency ANI reported. (LIVE UPDATES)

Major Pandey was part of an Indian military contingent at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in June this year. 

Here is what we know about Major Shweta Pandey:

– She was the first woman officer to carry the national flag and lead a tri-services Indian Army contingent at Moscow in June this year.

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– Major Pandey is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) expert.

– She won the Garhwal Rifles medal for topping in tactics in the academy.

– She passed out of the Officers Training, Chennai in 2012 and is currently posted with the 505 Army Based Workshop (ABW) in Delhi Cantonment.

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The unfurling of the tri-colour was synchronised with the 21 Gun Salute fired by the gunners of the elite 2233 Field Battery (Ceremonial).

After the flag hoisting, PM Modi addressed the nation. This was his seventh consecutive Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort.