25 January,2026 04:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. Pic/PTI
Republic Day is not just any other regular national holiday; the day contains an integral significance in India's history. While India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, the nation did not immediately have its own governing framework, and it took more than two years to draft and implement a new constitution.
26 January back in the 1950s marked a defining moment in the nation's democratic history. On this day the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950, transforming the country into a sovereign, democratic republic.
However, the reason why particularly 26 January was chosen as the date for making the constitution come into effect is because in 1930, the Indian National Congress on the same day, i.e., January 26, 1930, had proclaimed Purna Swaraj (complete independence).
Choosing this day for the Constitution's implementation not only marked a significant moment in the country's freedom but also connected modern India's democracy with the freedom struggle's ideologies.
After getting independence from the British Raj, the country for more than two years functioned under colonial-era laws until the Constitution of India came into effect. The Constitution drafted by the Drafting Committee chaired by Dr B R Ambedkar gave India its own legal, political, and administrative foundation, ensuring that power would flow from the people and be exercised through democratic institutions.
Republic Day is celebrated every year on 26 January because on this very day, the Constitution of India came into effect, marking India as a democratic country. Soon after India got independence, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
Republic Day is not only about ceremonies and parades; it is a reaffirmation of India's commitment to justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. The day stands as a reminder that freedom is sustained not just by independence, but by strong institutions, rule of law, and democratic participation.
Republic Day, even after 76 years, continues to symbolise the strength of India's democracy, the resilience of its Constitution and the collective responsibility of its citizens to uphold the ideals on which the nation was built.
Unlike other countries, the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path in New Delhi also symbolises the strength of India's armed forces and cultural diversity.
