Republic Day 2026: Free rehearsal passes announced | Fusion - WeRIndia

India is preparing to celebrate its 77th Republic Day with grandeur and patriotic fervour.

As part of the preparations, the online and offline sale of tickets for the Republic Day Parade, Beating the Retreat, and its Full Dress Rehearsal will conclude today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

The ticket sales for these iconic events began on January 5, offering citizens an opportunity to witness the celebrations up close.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has announced free passes for the Full Dress Rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade 2026.

The announcement was made on January 13, ahead of the national celebrations. These free passes will be available on January 15 and January 16.

The distribution will start daily at 9 am and continue until the quota for the day is exhausted. The Full Dress Rehearsal itself will be held on January 23 at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.

Individuals interested in attending the parade or the rehearsal can book tickets and passes through the official portal, www.aamantran.mod.gov.in.

Additionally, bookings can be made using the Aamantran mobile application, available on both Android and iOS platforms.

Authorities have advised citizens to rely only on official platforms to avoid fraud or misinformation.

This year’s Republic Day celebrations will also feature distinguished international guests. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, will attend the event as chief guests.

Traditionally, India invites leaders from one country to mark the adoption of its Constitution. However, the government has occasionally broadened this practice, as seen in 2018 when leaders from all 10 ASEAN nations were invited.

Republic Day holds immense historical and constitutional significance for India. It commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of India, which came into effect on January 26, 1950.

The Constitution replaced the Government of India Act, 1935, and formally transformed India into a sovereign republic, following independence from British rule in 1947.

Although the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, January 26 was chosen to honour the Indian National Congress’s 1930 declaration of Purna Swaraj, or complete independence.

Together, the parade, international presence, and public participation reflect India’s democratic values and national unity.

Image Credit: SRIJAN, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Indian_army_performing_parade.jpg