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The marching of the Indian Army soldiers and the roar of fighter jets in the sky on Kartavya Path send a message of India’s strength to the world. The tableaux from the participating states showcase the country’s unique art, traditions, and heritage.
Republic Day 2026: PM Modi with Chief Guests Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa
New Delhi: The 77th Republic Day is being celebrated across the country today. On January 26, 1950, the country's constitution was implemented, and with this, India was established as a democratic republic.
Since the implementation of the constitution in 1950, a tradition of celebrating this day has been established in India. Every year, a parade is held on Rajpath (now Kartavya Path) in the country's capital, Delhi. This tradition has been a source of pride for the people of the country every year since India became a republic.
The marching of the Indian Army soldiers and the roar of fighter jets in the sky on Kartavya Path send a message of India's strength to the world. The tableaux from the participating states showcase the country's unique art, traditions, and heritage.
India's Republic Day Tradition
Inviting a special guest on Republic Day is also a tradition in India. This special practice has been followed as a tradition since 1950.
This year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa are attending as the chief guests on Republic Day.
The special guest invited on Republic Day is seated right next to the President. A large number of people gather on Kartavya Path to watch this parade on January 26.
Who selects the Chief Guest?
The process of selecting the chief guest for Republic Day is handled by the Ministry of External Affairs. According to media reports, a list of potential guests is prepared in the Ministry of Defence.
It is also the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence to ascertain the availability of the guests whose names are included in the list.
After the Ministry of Defence prepares the list, the final decision on the selection of the chief guest is taken in the Prime Minister's Office. The selected countries are also contacted for this purpose. This process takes considerable time.
How is the Chief Guest decided?
Every year, heads of state and prominent leaders from different countries attend Republic Day celebrations in India. These heads of state are chosen keeping India's global relations in mind.
This year, a delegation from the European Union is visiting India for Republic Day. Several major announcements regarding trade relations are expected after the meeting between India and the European Union on January 27th.
When this tradition began in India in 1950, the then President of Indonesia, Sukarno, was the first to attend the Republic Day parade. At that time, India was focusing on building strong relationships with newly independent nations.
