Republic Day is a national holiday in India. It honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic.
The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic.
India will celebrate the 72nd Republic Day on January 26, 2021
Significance of Republic Day
The significance of January 26 is that on that day in 1929, the Indian National Congress made the well-known declaration of “Poorna Swaraj” or complete self-rule and Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolour on the banks of the Ravi river. The date set for independence was January 26, 1930, and was celebrated as Poorna Swaraj day for the next 17 years.
Republic Day 2021: How will it be celebrated this year
Every year, a Republic Day parade is held at the Rajpath in New Delhi. The day begins with the prime minister paying tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country at the Amar Jawan Jyoti in India Gate. The president also hoists a flag at Rajpath and several important dignitaries, alongside the Prime minister and the president, are present for the parade. However, things will be different this year, given we are still coping with the pandemic. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had to call off his trip due to the second lockdown imposed in the country and a large number of people will not be allowed in 2021.
The number of marching contingent from the armed forces has been also reduced.
