New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations. This will be the sixth time a French leader will be the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
It has been an ongoing tradition to invite foreign dignitaries for Republic Day. Before Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 1976 and 1998. Former presidents Valery Giscard d'Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande had graced the January 26 parade as chief guests in 1980, 2008, and 2016 respectively.
In September, Macron had visited New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit. Before this, PM Modi had visited France in July to attend the Bastille Day Parade as the Guest of Honour.
India turned to the French President after his US counterpart Joe Biden pulled out of his visit to India as the guest of honour for R-Day because of scheduling issues.
How A Chief Guest Is Selected For India's Republic Day
The process of choosing a chief guest(s) starts six months in advance. Various parameters like foreign policy, political, economic, strategic, and military factors, culture, and tradition are kept in the loop while choosing a chief guest.
Firstly, the Ministry of External Affairs draws a list of names for the same and then sends it to the Prime Minister for approval. After the PM’s approval, it is sent for the President's nod. After the President's approval, Indian Ambassadors of the shortlisted countries are communicated with to find out the availability of the dignitary. Then the invitation is officially sent to the chief guest.
The chief guest for Republic Day is accorded the highest honour in terms of protocol. The chief guest is given a ceremonial guard of honour at Rashtrapati Bhawan, followed by an evening reception hosted by the President of India.
A wreath-laying ceremony also takes place in memory of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.