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Full List of all the Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade(1950-2023)

Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade: India's Republic Day, observed annually on January 26th, holds a significant place in the hearts of every Indian, commemorating the historic moment when the nation's Constitution came into force in 1950, officially establishing India as a vibrant and thriving democratic republic.

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Pratidin Bureau
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Full List of all the Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade(1950-2023)

Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade

Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade: India's Republic Day, observed annually on January 26th, holds a significant place in the hearts of every Indian, commemorating the historic moment when the nation's Constitution came into force in 1950, officially establishing India as a vibrant and thriving democratic republic. This grand occasion is marked by a spectacular Republic Day Parade in Delhi, where the nation comes together to honor its diverse heritage and values.

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The Republic Day Parade, held on the iconic Rajpath, is a majestic display of India's military might, cultural diversity, and technological advancements. One of the most cherished aspects of this event is the presence of distinguished foreign leaders as Chief Guests, symbolizing the nation's robust diplomatic ties with various countries across the globe.

The tradition of inviting foreign dignitaries as Chief Guests began in 1950, with Indonesian President Sukarno being the first to grace this prestigious occasion. Since then, representatives from the United Kingdom and France have been extended this honor on five separate occasions, showcasing the enduring friendships between India and these nations.

Selecting the Chief Guest for India's Republic Day Parade is a meticulous process. Six months prior to the event, the Indian Government extends formal invitations to the Heads of State or Government from chosen countries, taking into consideration the bilateral relations shared with each nation. The final selection is subject to approval from the Indian Prime Minister and clearance from the President of India, highlighting the paramount importance of this invitation.

In recent times, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated adjustments to the scale of the event, with a limited number of attendees being allowed to witness the parade. As a heartwarming gesture, the Government of India has reserved the front row for special official invitees, including dedicated individuals like Shramjeevis, Kartavya Path maintenance workers, and members of the local community, such as rickshaw pullers and vegetable vendors. This focus on the "participation of the common people" resonates deeply with India's democratic ethos.

Republic Day is undoubtedly an opportunity to reflect on the journey of our nation, embracing the principles of democracy, diversity, and unity that have shaped our collective identity. This momentous occasion calls for remembrance of the brave souls who fought for India's independence and gratitude towards those who continue to contribute tirelessly to the nation's progress. Amidst the unfurling of the tricolor and the resounding chant of "Jai Hind" echoing across the nation, let us reaffirm our commitment to a brighter and more inclusive future, upholding the ideals of our Constitution. 

List of all the Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade(1950-2023)

Year Guest Name Country
1950 President Sukarno Indonesia
1951 King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Nepal
1952 No invitation ---
1953 No invitation ---
1954 King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Bhutan
1955 Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad Pakistan
1956 "Chancellor of the Exchequer R. A. Butler
Chief Justice Kotaro Tanaka"
"United Kingdom
Japan"
1957 Minister of Defence Georgy Zhukov Soviet Union
1958 Marshall Ye Jianying China
1959 Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip United Kingdom
1960 President Kliment Voroshilov USSR
1961 Queen Elizabeth II United Kingdom
1962 Prime Minister Viggo Kampmann Denmark
1963 King Norodom Sihanouk Cambodia
1964 Chief of Defence Staff Lord Louis Mountbatten United Kingdom
1965 Food and Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hamid Pakistan
1966 No invitation No invitation
1967 King Mohammed Zahir Shah Afghanistan
1968 Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin USSR
President Josip Broz Tito SFR Yugoslavia
1969 Prime Minister of Bulgaria Todor Zhivkov Bulgaria
1970 King of the Belgians Baudouin Belgium
1971 President Julius Nyerere Tanzania
1972 Prime Minister Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Mauritius
1973 President Mobutu Sese Seko Zaire
1974 President Josip Broz Tito SFR Yugoslavia
Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike Sri Lanka
1975 President Kenneth Kaunda Zambia
1976 Prime Minister Jacques Chirac France
1977 First Secretary Edward Gierek Poland
1978 President Patrick Hillery Ireland
1979 Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser Australia
1980 President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing France
1981 President José López Portillo Mexico
1982 King Juan Carlos I Spain
1983 President Shehu Shagari Nigeria
1984 King Jigme Singye Wangchuck Bhutan
1985 President Raúl Alfonsín Argentina
1986 Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou Greece
1987 President Alan García Peru
1988 President Junius Jayewardene Sri Lanka
1989 General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh Viet Nam
1990 Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth Mauritius
1991 President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Maldives
1992 President Mário Soares Portugal
1993 Prime Minister John Major United Kingdom
1994 Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong Singapore
1995 President Nelson Mandela South Africa
1996 President Dr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso Brazil
1997 Prime Minister Basdeo Panday Trinidad and Tobago
1998 President Jacques Chirac France
1999 King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev Nepal
2000 President Olusegun Obasanjo Nigeria
2001 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Algeria
2002 President Cassam Uteem Mauritius
2003 President Mohammed Khatami Iran
2004 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Brazil
2005 King Jigme Singye Wangchuck Bhutan
2006 King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud[ Saudi Arabia
2007 President Vladimir Putin Russia
2008 President Nicolas Sarkozy France
2009 President Nursultan Nazarbayev Kazakhstan
2010 President Lee Myung Bak Republic of Korea
2011 President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Indonesia
2012 Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Thailand
2013 King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Bhutan
2014 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Japan
2015 President Barack Obama United States
2016 President François Hollande France
2017 Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed United Arab Emirates
2018 "Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Joko Widodo
Thongloun Sisoulith
Prime Minister Hun Sen
Najib Razak
President Htin Kyaw
Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Halimah Yacob
Prayuth Chan-ocha
Nguyễn Xuân Phúc"
"Brunei
Indonesia
Laos
Cambodia
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam"
2019 President Cyril Ramaphosa South Africa
2020 President Jair Bolsonaro Brazil
2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson (cancelled his visit) United Kingdom
2022 - -
2023 President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Egypt

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Chief Guests at the Republic Day Parade