10 Facts every Indian should know about how, when India became a republic

India shall be celebrating its 70th Republic Day on Saturday with full pomp and show as a splendid parade which would include armed forces marching contingents, state of art weaponry, culturally colorful tableau of different states and institutions shall be in full show at the Rajpath in the national Capital, Delhi.

Republic Day Parade

New Delhi: India shall be celebrating its 70th Republic Day on Saturday with full pomp and show as a splendid parade which would include armed forces marching contingents, state of art weaponry, culturally colorful tableau of different states and institutions shall be in full show at the Rajpath in the national Capital, Delhi. This year Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa will be the Chief Guest. PM Modi met the South African leader on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina. The prime minister said Ramaphosa’s visit to the country will further cement business and people-to-people ties between the two nations. The President, Ram Nath Kovind shall take the salute and will confer gallantry awards to brave men who fought valiantly to  protect the sovereignty of the nation from any external or internal aggression. So here are some fascinating facts about our Republic Day 1. India celebrates its Republic Day every year on January 26 as it marks the day when the Indian Constitution came into force. It was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949. 2. The first Republic Day was celebrated on January 26, 1950, three years after getting independence in 1947 3. January 36 was chosen as Republic Day because it was on this day in 1930 when the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj or Indian independence from the British regime. 4. It was only in the year 1955 that the first R-Day parade was held at Rajpath, which was earlier known as Kingsway. Between 1950 and 1954 the venues of the Republic Day parade were Irwin Stadium (now National Stadium), Kingsway, Red Fort and Ramlila grounds 5. Till date, India has the longest written Constitution in the world. It has 448 articles in 22 Parts, 12 Schedules and 97 Amendments. 6. There are two hand-written copies of the Constitution — in Hindi and in English. The copies are kept in helium filled cases in the Parliament’s library. 7. The celebration is a three-day affair; it ends on January 29 with the Beating Retreat ceremony held at Vijay Chowk 8. Abide With Me, believed to be one of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite songs is played at the end of the Republic Day ceremony every year. 9. Dr BR Ambedkar — Chairman of the Constitution Committee took about two years and 11 months to make the first draft. 10. It was on this day that the Indian Air Force came into existence. Before this it was known as the Royal Indian Air Force. Dropping the prefix was symbolic of Indian independence