What is Republic Day and When is it Celebrated in India?

Republic day is celebrated every year in India on January 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution that came into force in 1950.

India became independent on August 15, 1947, but it didn’t have a constitution. For its initial three years, the country remained administered by the laws & regulations based on a common law system known as the Government of India Act of 1935, which the British Government introduced.

After a couple of days, a drafting committee was established to draft the Indian Constitution under the supervision of Dr BR Ambedkar as the chairman. It took two years to design & form the Constitution of India.

Also Read: Republic Day 2023 - History, Significance & Why Do We Celebrate It|

Finally, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect. Each year, the people of India celebrate the day with utmost zeal and enthusiasm. The President of India will hoist the national flag of India at the Red Fort, New Delhi. The main attraction of this day is the Republic Day parade that starts from Rajpath, Delhi, and ends at India Gate.

In the year 2024, it will mark India's 75th Republic Day. It is one of three Indian national holidays. Let’s read on to know what Republic Day is in detail.

What is Republic Day?

Want to get more Republic day information? August 15, 1947, the nation gained freedom from British dominance following the Indian independence movement. To date, the country didn’t have an independent constitution to protect the rights of Indian citizens and run the nation's administration.

Later on August 29, a drafting committee was established to draft a permanent & independent constitution for the country. The committee was headed, supervised & administered by Dr BR Ambedkar as Chairman of the committee. On November 4, 1947, the constitution of India was drafted and submitted by Ambedkar to the Constituent Assembly. Several sessions were conducted for around two years before finally drafting the constitution. On January 24, 1950, around 308 members of the assembly signed the agreement, and finally, on January 26, 1950, two days later, the constitution came into effect. It was also the day Dr Rajendra Prasad started his first tenure as the President of the Indian Union.

Now, you know that our Independence Day celebrates attaining freedom from British Rule. On the other hand, January 26 marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution and the country's transition to a republic.

Every year, 26 January Republic day is observed to commemorate the constitution of India coming into force. The date of January 26 was chosen since, on this day in 1929, the Indian National Congress proclaimed the announcement of India's Independence (Purna Swaraj). 

With the establishment of a separate constitution, the country became a sovereign nation free from British dominance. From this day on, India started to be governed by its constitution, written by BR Ambedkar on January 26, 1950. Since then, the day has been celebrated as the National Holiday.

Republic Day 2024 Theme

This year, the theme of Republic Day is centered around 'India - Mother of Democracy' and 'Viksit Bharat.' These themes underscore India's esteemed position as a democratic nation and highlight its journey towards development and progress.

What Significance Does a Republic Nation Have?

After gaining freedom from the British rulers, the country needed a separate constitution with administrative laws & regulations to govern the people of India. The drafting committee enrolled an independent constitution under Dr BR Ambedkar's supervision on this historic day. It finally came into effect on January 26, 1950, and transitioned the country into an independent republic.

The celebration on this day signifies the importance of Republic day when individual India started to be governed by its own rules and bylaws. The significant celebrations of this day include the Republic day parade, the exhibition of military equipment, the national flag hoisting, and several cultural events. The constitution of India is the largest in the world, consisting of procedures, powers, duties, fundamental rights of citizens, and principles of the government of India.

So, the brief answer to “what is Republic day and its importance is that on this historic day, the Indian constitution was officially adopted in 1950. It replaced the British colonial Government of India Act (1935) as the nation’s governing text. On January 26, 1950, the preliminary statement to the Constitution of India representing the essential principles of the Constitution came into force. This further transitioned our country to a sovereign republic.

Our Indian Constitution lays down fundamental rights of the citizens of India, irrespective of their political beliefs. It also lays down a few fundamental duties for all the citizens of India to abide by.

According to the Constitution of India, “It proclaims India a sovereign, liberal, secular, elected republic nation assuring its citizens of fair justice, equality, and freedom and efforts to support fraternity among them.”

India Republic Day Quotes:

Celebrate the spirit of India Republic Day with inspirational quotes that echo the values of democracy, unity, and freedom. Let these quotes resonate as a tribute to the nation's journey towards progress and inclusivity.

1. "Freedom is our birthright; we shall have it." - Bal Gangadhar Tilak

2. "Long years ago, we made a tryst with destiny." - Jawaharlal Nehru

3. "Unity in diversity is India's strength." - Mahatma Gandhi

4. "Let's salute the sacrifices made for the love of the nation." - Unknown

5. "A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people." - Mahatma Gandhi

6. "Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it." - George Bernard Shaw

7. "Freedom in the mind, faith in the words, pride in our souls." - Rabindranath Tagore

8. "The future depends on what you do today." - Mahatma Gandhi

9. "Citizenship consists in the service of the country." - Jawaharlal Nehru

10. "One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives." - Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Republic Day Wishes:

Express your patriotic spirit with heartfelt Republic Day wishes! Send these warm greetings to friends and family, celebrating the essence of democracy, unity, and freedom on this special occasion.

1. "Wishing you a Happy Republic Day filled with pride, joy, and unity!"

2. "May the tricolor always fly high. Happy Republic Day!"

3. "Saluting the nation on this Republic Day. Jai Hind!"

4. "Wishing all Indians a Happy Republic Day. Let's cherish the spirit of democracy!"

5. "On this day, let's remember the heroes who shaped our great nation. Happy Republic Day!"

6. "May the principles of our Constitution guide us always. Happy Republic Day!"

7. "Happy Republic Day! Let's celebrate the freedom and unity we cherish."

8. "Warm wishes on Republic Day. May our nation continue to prosper and thrive."

9. "Happy Republic Day! Let's honor the diversity that makes India beautiful."

10. "Wishing you a day filled with pride, reverence, and patriotism. Happy Republic Day!"

Republic Day Celebration:

Republic Day celebration in India is a vibrant spectacle, observed annually on January 26th. The day marks the adoption of the Constitution in 1950, declaring India a sovereign republic. The festivities include the grand Republic Day parade in New Delhi, showcasing the nation's military prowess, diverse cultures, and historical achievements. Flag hoisting ceremonies, patriotic songs, and cultural events occur nationwide. Schools, colleges, and communities actively participate, instilling a sense of pride and patriotism. Republic Day celebration unites the nation in honoring democratic values, diversity, and the continuous journey towards a progressive and harmonious India.

Handmade Art and Craft Activities for Republic Day:

Engage in creative arts and crafts activities for Republic Day, making tricolor crafts, flags, and patriotic decorations to celebrate the occasion with enthusiasm. Here are some activities you can do:

1. Tricolor Paper Flags:

• Materials: Orange, white, and green construction paper.

• Cut paper into flag shapes, colour or glue paper strips to represent the tricolor flag.

2. Patriotic Handprint Art:

• Materials: Washable paint (orange, white, green).

• Dip kids' hands in paint and make handprints on paper, creating a flag design with fingers as stripes.

3. Indian Flag Collage:

• Materials: Magazines, scissors, glue, and a printout of the Indian flag.

• Cut and paste pictures representing Indian culture onto the flag printout.

4. Tri-color Windsock:

• Materials: Three colored paper strips, a toilet paper roll, and string.

• Attach paper strips to the toilet paper roll, creating a windsock. Hang it up for a colourful display.

5. Paper Plate Tambourine:

• Materials: Paper plates, dried beans, stapler, and markers.

• Fill the paper plate with dried beans, staple two plates together, and let kids decorate the edges with markers.

6. Patriotic Greeting Cards:

• Materials: Cardstock, markers, and stickers.

• Create handmade Republic Day cards with patriotic themes to share with friends or family.

7. National Emblem Puzzles:

• Materials: Printouts of the national emblem, cardboard, and scissors.

• Print and paste the emblem on cardboard, then cut it into puzzle pieces for everyone to assemble.

8. Indian Map Painting:

• Materials: Paper, watercolors, and brushes.

• Paint the map of India, exploring different colors and learning about geography.

9. Tri-color Bracelets:

• Materials: Beads in orange, white, and green.

• Get string beads to create their tri-color bracelets, fostering creativity and fine motor skills.

10. Patriotic Hat Making:

• Materials: Cardstock, glue, and craft supplies.

• Create fun hats resembling the Indian flag, adding personal touches with colors and designs.

How was the Indian Constitution Drafted & Established?

We know the significance of the Republic day year of India, ie. January 26, 1950, as on this day, the constitution of India came into force after gaining independence from British dominance. But who drafted it? Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, popularly known as Baba Saheb, was the man under whose supervision & chairmanship the Constitution of India was drafted. He is why we celebrate 26 January Republic day every year.

He was the leader of the drafting committee that established the comprehensive structure of the nation’s constitution, procedure, powers, responsibilities & rights of government institutions. Several sessions were held over 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days before finally adopting the Constitution of India in the presence of 308 members.

Countries that Inspired the Making of the Indian Constitution

The Indian constitution was inspired by sovereignty, democracy, and socialist ideologies that played a significant part in the constitutions of different world countries. For instance, the ideals of equality, liberty, freedom of speech and expression present in our preamble were inspired by the France constitution. To add further, social, economic and political justice ideals were taken from the USSR constitution. Not just that, the Indian constitution added features of Fundamental Rights from the US constitution and a parliamentary government system from the UK's unwritten constitution. It is often said that the Indian constitution is the composition of the great ideologies and values that can hold the diverse elements of its society together.

Republic Day Speech for Kids:

“Republic Day, celebrated on January 26th, marks the day when India's Constitution came into effect. It's a time to reflect on our democracy, unity, and diverse culture. On this day, patriotic fervor fills the air as citizens honor the values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. The President hoists the flag, and a grand parade showcases the nation's military prowess. Schools, colleges, and organizations organize events to instill a sense of pride in being Indian. Republic Day is a reminder of the sacrifices made for independence and the responsibility to uphold the principles enshrined in our Constitution.”

Summing Up

Republic Day in India, celebrated on January 26th, holds immense significance as it marks the adoption of the Constitution in 1950. This day commemorates the transition to a sovereign republic, emphasising democracy, unity, and citizens' rights. The grand celebrations, including the flag hoisting, parades, and cultural events, reflect the nation's pride and commitment to democratic values. As we celebrate Republic Day, it's an opportunity to reflect on the shared heritage and the principles that guide our diverse nation. It serves as a reminder of the importance of unity, diversity, and the continuous pursuit of justice and equality.

Happy Republic Day

Wishing everyone a Happy Republic Day! Let's celebrate the spirit of unity, diversity, and freedom that defines our great nation.