On the 26th of January 2025, we Indians are celebrating the 76th Republic Day. On this day in 1950, India became the constitutionally recognised Sovereign and Republic state. Today, the Constitution of India is the largest in the world leaving behind all the democracies. Indian Republic along with being one of the oldest civilisations in the world, also embodies a rich cultural heritage. It is the 7th largest country in terms of landmass.
History of 26th January-
1. The Declaration of ‘Poorn Swaraj’ (Absolute Independence)-
The day of 26th January does have a significant place in Indian history. In the year 1930, the Indian National Congress declared the day of 26 January as the day of “Poorna Swaraj” (Absolute independence). Here, Poorn Swaraj means, there shall be no dominion status. Although, the Indian National Congress, on the 19th of December 1929, passed the historic ‘Poorna Swaraj’ (Absolute independence) resolution at its Lahore session the public declaration was made on the 26th of January 1930. This day the Indian National Congress urged Indians to celebrate as ‘Independence Day’. This declaration was passed due to the breakdown of negotiations between the leaders of the freedom movement and the British over the issue of dominion status for India.
2. The Constituent Assembly and the Constitution of India-
On 15th of August 1947, India became an independent country. The Constituent Assembly met for the first time in New Delhi on the 9th of December 1946, in the Constitution Hall now known as the Central Hall of Parliament House. A Drafting Committee was constituted on the 29th of August to draft a permanent constitution for independent India. Dr. B.R Ambedkar, a great Socialist, educationalist and Advocate, was made Chairman of the Drafting committee.
On the 4th of November 1947, the committee drafted the Constitution and submitted it to the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly took Two years, Eleven months, and Eighteen days to be precise to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India. During this period, the Constituent Assembly held Eleven sessions covering a total of 165 days. Of these, 114 days were spent on the consideration of the Draft Constitution.
On the 24th of January 1950, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two handwritten versions of the agreement. One of them was in Hindi language and another one in the English language. The Constitution of India came into effect two days later, on the 26th of January 1950. After the adoption of the Constitution of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of the Republic of India.
26th January as Republic Day-
The Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on the 26th of November 1949. It came into force on the 26th of January 1950. The reasoning behind choosing the 26th of January is very specific. On this day a public declaration was made in 1930 for ‘Poorn Swaraj’ by the Indian National Congress. ‘Poorn Swaraj’ completely rejected the concept of Dominion status for India.
The Republic Day of 2025-
On the 26th of January 2025, India celebrated its 76th Republic Day. This journey as the Republic of India since 1950 is filled with various turns and challenges. In the First Republic Day Parade the First President of
Indonesia Mr. Sukarno was the Chief Guest. In the 76th Republic Day Parade Indonesian President Prabowo Subinato is the Chief Guest. He witnessed a Cultural performance by 5,000 artists to cover the entire Kartavya Path for the first time.
Highlights of Day Parade-
- The arrival of the President of India and her Indonesian counterpart will be escorted by the President’s Bodyguard, the seniormost Regiment of the Indian Army. The two Presidents will arrive in the ‘Traditional Buggy’, the practice which made a comeback in 2024 after a gap of 40 years.
- As per tradition, the National Flag will be unfurled followed by the National Anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105-mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system. Around 10,000 Special Guests from different walks of life to witness the parade.
- Kartavya Path will be witness to a march past by the Marching Contingent of Indonesian National Armed Forces and Military Band of Indonesia’s Military Academy. The marching contingent will consist of 152 members, with 190 members in the military band.
- The first Army contingent leading the Mounted Column will be of 61 Cavalry, led by Lt Ahaan Kumar. Raised in 1953, the 61 Cavalry is the only serving active Horsed Cavalry Regiment in the world, with the amalgamation of all the ‘State Horsed Cavalry Units’. It will be followed by nine Mechanised Columns and nine marching contingents.
- Tank T-90 (Bhishma); NAG Missile System along with BMP-2 Sarath; BrahMos; Pinaka Multi-launcher Rocket System, Agnibaan Multi-barrel Rocket Launcher; Akash Weapon System; Integrated Battlefield Surveillance System; All-Terrain Vehicle (Chetak), Light Specialist Vehicle (Bajrang), Vehicle Mounted Infantry Mortar System (Airawat), Quick Reaction Force Vehicles (Nandighosh & Tripurantak) and Short-Span Bridging System will also be on display at the Kartavya Path.
- Marching down the Kartavya Path will be the contingents of the Brigade of the Guards, The Jat Regiment, The Garhwal Rifles, The Mahar Regiment, The Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Regiment, and the Corps of Signals, among others.
- For the first time, a Tri-services tableau will roll down on Kartavya Path, displaying the spirit of jointness and integration. With the theme ‘Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat’, the tableau will depict a Joint Operations Room facilitating networking and communication among the three Services. It would display a battlefield scenario demonstrating a synchronised operation on land, water and air with the indigenous Arjun Main Battle Tank, Tejas MKII fighter aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter, destroyer INS Visakhapatnam & a Remotely Piloted Aircraft, reflecting the Tri-services synergy in multi-domain operations. These platforms exemplify the vision to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence.
- This Republic Day DRDO’s major landmarks of 2024 will also be showcased in the tableau posters. It includes Long Range Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile; Light Weight Bullet Proof Jacket ‘ABHED’; a Divyastra – Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle; ‘Zorawar’ Light Tank and the Dornier Mid-Life Upgrade with radar, an Electronic Warfare System, Software Defined Radio etc.
Also Read- 1. Afghanistan Government to revoke licence of NGO’s employing women
2. One Nation One Election whether practical or not
Rashtra Parv & Mobile App-
The ‘Rashtraparv Portal’ and mobile App (Apple Play and Msewa) have been launched. It will facilitate access to information related to national events such as Republic Day, Beating Retreat Ceremony, Independence Day; live streaming, purchase of tickets, provide information related to seating arrangements & route maps of events etc.
Beating Retreat Ceremony
Republic Day Ceremony comes to a close with the ‘Beating Retreat Ceremony’. It is held every year on the 29th of January at Vijay Chowk. It marks a centuries-old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms, withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. Colours and Standards are cased and flags are lowered. During the Beating Retreat Ceremony 2025, only Indian Tunes will be played by all the participating bands.
Bharat Parv
‘Bharat Parv’ will be organised at the Red Fort, Delhi from January 26 to 31st of January 2025. It will be organised by the Ministry of Tourism and will showcase Republic Day Tableaux, performances by the Military Bands (Static), and cultural performances. It also includes Food Courts serving pan Indian cuisines and Crafts Bazaar.
