The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force - on 26 January 1950.
Although India obtained Independence on 15 August 1947, it did not yet have a permanent constitution - until 26 January 1950. The date 26 January was chosen to honour the memory of the Declaration of Independence or Purna Swaraj, publicly issued on 26 January 1930 by the Indian National Congress, led by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
The main Republic Day Parade takes place at the Rajpath, in New Delhi, viewed officially by India's President.
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Coincidentally 26 January is also Australia Day previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and ANA Day. The date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. We should remember that although the First Fleet had some convicts the vast majority of convicts remained in Britain populating the British aristocracy and royalty (including one late Earl Mount... what's his name? etc :)
