Highlights of 75th Republic Day of India
On 26 January 2024, India celebrated its 75th Republic Day. Republic Day 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India.
The Republic Day celebrations commenced with the homage ceremony at the National War Memorial where PM Modi paid floral tributes to fallen heroes by laying a wreath and concluded with the National Anthem.
Later President Droupadi Murmu and her French counterpart Emanuel Macron arrived on the Kartavya Path in a traditional buggy, which made a comeback after 40 years.
Theme of Republic Day 2024
The twin themes for Republic Day 2024 was `Nari Shakti` (women`s power) and “Vikasit Bharat,” (developed India) reflecting the government’s focus on inclusive and sustainable development.
Chief Guest at Republic Day 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest for the celebrations, signifying the strengthening ties between India and France.
Grand Parade at Republic Day 2024
The parade included marches by all three armed forces, tableaus from Indian states depicting their unique culture, traditions, and achievements, daredevil motorcycle stunts by the Indian Army, and a flypast by Indian Air Force fighter jets.
Farmers as Special Guests at Republic Day 2024
In a first, about 1,500 farmers and their spouses have been invited as special guests for the Republic Day Parade 2024.
They consist of farmer representatives of Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs), beneficiaries of PM-KISAN and micro irrigation schemes.
- The objective of inviting the farmers is to provide people from all walks of life an opportunity to take part in the national festival.
`Nari Shakti` (women`s power) showcase
The Republic Day 2024 parade highlighted the significance of “Nari Shakti,” emphasizing the crucial roles women play in diverse fields, including village industry, the maritime sector, defense, science, and space technology.
- In a historic moment, an exclusively female tri-services contingent made its debut in the parade. The Indian Air Force’s fly-past featured fifteen women pilots. Additionally, the contingents of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were exclusively comprised of female personnel.
- For the first time ever, the parade started by over 100 women artists playing Indian musical instruments. The parade commenced with the music of Sankh, Naadswaram, Nagada, etc. being played by these artists.
Military power
During the parade India displayed its military might that included elite marching contingents, missiles, warplanes, surveillance gadgets and lethal weapon systems.
Tableaus of Ram Lalla idol
The tableau from Uttar Pradesh presented an idol of a child symbolizing Lord Ram and depicted the enchanting consecration ceremony (pran pratishtha) of the Ram Mandir that occurred in Ayodhya on January 22.
Participation in the parade from France
A 95-member marching contingent and a 33-member band contingent from France also took part in the Republic Day parade. Along with the aircraft of the Indian Air Force, one Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and two Rafale aircraft of the French Air Force participated in the fly-past.
| Republic Day in India is celebrated on January 26th each year to honor the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document. Here’s a brief history:
· Pre-Independence Era: India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947. However, the country did not have a permanent constitution at that time. · Constituent Assembly: The drafting of the Indian Constitution began in 1946, headed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on January 26, 1950, after almost three years of deliberations. · Transition to Republic: The significance of January 26 was chosen because it marked the declaration of Purna Swaraj (complete independence) by the Indian National Congress in 1930. The day was seen as symbolically important for completing the transition from British Dominion to a sovereign republic. · First Republic Day Celebration: The first Republic Day was celebrated in 1950 with great enthusiasm and the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, took the oath of office on this day. · Ceremonies and Parades: Republic Day is celebrated with a grand parade at Rajpath in New Delhi, showcasing India’s military strength, cultural diversity, and technological achievements. The President of India hoists the national flag, and the event is attended by dignitaries, foreign guests, and the public. · Beating Retreat Ceremony: The celebration concludes on the evening of January 29 with the Beating Retreat ceremony, a musical extravaganza performed by the bands of the three wings of the military.
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Chief Guest of India at Republic Day Celebrations
The Chief Guest for India during the Republic Day Celebrations can be found on the list provided here.
| Year | Chief Guest | Country |
| 1950 | Dr. Sukarno | Indonesia |
| 1951 | King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah | Nepal |
| 1952 | No guest | ** |
| 1953 | No guest | ** |
| 1954 | King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | Bhutan |
| 1955 | Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad | Pakistan |
| 1956 | Chancellor R. A. Butler | United Kingdom |
| 1957 | Defense Minister Georgy Zhukov | Soviet Union |
| 1958 | Marshal Ye Jianying | China |
| 1959 | Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip | United Kingdom |
| 1960 | President Kliment Voroshilov | Soviet Union |
| 1961 | Queen Elizabeth II | United Kingdom |
| 1962 | Prime Minister Viggo Kampmann | Denmark |
| 1963 | King Norodom Sihanouk | Cambodia |
| 1964 | Chief of Defence Staff Lord Louis Mountbatten | United Kingdom |
| 1965 | Rana Abdul Hamid | Pakistan |
| 1966 | No guest | ** |
| 1967 | King Mohammed Zahir Shah | Afghanistan |
| 1968-1973 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 1974 | Heads of State of Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan | Joint |
| 1975-1979 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 1980 | President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing | France |
| 1981-1988 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 1989 | President Mikhail Gorbachev | Soviet Union |
| 1990-1991 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 1992 | President Boris Yeltsin | Russia |
| 1993-1998 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 1999 | President Jacques Chirac | France |
| 2000-2003 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 2004 | President Nelson Mandela | South Africa |
| 2005-2007 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 2008 | President Nicolas Sarkozy | France |
| 2009-2013 | Various foreign dignitaries | Multiple |
| 2014 | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe | Japan |
| 2015 | President Barack Obama | United States |
| 2016 | President François Hollande | France |
| 2017 | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan | Abu Dhabi |
| 2018 | Heads of State of ASEAN member countries | Joint |
| 2019 | President Cyril Ramaphosa | South Africa |
| 2020 | President Jair Bolsonaro | Brazil |
| 2021 | No guest due to COVID-19 pandemic | ** |
| 2022 | President Ram Nath Kovind (India) | ** |
| 2023 | President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi | Egypt |
| 2024 | President Emmanuel Macron | France |
Beating Retreat Ceremony of the Republic Day
The Beating Retreat ceremony serves as the official conclusion of the Republic Day festivities and takes place on the evening of January 29th, three days after Republic Day.
- The event features performances by the bands representing the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. Raisina Hill and the adjacent Vijay Chowk square serve as the venue for this ceremony.
- During the event, the military bands play popular tunes such as Vande Mataram, Vaishnava Jana To, Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, and the National Anthem.
