New Delhi: India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday marking it with subdued celebrations amid COVID pandemic in the national capital and all across the nation.
Republic Day is celebrated to honour the historic date when the country completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after its constitution came into effect.
While the Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, it came into effect on January 26 -- a day when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress back in 1929, as opposed to the Dominion status offered by the British Regime.
When the country became independent on August 14, 1947, it still didn't have a permanent constitution; instead, its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935.
Two weeks later, on December 29, a Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr BR Ambedkar as its chairman.
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A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution.
After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950.
The day is celebrated across India with a lot of fervour. The main Republic Day celebration is held in the national capital, New Delhi, at the Rajpath before the President of India.
This year due to COVID-19, the Republic Day celebration would not be the same. The large gathering will not be allowed and the parade at the national capital will take place with many changes.
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First of all, there will be no chief guest as the British Prime Minister has called off his trip to India due to surging coronavirus cases in his country. The number of marching contingents from the armed forces has been reduced from 144 to 96.
The newly procured Rafale fighter jets will take part in the parade for the first time and the armed forces will showcase T-90 tanks, the Samvijay electronic warfare system, Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets, among others.
Total 32 tableaus -- 17 from states and union territories, six from the Defence ministry and nine from other Union ministries and paramilitary forces -- will roll down the Rajpath.
A 122-member proud contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces will also march on Rajpath, the Defence Ministry said.
The Republic Day parade ceremony will commence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial.
As per tradition, the national flag will be unfurled followed by the national anthem with a booming 21-gun salute, it said.
The parade will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind taking the salute, the ministry added.
Besides, each member of the contingent will be wearing a mask to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.
Seating arrangements have also been made keeping the social distancing norms in mind.
(With inputs from ANI)
