Republic Day of India

The Republic Day of India is celebrated every year on 26 January. On that day in 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and the country became a republic, with its own elected head of state instead of the British Crown. Republic Day is a national holiday, and it is marked by a grand parade in New Delhi, flag hoisting across the country, cultural shows and the announcement of national awards. This post explains why the date was chosen, how the Constitution was made, and what happens during the celebrations.

Our old post on this topic was very short and had a few outdated details, such as the old wreath laying memorial. We have rewritten it in plain English and checked the facts against standard references.

Why India Celebrates Republic Day

India became independent on 15 August 1947, but it did not yet have its own constitution. For more than two years it remained a dominion, and its laws were still based on the Government of India Act of 1935, a British law. The King of Britain remained the formal head of state.

That changed on 26 January 1950. The new Constitution replaced the old act, India became a sovereign democratic republic, and Dr Rajendra Prasad took office as the first President of India. You can read about his life in our Rajendra Prasad biography.

Why 26 January?

The date was not chosen by chance. On 26 January 1930, the Indian National Congress had declared Purna Swaraj, or complete independence, as its goal. For the next seventeen years, nationalists marked 26 January as a day of freedom. Bringing the Constitution into force on the same date linked the new republic to that promise.

How the Constitution Was Made

The Constitution was written by the Constituent Assembly, a body of elected and nominated members that first met on 9 December 1946. On 29 August 1947 it set up a Drafting Committee with Dr B. R. Ambedkar as its chairman. Our post on Dr B. R. Ambedkar tells his story.

One of the Assembly’s first steps came on 13 December 1946, when Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Objectives Resolution. It set out the basic ideals of the new state, and its spirit later shaped the Preamble.

The committee presented its draft on 4 November 1948. Members then debated it clause by clause for about a year. The Assembly adopted the Constitution on 26 November 1949, and it was signed by 284 members. The whole process took 2 years, 11 months and 18 days. The Assembly met for the last time on 24 January 1950, two days before the Constitution took effect.

The original Constitution was written by hand. Its calligrapher was Prem Behari Narain Raizada, and artists from Shantiniketan, including Nandalal Bose, decorated its pages. It is the longest written national constitution in the world.

What the Constitution Says

The Preamble, the short opening statement of the Constitution, describes India as a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. It promises citizens justice, equality and liberty, and aims to promote fraternity among them.

When it came into force, the Constitution had 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules. It has since been amended more than one hundred times, and today it has about 470 articles grouped into 25 parts. The Constitution sets out the powers of Parliament, the President, the courts and the states, and it lists the fundamental rights of every citizen.

Republic Day and Constitution Day

People sometimes mix up two dates. Constitution Day falls on 26 November and marks the day the Constitution was adopted in 1949. The government declared it a national observance in 2015. Republic Day, on 26 January, marks the day the Constitution came into force.

Republic Day is also different from Independence Day. Independence Day on 15 August marks freedom from British rule, while Republic Day marks India’s own system of government. Read more in our post on Independence Day of India.

The Republic Day of India Parade

The biggest event of the day is the parade in New Delhi. It is organised by the Ministry of Defence and is held on Kartavya Path, the grand avenue that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan past India Gate. This road was called Rajpath until it was redeveloped and renamed in September 2022.

The day begins with the Prime Minister laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, followed by two minutes of silence for fallen soldiers. This used to take place at the Amar Jawan Jyoti under India Gate, but in January 2022 that flame was merged with the flame at the National War Memorial.

The President then unfurls the national flag, the national anthem is played, and a 21 gun salute is fired. Our post on Jana Gana Mana explains the history of the anthem.

The President, as Supreme Commander of the armed forces, takes the salute as the parade moves past. It usually includes:

• Marching contingents and bands of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• Units of the paramilitary and police forces.
• Displays of tanks, missiles and other military equipment.
• Colourful tableaux from states, union territories and ministries, showing culture, history and development.
• Folk dances and cultural performances by school children and artists.
• A flypast by the Indian Air Force, which closes the parade.

Children who have won national bravery awards have often taken part in the parade, once riding on decorated elephants and later on open vehicles.

The Chief Guest

Each year India invites a foreign leader as the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations. The choice often reflects India’s strategic, trade and political ties. At the very first parade in 1950, led by Brigadier Moti Sagar and held at the Irwin Amphitheatre, which is now the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the chief guest was President Sukarno of Indonesia. In 2026, the chief guests were the heads of the European Council and the European Commission.

Awards Announced on Republic Day

On the eve of Republic Day, the government announces the Padma awards, among India’s highest civilian honours. They were set up in 1954 and come in three classes: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Apart from a few breaks, they have been announced every year around Republic Day. Gallantry awards for members of the armed forces and civilians are also announced around this time.

Celebrations Across India

The Republic Day of India is celebrated far beyond Delhi. On the eve of the day, the President addresses the nation. Governors unfurl the flag in state capitals, and chief ministers and local officials do the same in towns and districts. Schools, colleges, offices and housing societies hold flag hoisting events, sing patriotic songs and stage plays and speeches about the freedom struggle and the Constitution.

Beating Retreat

The Republic Day celebrations formally end on the evening of 29 January with the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk, close to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Bands of the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with police and paramilitary bands, play rousing tunes as the sun sets. The President arrives escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, and the massed bands play the national anthem. The custom itself goes back to seventeenth century England, where drums beaten at sunset called patrolling soldiers back to their castle.

How to Watch the Parade

Tickets for seats along Kartavya Path are usually sold in the weeks before the event, and security is very tight. Gates open early in the morning, so visitors are advised to arrive well ahead of time and carry valid photo identity. For those who cannot attend, the parade is broadcast live on national television and streamed online.

A system started in 2024 aims to give every state and union territory a chance to show its tableau at least once every three years.

In 2022, the public was invited for the first time to vote online for their favourite tableaux and marching groups.

Many families watch the parade together at home, and some schools hold drawing and essay contests on the Constitution in the days before.

What We Changed From the Old Post

We rewrote the post in plain English and expanded it into a full guide to the Republic Day of India.

We updated the wreath laying detail: the Prime Minister now pays tribute at the National War Memorial, not the old Amar Jawan Jyoti. We also used the new name, Kartavya Path, and made clear that awards are announced on the eve rather than handed out during the parade.

We added the reason for choosing 26 January, how the Constitution was drafted, the difference from Constitution Day and Independence Day, the chief guest tradition and the Beating Retreat ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Republic Day celebrated on 26 January?

Because the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. The date honours the Purna Swaraj declaration of 26 January 1930.

Who was the first chief guest of the Republic Day parade?

President Sukarno of Indonesia was the chief guest at the first parade in 1950.

Where is the Republic Day parade held?

It is held on Kartavya Path in New Delhi, the road formerly known as Rajpath.

When does the Republic Day celebration end?

It ends with the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk on the evening of 29 January.