From the archive record
India's military might: Republic Day 2016. Republic Day is the name of a holiday in several countries to commemorate the day when they became republics. In India, Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into force--on 26 January 1950--replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. It is one of three national holidays in India. The new constitution, as drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly of India, was mandated to take effect on 26 January 1950--and India became a republic. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution. The main Republic Day celebration is held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the P