Why is Republic Day celebrated on 26 January?

The Constitution of India, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, came into effect on January 26, 1950. This completed India's movement towards becoming an independent republic with a democratic government system. January 26 was also selected as the day to mark Republic Day because it had been on this day that the Indian National Congress (INC) proclaimed the Declaration of Indian Independence in 1929. This was opposite to the 'dominion' status offered by the British.

The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947, an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth, India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy as head of state and Earl Mountbatten as governor-general. The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead, its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935.

On 29 August 1947, a resolution was moved for the appointment of Drafting Committee, which was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman. While India's Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution. 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 the public, for 166 days, spread over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many contemplations and some moderation, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later which was on 26 January 1950, it came into effect throughout the whole nation. On that day, Dr Rajendra Prasad's became the first president of India. The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the transitional provisions of the new law.

Republic Day is a national holiday in India. However, schools celebrate the day with patriotic zeal and enthusiasm, with students and teachers organising cultural programmes and performances to make the day memorable.