Today, the nation celebrates its 70th year as a Republic. In 1950, on this day India’s constitution replaced Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.
South African President,  Cyril Ramaphosa, is the chief guest of honour at this year’s Republic Day parade.

                                         LEARNING WITH TIMES

India celebrated its freedom from British colonisation on August 15, 1947.Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November, 1949.

                               It declared itself a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state with the adoption of the Constitution on January 26, 1950. In other words, this is the day the Indian constitution came into being 70 years ago.

                               In 1929, during the Lahore Session of the INC (Indian National Congress), where Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as the president, a resolution was passed demanding complete independence. It was then that the day, 26 January in 1930 was declared as the “Purna Swaraj Diwas” or Independence Day. But the demand wasn’t met until 1947. Hence, to honour the significance of the first Independence Day, members of the constituent assembly decided to enforce the constitution on January 26, marking it as Republic Day.