In news- 73rd Republic Day of India was observed on 26 January 2022.
Key highlights-
- The main attraction of Republic Day celebrations is the annual parade which begins at Rajpath, Delhi, and ends at the India Gate.
- The parade this year showcased India’s military might, cultural diversity and many unique initiatives to mark the celebration of the 75th year of independence.
- On this day, the country’s President hoisted the flag at Rajpath, New Delhi that was followed by the National Anthem with a booming 21-gun salute, presented by Ceremonial Battery of 871 Field Regiment.
- The ceremonious event also showcased India’s cultural and social heritage, parades and airshows by the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
- The celebrations commenced on January 23 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary, unveiled the hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate in Delhi.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the winners of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puruskar, which was instituted in 2018, for contribution to the fields of disaster risk management.
- The parade featured the largest flypast of 75 aircraft from the three services, marking the 75th year of India’s independence.
- For the first time, the defence ministry presented videos from the cockpit as the helicopters and aircraft flew over Rajpath
- The President approved the conferment of 128 Padma awards this year, including two duo cases, in which the award is counted as one. The list comprised four Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 107 Padma Shri awards.
- The country’s first woman Rafale fighter jet pilot Shivangi Singh was part of the Indian Air Force tableau at the Republic Day parade. She is only the second woman fighter jet pilot to be part of the IAF tableau, as in 2021, Flight Lieutenant Bhawna Kanth became the first female fighter jet pilot to be part of the IAF tableau.
About Republic Day-
- Republic Day is a public holiday in India, when the country marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic.
- The day also marks the transition of India from an autonomous Commonwealth realm with the British Monarch as nominal head of the Indian Dominion, to a fully sovereign republic in the Commonwealth of Nations with the President of India as the nominal head of the Indian Union.
- The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system.
- 26 January was chosen as the date for Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when the Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress in lieu of the Realm status as a Dominion later instated by the departing British Regime.
Further reading: https://journalsofindia.com/how-republic-day-tableaux-are-selected/
Source: Hindustan Times
