About Republic Day of India : 26 th January 2024

Indian Republic Day is a national festival of India that commemorates the enactment of the Constitution of India, which occurred on January 26, 1950. It is celebrated annually on 26th January and marks the day when the Constitution of India came into effect, making India a sovereign republic.

Historical Background About Republic Day of Indian!

The historical context of Republic Day of India goes back to India’s struggle for independence. Though India gained independence on 15th August 1947, it did not yet have its own constitution. Instead, its laws and governance system continued to be based on a modified version of the Government of India Act of 1935.

On 29th August 1947, a resolution was moved in the Constituent Assembly for the appointment of a Drafting Committee to draft a permanent constitution of India. Accordingly, the Drafting Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Committee introduced the final draft of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly on 4th November 1948.

After many deliberations and some modifications, the Draft Constitution was declared as passed by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949. A few provisions of the Constitution came into force on 26th November 1949 it self. However, the major part of the Constitution came into force on 26th January 1950. It was on that date that India truly became a sovereign republic.
The occasion on 26th January 1950 was marked by a salute of 21 guns and the unfurling of the Indian National Flag by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Thereafter, 26th January was recognized as the Republic Day of India.

26th January was specifically chosen as the ‘date of commencement’ of the Constitution because it was on this day in 1930 that Purna Swaraj Day was celebrated, following the resolution of the Lahore Session (December 1929) of the INC.

Themes of Republic Day Celebrations 2024 :

• The themes of the 75th Republic Day 2024 are: ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Bharat – Loktantra ki Matruka’.
• These themes have been selected in line with the honorable PM Shri Narendra Modi’s views that ‘India is truly a mother of democracy’.
• These themes will be reflected in the tableaux presented by various states and government departments, showcasing India’s progress in various sectors like technology, infrastructure, and cultural heritage.

Why India celebrates Republic Day on 26 January?

The Constitution comes into force. Upon gaining independence from the British on 15 August 1947, India did not have an active constitution. Subsequently, a Drafting Committee was constituted on 29 August 1947, with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar appointed as the Chairman. Other members of the committee included K.M. Munshi, Muhammed Saadulah, Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer, Gopala Swami Ayyangar, N. Madhava Rao (who replaced B.L. Mitter), and T.T. Krishnamachari (who replaced D.P. Khaitan).

On 4 November 1947, a formal draft of the Constitution was presented to the Constituent Assembly. Over the subsequent two years, the Assembly engaged in multiple sessions, deliberating and incorporating various changes before ultimately adopting it on 24 January 1950. On this significant day, 308 members of the Assembly appended their signatures to two copies of the text, one in Hindi and the other in English. This moment was pivotal for India as it reaffirmed its status as an independent republic. The Constitution supplanted the British Colonial Government of India Act (1935) as the foundational legal document for the country.

The Constituent Assembly aimed to institute the document on a day synonymous with national pride, choosing 26 January for this purpose. The significance of this date traces back to the Indian National Congress (INC), which, during their Lahore Session, designated 26 January 1930 as a day of “Purna Swaraj” (complete Independence) from British rule, urging all Indians to observe it as Independence Day. The INC’s decision was a response to the British proposal of granting India dominion status as an independent country still under the influence of the British Empire. It was during this session that the 3 color flag was unfurled for the first time.

Twenty years later, on 26 January, the Constitution of India was officially implemented, marking the culmination of India’s transition into a sovereign republic.

Is it the 75th Republic Day in 2024?

Yes, it is the 75th Republic Day in 2024.