
Indian Republic Day is the day when “We, the People of India,” celebrate democracy, diversity, and the collective spirit of India. As the nation is gearing up for the grand celebrations of the 76th Indian Republic Day on 26th January 2025, let’s delve into various aspects of this momentous occasion.
About Republic Day of India
Indian Republic Day is a national festival of India that commemorates the enactment of the Constitution of India, which occurred on January 26, 1950. It is celebrated annually on 26th January and marks the day when the Constitution of India came into effect, making India a sovereign republic.
Historical Background of Indian Republic Day
The historical context of Republic Day of India goes back to India’s struggle for independence. Though India gained independence on 15th August 1947, it did not yet have its own constitution. Instead, its laws and governance system continued to be based on a modified version of the Government of India Act of 1935.
On 29th August 1947, a resolution was moved in the Constituent Assembly for the appointment of a Drafting Committee to draft a permanent constitution of India. Accordingly, the Drafting Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Committee introduced the final draft of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly on 4th November 1948.
After many deliberations and some modifications, the Draft Constitution was declared as passed by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949. A few provisions of the Constitution came into force on 26th November 1949. However, the major part of the Constitution came into force on 26th January 1950. It was on that date that India truly became a sovereign republic.
The occasion on 26th January 1950 was marked by a salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National Flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Thereafter, 26th January was recognized as the Republic Day of India.
26th January was specifically chosen as the ‘date of commencement’ of the Constitution because it was on this day in 1930 that Purna Swaraj Day was celebrated, following the resolution of the Lahore Session (December 1929) of the INC.
Chronological Order of Events during Republic Day Celebrations
Though Indian Republic Day is celebrated across the country, the main event takes place in the national capital – New Delhi. A series of events unfold as the celebrations proceed. These events are listed below chronologically:
Pre-Parade Events
- Beginning: The Republic Day Celebrations begin on 23rd January (Parakram Divas or the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose).
- Prior to 2022, the Indian Republic Day Celebrations used to begin on 24th January. However, in the year 2022, the government changed the start date to 23rd January to include the birth anniversary of Netaji as part of the Republic Day Celebrations.
- Republic Day Speech: Just one day preceding the Republic Day, the President of India addresses the nation. This address, usually known as the 26 January Republic Day Speech, outlines the nation’s achievements, challenges, and vision for the future.
- Wreath-Laying at the Amar Jawan Jyoti: Early morning on Republic Day, the Prime Minister pays homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti war memorial. This marks a symbolic start to the day’s official commemorations.
- The Unfurling of the National Flag: The President arrives at the Kartavya Path (formerly known as Rajpath) and unfurls the national flag. This is followed by the playing of the National Anthem a 21-Gun Salute.
The Republic Day Parade
The Republic Day Parade commences after the unfurling of the national flag and forms the main part of the Republic Day Celebrations. Some of the major highlights of the parade include:
- Marching contingents from the Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary Forces.
- Motorcycle stunts by ‘Dare Devils’
- Vibrant tableaux representing different States/UTs of India as well as departments/ministries of the government.
- Folk dance troupes from various states.
- Mesmerizing fly-past by various aircraft of the Indian Air Force conclude the parade.
Post-Parade Events
- Bestowing of Padma Awards and Gallantry Awards: On the evening of the Republic Day, the President of India confers prestigious Padma Awards and Gallantry Awards to the respective awardees.
- Beating Retreat Ceremony and Conclusion: The Beating Retreat Ceremony is held on 29th January and marks the conclusion of the Republic Day Celebrations.
The 76th Republic Day of India 2025
India is commemorating its 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025. Being the 76th anniversary of Republic Day, it is going to be an extra special affair. The events planned and the themes they are based upon promise to be a grand celebration of the country’s progress, democracy, and rich cultural heritage.
The sections that follow explain various aspects of the India Republic Day Celebrations 2025.
Themes of Republic Day Celebrations 2025
- The themes of the 76th Republic Day 2025 are: “Swarnim Bharat – Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India – Heritage and Development).
- These themes have been selected in line with the honorable PM Shri Narendra Modi’s views that ‘India is truly a mother of democracy.’
- These themes will be reflected in the tableaux presented by various states and government departments, showcasing India’s progress in various sectors like technology, infrastructure, and cultural heritage.
Major Highlights of the 76th Indian Republic Day Celebrations 2025
The 76th Republic Day of India, celebrated on January 26, 2025, featured several notable highlights:
- Theme: “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas”- The central theme, “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India: Heritage and Development), underscored India’s rich cultural heritage and its ongoing journey of progress.
- Tableaux Presentations- Fifteen states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, showcased their unique cultural and developmental narratives through elaborate tableaux on Kartavya Path.
- Guest of Honour- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade, marking the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia.
- Parade and Cultural Displays- The parade featured contingents from the Indian Armed Forces, highlighting the nation’s military prowess.
- Cultural performances from various states reflected India’s diversity, with participants presenting traditional dances and music that embodied the “Virasat aur Vikas” theme.
- The celebrations took place along Kartavya Path in New Delhi, a ceremonial boulevard symbolizing India’s commitment to duty and service.
- Bharat Parv at Red Fort- In addition to the main parade, the “Bharat Parv” was organized at Red Fort from January 26 to 31, 2025.
- This event featured cultural performances, handicraft exhibitions, and culinary delights, offering a platform for states and Union Territories to showcase their cultural heritage and tourism potential.
- These elements combined to make the 76th Republic Day a memorable event, celebrating India’s heritage and progress on the global stage.
- 10,000 Special Guests to Witness 76th Republic Day Parade Celebrations in New Delhi- For the 76th Republic Day Parade in 2025, approximately 10,000 special guests have been invited to witness the celebrations at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, as part of the government’s efforts to increase public participation (“Jan Bhagidari”) in national events.
- These guests include a diverse group of individuals who have excelled in various fields and benefitted from government schemes.
- The list of invitees includes Sarpanches from top-performing villages, disaster relief workers, water warriors, and best-performing members from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), as well as beneficiaries of schemes such as PM KUSUM, PM Surya Ghar, and the National Skill Development Corporation.
- Notably, the invited guests also include participants from the PM-JANMAN mission, tribal artisans, forest and wildlife conservation volunteers, para-Olympic athletes, and medalists from international sports events like the Chess Olympiad, Bridge World Games, and Snooker World Championships.
- The government has also included innovators, patent holders, and successful start-ups in the list. School children, winners of competitions like the All India School Band and Veer Gatha competitions, will also join the celebrations.
- Additionally, these special guests will have the opportunity to visit landmarks like the National War Memorial and PM Sangrahalay, interact with ministers, and explore other prominent places in Delhi.
- Veer Gatha 4.0- Project ‘Veer Gatha 4.0’, a joint initiative by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education, has received an overwhelming response this year, with approximately 1.76 crore students from around 2.31 lakh schools across India participating.
- The competition, launched on September 5, 2024, encouraged students to write essays and paragraphs about Gallantry Award recipients, freedom fighters like Rani Laxmibai, the 1857 First War of Independence, and Tribal Uprisings in India’s Freedom Struggle.
- The initiative aimed to deepen students’ understanding of India’s cultural and historical heritage.
- Following a rigorous evaluation process at school, district, and state levels, 100 national-level winners were selected across four categories, with each winner receiving a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and the opportunity to witness the Republic Day Parade 2025 at Kartavya Path as a special guest.
- In addition to the national winners, state and district-level winners will also be honoured.
- Launched in 2021 as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to commemorate India’s independence, Veer Gatha aims to instil patriotism and civic values in students by highlighting the bravery of Gallantry awardees and national heroes.
- This year, the initiative marked a significant milestone with a substantial increase in participation following its successful earlier editions.
- Beating Retreat Ceremony- The culmination of the 76th Republic Day 2025 Celebrations will be marked by the Beating Retreat Ceremony, to be held at Vijay Chowk on January 29, 2025.
- It will witness all Indian tunes being played by bands of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and CAPFs.
- As part of the Beating Retreat Ceremony, an online competition will be held wherein people can sing or play Indian tunes, highlighting the patriotism and sacrifices of soldiers, and upload them on MyGov Portal. Top entries will be given rewards.
Chief Guest of the 76th Indian Republic Day 2025
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been invited as the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia.
- This visit highlights the growing bilateral ties, with both nations strengthening their cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, and regional security.
Interesting Facts about the Republic Day Chief Guest
- The Chief Guest of the first Republic Day Parade in 1950 was President Sukarno of Indonesia.
- The process of selecting the chief guest for Republic Day Celebrations starts nearly six months in advance of the event. After a lot of considerations and formalities, a final decision is made.
- The considerations that are taken into account before extending the invitation are:
- The nature of the relationship between India and the country concerned.
- Political, commercial, military, and economic interests of India. The Government of India seeks to use the occasion to strengthen ties with the country of the invitee in all these respects.
- A historical factor that has been playing a role in the choice of the Chief Guest is the association with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
- The visit of the Chief Guest to Indian Republic Day celebrations is full of symbolism and serves as a powerful tool to forge and renew ties between India and the invitee nation. Thus, it has a greater political and diplomatic significance as well.
Importance of Republic Day Celebration
The varied importance of the Republic Day Celebration can be seen as follows:
- Commitment to Constitutional Values: As a day commemorating the birth of the Indian Republic, it reflects the nation’s unwavering commitment to democratic ideals of Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
- Celebration of Cultural Heritage: The cultural events, forming an important part of the India Republic Day Celebration, showcase traditional dances, folk music, and art forms from various regions of India.
- All these highlight India’s cultural diversity as well as cultural richness
- Education and Inspiration: As a commemoration of an important political milestone, the Republic Day Celebration educates the younger generation about the fundamental philosophy and values on which our Constitution is based.
- Along with this, they also instill a sense of civil responsibility and patriotism among the citizens and inspire them to contribute to our nation’s progress.
- Promotion of National Unity: The cultural heritage, art forms, and achievements of various regions are shown by tableaux at the Republic Day Parade as well as the cultural extravaganza.
- Showcasing this huge diversity of ‘Kashmir to Kanyakumari’ on one platform acts as a powerful reminder of the basic feature of Indian society – ‘Unity in Diversity’.
- A Tribute to Valor and Sacrifice: Republic Day is an occasion to remember the courage and sacrifice made by our valiant freedom fighters, which brought us freedom.
- A Day of Reflection: The way events unfold as part of the celebration gives a glimpse of India’s incredible journey from overcoming the challenges as a newly born democratic republic to the progress made towards a more prosperous and inclusive nation.
- Thus, in a way, it acts as a day for introspection and reflection.
- Pledge for the Future: Along with reflecting on the progress made by the nation, it serves as an opportunity to strengthen our commitments for the future.
- The emphasis on technological advancements, economic development, and social welfare during the celebrations acts as a pledge to work towards a more prosperous and inclusive nation.
- Strategic Messaging: The Republic Day Parade provides the opportunity to showcase the military strength of our country.
- At the same time, the tableaux of government organizations showcase the developmental achievements made by the nation.
- All these send a strategic message to the world along with inculcating a sense of assurance in our countrymen.
- Strengthening India’s Diplomacy: Republic Day Celebrations are usually marked by the presence of foreign dignitaries as well as media.
- The picture of India carried back by them helps foster international collaboration and India’s global standing.
More than just a commemoration of an important political milestone, the Indian Republic Day is a celebration of India’s journey, identity, and the democratic principles that bind its diverse population. It is a day to pay tribute to the sacrifices of the past, celebrate the achievements of the present, and envision a future where the nation towards progress and prosperity.
As the fervor of the 76th Republic Day of India 2025 celebrations dons upon the nation, NEXT IAS wishes you a Happy Republic Day!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Republic Day of India
What is Republic Day?
Republic Day of India is a national festival of our country that commemorates the enactment of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950.
Why do we celebrate Republic Day?
Republic Day in India is celebrated to commemorate the day when the Constitution of India came into effect.
Why 26 January is celebrated as Republic Day?
January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day in India because it was on this day in the year 1950 that the Constitution of India came into effect.
Where is the Republic Day Parade held?
The Republic Day Parade is held annually at Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) in New Delhi, showcasing India’s military strength, cultural diversity, and achievements.
What is the significance of Republic Day?
Republic Day marks the adoption of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950, symbolising India’s transition to a sovereign, democratic republic and celebrating its unity, democratic values, and cultural heritage.
When did we celebrate first republic day of India?
India celebrated its first Republic Day on January 26, 1950, marking the day when the Constitution of India came into effect, officially declaring India a sovereign, democratic republic.