India Celebrates 71st Republic Day on 26 January 2020
- Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. It replaced the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.
- Nation celebrated the 71st Republic Day with a grand military parade and exhibition of its history, cultural diversity and strategic weaponry at the Rajpath in New Delhi on 26 January 2020.
- President Ram Nath Kovind unfurled the tricolour and took the salute of the parade.
- Chief Guest: President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro was the Chief Guest at the Parade
- Padma Award distribution: Second highest civilian awards in India after Bharat Ratna.
- Every year, on Republic Day, the President of India distributes Padma Awards to the civilians of India.
- Padma Awards are given in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, in decreasing order of importance.
- For 2020, 141 Padma Awards have been announced.
- The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhusan and 118 Padma Shri awards.
- Of this, 34 awardees are women and 18 foreigners while 12 persons are awarded posthumously.
- Check the Padma Awards Winners List