1. In India, 'Republic Day' is celebrated on 26th January every year.
2. Republic Day commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950.
3. India's Constitution is the longest in the world.
4. Drafting the Constitution was a herculean task. Dr B.R. Ambedkar took 2 years and 11 months and 18 days to draft the Indian Constitution.
5. Two hand-written copies of the Constitution were prepared: in English and in Hindi. Both were signed by 308 members of the Assembly on 24th January 1950. It became effective two days later, and came into force throughout the country.
6. The first Republic Day was celebrated on January 26, 1950, three years after we got independence.
7. January 26, 1930 was earlier celebrated as India's Independence Day or Purna Swaraj Day. It's the day India decided to fight for complete freedom.
8. After we achieved Independence on August 15 in 1947, our leaders wanted January 26 to be remembered in history as well. Therefore, the day was made to coincide with the day of Swaraj.
9. The first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad took oath (at Durbar Hall of government house) first time on 26th of January in 1950.
10. Republic Day is one of the three national holidays in India.
11. Republic Day Celebrations are a 3-day long affair. The celebrations end on January 29 with the Beating Retreat ceremony.
12. President Sukarno of Indonesia was the first chief guest at the first Republic Day Celebration of India on 26th of January, 1950.
13. The first Republic Day parade at Rajpath was held in 1955.
14. Prior to 1955 (until 1954), the Indian republic day celebrations were performed on the 'Kingsway', 'Lal Kila', and 'Ramlila Ground'.
15. Malik Gulam Mohammed (first governor general of Pakistan) was the first chief guest of the Rajpath parade in 1955.
16. The chief guest on republic day celebration, 1961 was Queen Elizabeth from Britain.
17. On 26th of January in 1965 Hindi language was declared as our national language of India.
18. In New Delhi, a special parade is held on this day. The President of India takes the salute.
19. A procession starts from Vijay Chowk. All the three wings of the armed forces take part in the parade.
20. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programs take place in all the state capitals.
21. Flag-hoisting ceremonies are also conducted by the local administration, schools and colleges all over the country.
22. In schools and colleges, different competitions are held and prizes are also awarded to the winners.
23. A majority of national awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan and Kirti Chakra are awarded during the Republic Day ceremony.
24. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade 2017.
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