New Delhi:  Today marks the 72nd Republic Day, it is to commemorate the day India truly became a nation as it is when the Constitution came into effect. This year, it will not be celebrated to its full grandeur as the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions has forced many changes, including a shorter route for the parade and less public participation in the event. 


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Here are the frequently asked question about Republic Day:


Q: When was the first Republic Day celebrated?
A: The first Republic Day was celebrated on January 26th 1950, when the country’s Constitution came into effect replacing the Government of India Act on 1935. Dr. Rajendra Prasad's began his first term of office as President of the Indian Union.


Q: Who hoists the National Flag?
A: On Republic Day the National Flag is ‘unfurled’ and not ‘hoisted’. On Republic Day, the flag is tied up on the top of the pole and it is ‘unfurled’ to mark the celebration. It is done to depict that the nation is already independent. This is different from Independence Day when the national flag is tied at the bottom of the pole, and then it is pulled up, to mark the Independence of the country, the national flag is ‘hoisted’.


Q: Who takes the National Salute?
A: As the flag is unfurled, the National Anthem is played, it is done with the 21-gun salute as the President’s Bodyguard gives National Salute. The President’s Bodyguard or PBG is an elite household cavalry regiment of the Indian Army.


Q: Who ‘hoisted’ the national flag in the first Republic Day?
A: The first president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was one to hoist the flag for first time. The first Republic Day was not celebrated at Rajpath like it is done today, instead the location was Irwin Amphitheatre (now Major Dhyanchand National Stadium), named after a former Viceroy. Dr Prasad to took a round of the amphitheatre in a jeep, while saluting the 3,000-armed forces that had gathered there, after which he hoisted the tricolour, our national flag for the very first time.


Q: In what order does the Army, Navy and Air Force Salute?
A: The Indian Army salutes executed by an open palm gesture with the weapon hand, with fingers and thumb together and the middle finger almost touching the hatband or the eyebrow. Indian Navy, a salute is executed with the palm facing the ground at a 90-degree angle to the forehead. The Indian Air Force gave its personnel a new salute in 2006, which involves the palm at a 45-degree angle to the ground and the right arm being sharply raised from the front by the shortest possible way.


Q: Who was the Chief Guest in the 2020 Republic Day celebrations?
A: Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil was the Chief Guest in 2020. This year, in 2021 UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was invited to be the Chief Guest, but he cancelled the visit due to the ongoing pandemic and the crisis United Kingdom is facing with the new variant.