India's First Republic Day: A Historic Look Back at the 1950 Celebrations

• India adopted its Constitution on January 26, 1950, transitioning into a sovereign, democratic republic, severing ties with the British Empire.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the drafting of the Constitution; the date honored the 1930 Purna Swaraj Declaration.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad was sworn in as India's first President, replacing the Governor-General C. Rajagopalachari.
• The first Republic Day Parade was held at Irwin Stadium (now National Stadium) in New Delhi, featuring 3,000 Indian Armed Forces personnel.
• The President of Indonesia was the chief guest, symbolizing India's commitment to international friendship and solidarity among newly independent nations.

Why It Matters: The 1950 Republic Day marked India's profound transformation into a sovereign republic, affirming its new identity.