Republic Day is celebrated in India on January 26th each year to commemorate the day India became a republic and adopted its constitution. On this day in 1950, the constitution of India came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India, thus transitioning the nation from a dominion to a fully sovereign democratic republic. Republic Day celebrations involve parades showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might, with the prime minister laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial.