Republic Day 2024
Republic Day 2024: Republic Day, celebrated annually on January 26th, marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1950, establishing India as a democratic republic. This significant day is commemorated with a grand parade showcasing the strength of the armed forces. In 2024, the festivities center around the theme ‘India-Mother of Democracy’ and ‘Viksit Bharat.’
Republic Day 2024 Celebration Highlights
- This year, Republic Day falls on a Friday.
- The theme for 2024 is ‘India-Mother of Democracy’ and ‘Viksit Bharat.’
- Read about the Journey of the National Flag of India.
India’s Democratic Journey
- India, as an independent, sovereign, and democratic country, implemented its constitution on January 26, 1950.
- Since then, Republic Day is celebrated with a grand ceremony every year.
- A Foreign Leader is invited by the Indian Government to participate in the celebration.
Republic Day Historical Venues
- The first four Republic Day parades took place at different locations (Red Fort, Ramlila Grounds, Irwin Stadium, Kingsway) between 1950 to 1954.
- In 1955, Rajpath was chosen as the permanent venue for Republic Day celebrations.
Republic Day 2024 Inaugural Chief Guest
- On January 26, 1950, Indonesian President Sukarno was the first Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade.
- Representatives from the United Kingdom and France have been invited five times each.
Check Also – Republic Day 2024: Date, Theme, History, Celebrations
Chief Guests at Republic Day Parade (1950-2024)
Here is the complete list of Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade from 1950 to 2024:
| Year | Guest Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | President Sukarno | Indonesia |
| 1951 | King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah | Nepal |
| 1952-1953 | No invitation | — |
| 1954 | King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | Bhutan |
| 1955 | Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad | Pakistan |
| 1956 | R. A. Butler (Chancellor of the Exchequer) | United Kingdom |
| 1957 | Georgy Zhukov (Minister of Defence) | Soviet Union |
| 1958 | Ye Jianying (Marshall) | China |
| 1959 | Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh) | United Kingdom |
| 1960 | Kliment Voroshilov (President) | USSR |
| 1961 | Queen Elizabeth II | United Kingdom |
| 1962 | Viggo Kampmann (Prime Minister) | Denmark |
| 1963 | Norodom Sihanouk (King) | Cambodia |
| 1964 | Lord Louis Mountbatten (Chief of Defence Staff) | United Kingdom |
| 1965 | Rana Abdul Hamid (Food and Agriculture Minister) | Pakistan |
| 1966 | No invitation | No invitation |
| 1967 | Mohammed Zahir Shah (King) | Afghanistan |
| 1968 | Alexei Kosygin (Prime Minister) | USSR |
| 1969 | Todor Zhivkov (Prime Minister of Bulgaria) | Bulgaria |
| 1970 | Baudouin (King of the Belgians) | Belgium |
| 1971 | Julius Nyerere (President) | Tanzania |
| 1972 | Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (Prime Minister) | Mauritius |
| 1973 | Mobutu Sese Seko (President) | Zaire |
| 1974 | Josip Broz Tito (President) | SFR Yugoslavia |
| 1974 | Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (Prime Minister) | Sri Lanka |
| 1975 | Kenneth Kaunda (President) | Zambia |
| 1976 | Jacques Chirac (Prime Minister) | France |
| 1977 | Edward Gierek (First Secretary) | Poland |
| 1978 | Patrick Hillery (President) | Ireland |
| 1979 | Malcolm Fraser (Prime Minister) | Australia |
| 1980 | Valéry Giscard d’Estaing (President) | France |
| 1981 | José López Portillo (President) | Mexico |
| 1982 | Juan Carlos I (King) | Spain |
| 1983 | Shehu Shagari (President) | Nigeria |
| 1984 | Jigme Singye Wangchuck (King) | Bhutan |
| 1985 | Raúl Alfonsín (President) | Argentina |
| 1986 | Andreas Papandreou (Prime Minister) | Greece |
| 1987 | Alan García (President) | Peru |
| 1988 | Junius Jayewardene (President) | Sri Lanka |
| 1989 | Nguyen Van Linh (General Secretary) | Vietnam |
| 1990 | Anerood Jugnauth (Prime Minister) | Mauritius |
| 1991 | Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (President) | Maldives |
| 1992 | Mário Soares (President) | Portugal |
| 1993 | John Major (Prime Minister) | United Kingdom |
| 1994 | Goh Chok Tong (Prime Minister) | Singapore |
| 1995 | Nelson Mandela (President) | South Africa |
| 1996 | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (President) | Brazil |
| 1997 | Basdeo Panday (Prime Minister) | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 1998 | Jacques Chirac (President) | France |
| 1999 | Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (King) | Nepal |
| 2000 | Olusegun Obasanjo (President) | Nigeria |
| 2001 | Abdelaziz Bouteflika (President) | Algeria |
| 2002 | Cassam Uteem (President) | Mauritius |
| 2003 | Mohammed Khatami (President) | Iran |
| 2004 | Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (President) | Brazil |
| 2005 | Jigme Singye Wangchuck (King) | Bhutan |
| 2006 | Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud (King) | Saudi Arabia |
| 2007 | Vladimir Putin (President) | Russia |
| 2008 | Nicolas Sarkozy (President) | France |
| 2009 | Nursultan Nazarbayev (President) | Kazakhstan |
| 2010 | Lee Myung Bak (President) | Republic of Korea |
| 2011 | Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (President) | Indonesia |
| 2012 | Yingluck Shinawatra (Prime Minister) | Thailand |
| 2013 | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (King of Bhutan) | Bhutan |
| 2014 | Shinzo Abe (Prime Minister) | Japan |
| 2015 | Barack Obama (President) | United States |
| 2016 | François Hollande (President) | France |
| 2017 | Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (Crown Prince) | United Arab Emirates |
| 2018 | Hassanal Bolkiah (Sultan) | Brunei |
| 2018 | Joko Widodo (President) | Indonesia |
| 2018 | Thongloun Sisoulith (Prime Minister) | Laos |
| 2018 | Hun Sen (Prime Minister) | Cambodia |
| 2018 | Najib Razak (Prime Minister) | Malaysia |
| 2018 | Htin Kyaw (President) | Myanmar |
| 2018 | Rodrigo Roa Duterte (President) | Philippines |
| 2018 | Halimah Yacob (President) | Singapore |
| 2018 | Prayuth Chan-ocha (Prime Minister) | Thailand |
| 2018 | Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (Prime Minister) | Vietnam |
| 2019 | Cyril Ramaphosa (President) | South Africa |
| 2020 | Jair Bolsonaro (President) | Brazil |
| 2021 | Boris Johnson (Prime Minister) – Cancelled | United Kingdom |
| 2022 | No invitation | — |
| 2023 | Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (President) | Egypt |
| 2024 | Emmanuel Macron (President) | France |
Note: The Chief Guest for 2022 was not invited, and for 2023, President Emmanuel Macron from France is the Chief Guest.
Significance of Republic Day Chief Guests
- Inviting a Foreign Leader holds significance in fostering bilateral relations and showcasing India’s culture.
- The selection process involves sending invitations six months before Republic Day, seeking approval from the Prime Minister and clearance from the President.
Republic Day 2024 Looking Ahead
- Republic Day parades symbolize India’s progress and resilience.
- The tradition continues as India reflects on its journey towards a brighter future.
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