26/01/2023
Top 10 interesting facts about 26th January 1950 India's first republic day parade!
1. The first Republic Day parade was held in 1950 on Rajpath in New Delhi.
2. India officially became a republic on 26th January 1950 at exactly 12:00 AM (midnight) as per the Indian standard time. On this day, the Constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India and thus India became a republic nation.
3. The chief guest at India's first Republic Day parade on 26th January 1950 was the British Governor-General of India at the time, Lord Mountbatten.
4. The parade was attended by India's first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
5. The parade was also the first time that the national flag was flown on Rajpath.
6. The first parade was organized by the Indian Army and it was led by Major General Rajendra Singhji. He was the chief of the Indian Army's Eastern Command.
7. The first parade had a total of 8,000 participants, which included military personnel and schoolchildren.
8. January 26 was chosen as Republic Day since it was on this day that the Indian National Congress declared ‘Purna Swaraj’, opposing the British regime's dominion status in 1929.
9. It was between 1950 and 1954 that the Republic Day parade was held at Irwin Stadium (now National Stadium), Kingsway, Red Fort, and Ramlila grounds. Republic Day celebrations have been held at Rajpath since 1955.
10. The parade featured a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by the Indian Air Force.
Happy Republic Day! Jai Hind!
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