Context

• The 77th Republic Day of India was celebrated on 26 January 2026 at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of President Droupadi Murmu.

Key Highlights

• Significance:

• • On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force.
  • India was declared a Sovereign Republic when the first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, unfurled the National Flag with a 21-gun salute.
• Theme:“150 Years of Vande Mataram”
• Major Attractions:
  • India’s first indigenous Multi-Calibre Rocket Launcher System “Suryastra”
  • ‘Bhairav’ Light Commando Battalion
  • Indian Army’s new Battle Array
  • Display of historic paintings from the 1923 ‘Vande Mataram Album’
• Chief Guests:

• • Ursula von der Leyen – President of the European Commission
  • António Costa – President of the European Council
• Total Tableaux: 30

• • 17 from States and Union Territories
  • 13 from Central Ministries and Departments
• Theme of Tableaux:

• • “Mantra of Freedom – Vande Mataram”
  • “Mantra of Prosperity – Atmanirbhar Bharat”

Tableaux of 17 States and Union Territories

1. Assam – Asharikandi: Terracotta Craft Village of Assam
2. Chhattisgarh – Mantra of Freedom: Vande Mataram
3. Gujarat – Mantra of Swadeshi: Atmanirbharta – Vande Mataram
4. Himachal Pradesh – Dev Bhoomi, Veer Bhoomi
5. Jammu & Kashmir – Handicrafts and Folk Dances of J&K
6. Kerala – Water Metro & 100% Digital Literacy: Self-reliant Kerala for Atmanirbhar Bharat
7. Maharashtra – Ganeshotsav: A Call for Self-reliance
8. Manipur – Towards Prosperity: From Agricultural Fields to Global Markets
9. Nagaland – Hornbill Festival: Culture, Tourism & Self-reliance
10. Odisha – From Clay to Silicon: Tradition Rooted, Innovation Driven
11. Puducherry – Rich Craft & Cultural Heritage and the Vision of Auroville
12. Rajasthan – Golden Imprint of the Desert: Bikaner Gold Art (Usta Art)
13. Tamil Nadu – Mantra of Prosperity: Atmanirbhar Bharat
14. Uttar Pradesh – Culture of Bundelkhand
15. West Bengal – Bengal’s Role in India’s Freedom Movement
16. Madhya Pradesh – Punyashlok Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar
17. Punjab – 350 Years of Martyrdom of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji

Tableaux of 13 Central Ministries & Departments

1. Air Headquarters – Veterans’ Tableau: Nation Building through Warfare
2. Naval Headquarters – Prosperity from the Seas
3. Department of Military Affairs – Tri-Services Tableau: Operation Sindoor – Victory through Jointness
4. Ministry of Culture – Vande Mataram: The Soulful Call of the Nation
5. Department of School Education & Literacy – NEP 2020: School Education Towards a Developed India
6. Ministry of AYUSH – AYUSH System: Mantra of Health
7. Ministry of Home Affairs (NDMA & NDRF) – Bhuj Earthquake: 25 Years of Resilience
8. Ministry of Home Affairs (BPRD) – People-Centric Justice System: Three New Criminal Laws, 2023
9. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (CPWD) – Vande Mataram: 150 Years Commemoration
10. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting – Bharat Katha: Shruti, Kriti, Drishti
11. Ministry of Panchayati Raj – SVAMITVA Scheme: Self-reliant Panchayats, Prosperous India
12. Ministry of Power – Prakash Ganga: Energy for a Self-reliant & Developed India
13. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship – Empowered by Skills: Self-reliant, Future-Ready India

Winning Tableaux

States & UTs Category

• First Prize: Uttar Pradesh – Heritage and Modern Development of Bundelkhand
• Second Prize: Maharashtra – Ganeshotsav as a Symbol of Self-reliance & Cultural Unity
• Third Prize: Kerala – India’s First Water Metro & Digital Literacy

Ministries & Departments Category

• Best Tableau: Ministry of Culture – 150 Years of Vande Mataram
• Special Mention: Ministry of Power – Prakash Ganga

People’s Choice Award (MyGov Voting)

• First: Madhya Pradesh – Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar & Maheshwar Art
• Second: Rajasthan – Usta Art of Bikaner & Desert Culture

Other Special Awards

• Best Marching Contingent (Army) – Bhairav Light Commando Battalion
• Best Marching Contingent (CAPF/Other) – BSF Camel Contingent & Women Band

Padma Awards 2026

• Total Padma Awards: 131

• • Padma Vibhushan – 5
  • Padma Bhushan – 13
  • Padma Shri – 113

Padma Vibhushan (5) – Exceptional & Distinguished Service

1. Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous) – Art (Maharashtra)
2. K. T. Thomas – Public Affairs (Kerala)
3. N. Rajam – Art (Uttar Pradesh)
4. P. Narayanan – Literature & Education (Kerala)
5. V. S. Achuthanandan (Posthumous) – Public Affairs (Kerala)

Padma Bhushan (13) – Distinguished Service

• Notable awardees include Alka Yagnik, Mammootty, Vijay Amritraj, Uday Kotak, among others.

Padma Shri (Selected)

• Sports: Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Savita Punia
• Art & Cinema: R. Madhavan, Prosenjit Chatterjee
• Unsung Heroes: Budri Tati, Dr. Armida Fernandes, Anke Gowda M., Bhikhlya Ladhakya Dhinda

Gallantry & Defence Decorations

• Total Gallantry Awards: 70
• Total Defence Decorations: 301

Major Gallantry Awards

• Ashoka Chakra (1):

• • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Indian Air Force) – For extraordinary courage and becoming the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom-4 mission
• Kirti Chakra (3) and Shaurya Chakra (13) awarded to personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Police & Civil Services Medals

• 982 personnel awarded medals
• 125 Gallantry Medals
• Jammu & Kashmir Police received the highest number (33)