By Dr. C.D. Sreenivasa Murthy
On January 26, 2026, India celebrates its 77th Republic Day, a milestone that blends the nation’s deep-rooted history with its modern aspirations. This year’s celebrations are particularly historic, marked by unprecedented diplomatic gestures and unique additions to the traditional parade.
Many people assume India became a Republic the moment it gained Independence. India was a Constitutional Monarchy for nearly three years with King George VI as the Head of State and India continued to use the British-era Government of India Act 1935 as its governing document until the Constitution was officially adopted in 1950. The official chief of India was the Governor General and not the President. The first Governor General of Independent India was Lord Louis Mountbatten and he was succeeded by the eminent freedom fighter C. Rajagopalachari.
The Constituent Assembly debated for nearly three years and the Constitution was finally accepted and signed on 26th November 1949 by all the members of the Assembly and it came into effect on 26th January 1950 when the nation declared itself as a sovereign Democratic Republic. The words Socialist and Secular were added later by a constitutional amendment.
Date and venues
The date January 26 was chosen to honour the “Purna Swaraj” (Complete Independence) declaration of 1930. On that day, the Indian National Congress, at its Lahore session, had first unfurled the Tricolour and called for total self-rule, making it the spiritual birth date of Indian Republic.
The magnificent Kartavya Path in which we see the Independence Day Parade today was known as The King’s Way in the British times. After independence the name was changed to Rajpath, and later by the present government to Kartavya Path. It’s a grand boulevard which starts from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Old Viceregal Palace, on the Raisina Hill down to the West and ends at Red Fort. It was designed by the architect of New Delhi Edward Lutyens for the grand military parades as an expression of the power and might of the British Monarch.
In 1950, the first Republic Day Parade was held at the Irwin Amphitheatre. It’s a beautiful Stadium Built by Maharaja of Bhavanagar and named after the Viceroy Lord Irwin, who conceived the idea of shifting the Capital of India from Calcutta to New Delhi. The venue was later named Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in honour of the hockey legend. The first guest of the first Parade of the new Republic of India was Sukharno, the President of Indonesia. He was a close friend of Prime Minister Nehru and both were actively involved in the non-alignment movement.
In 1951, the R-Day Parade was held at Red Fort. The next time in 1953, the venue was Ram Leela Grounds. There were no Parades in 1952 and 1954. The majestic Republic Day procession was permanently shifted to Rajpath in 1955.
An unusual chief guest
The unusual guest for this Republic Day in 1955 was Mallik Gulam Ahmed, the Governor General of Pakistan. Pakistan had not yet adopted a Constitution and still had a dominion status. Hence the chief of the country was Governor-General. The horrors of the partition were still fresh in the mind of Indians, and Delhi was filled with refugees. It was a controversial decision and many in the government resisted the idea. But the Prime Minister invited the Governor General of Pakistan as he felt it would be a good gesture of détente to bring lasting peace between the two nations.
Mallik Gulam Ahmed (1895-1956) was a Pakistani Statesman, serving as Pakistan’s first Finance Minister and later its third Governor-General (1951-1955). He was not only known for his pivotal role in establishing the new nation’s economy, but also for the controversial political actions like dismissing governments and the Constituent Assembly, eroding democratic institutions. He co-founded the Mahindra & Mohammad (now Mahindra & Mahindra) company in India, before emigrating to Pakistan.
India invites Pakistan again
India’s Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri invited Field Marshal Ayub Khan to be the chief guest for Republic Day in 1965 as a gesture of goodwill. Ayub Khan responded coolly, sending his Agriculture Minister instead of attending himself, seen as contemptuous of India’s invite. The invitation didn’t result in genuine peace. Pakistan’s military leadership, feeling superior after the Indian debacle in Sino-Indian War, sought to ignite conflict in Kashmir and viewed India as weak and started the war in 1965. The Indo-Pak War started in April 1965 with skirmishes in the Rann of Kutch, escalating to a major conflict in August-September after Pakistan’s Operation Gibraltar aimed to infiltrate Kashmir and spark an insurgency, leading India to launch a full-scale counter-offensive.
Mystery of 21-gun salute
The iconic 21-gun salute that accompanies the National Anthem is a marvel of precision. It isn’t 21 cannons, but only seven vintage 25-pounder guns that fire three rounds each. The first shot is fired at the start of the National Anthem and the last shot is fired exactly 52 seconds later matching the duration of the anthem perfectly. These guns were manufactured in 1941.
Royal departure
Before January 26, 1950, the Indian Air Force was known as “Royal Indian Air Force.” On Republic Day, the word “Royal” was officially dropped as the nation shed its final colonial ties to British Crown and became the Indian Air Force.
600-hour rule
The precision you see on TV is the result of extreme discipline. Participants in the parade start their rehearsals in July of the previous year. By the time they march on January 26, each group has practiced for approximately 600 hours. They even undergo four levels of security checks, including an inspection to ensure their weapons are not loaded with live ammunition.
Padma Awards
These are the highest civilian awards the Government of India bestows on people whose work has significant contribution to the nation or the world. The list of these honours is announced by the President’s Office on the eve of R-Day and presented in a stately ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the year.
2026 special highlights
The theme for 2026 is “Vande Mataram,” commemorating the 150th anniversary of India’s national song. The festivities focus on the dual pillars of cultural pride and the Atmanirbhar Bharat.
In a significant diplomatic first, India has invited the top leadership of the European Union. Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) and António Costa (President of the European Council) will attend as chief guests. This signals a new era of strategic and economic partnership as negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) appear to have reached a critical concluding stage.
Beating Retreat
This event marks the formal conclusion of Republic Day celebrations. Military Bands perform patriotic tunes and the ceremony ends with the lowering of flags. The event was conceived by Major G.A. Roberts at the request of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru specifically for the State visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Later it was adopted as the concluding ceremony of R-Day.
The bands use both Western and Indian instruments such as bugles, trumpets, drums, pipes and sitars. The ceremony also includes performances by the Army Symphony Orchestra and the Traditional Ensemble, which use a mix of European and Indian instruments.
CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) and Delhi Police Bands joined the ceremony in 2016, adding more diversity and vibrancy to the event. The ceremony ends with the bugle call for Retreat, followed by lowering of the National Flag and the playing of the National Anthem.
The Republic Day pageantry showcases India’s military might and cultural diversity, standing as a testament to the nation’s soft power.
This post was published on January 25, 2026 6:10 pm