India Readies for Republic Day, 70th Republic Day Live updates

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Security has been tightened in the national capital ahead of the 70th Republic Day on Saturday, 26 January. Around 25,000 security personnel are stationed across Delhi-NCR to thwart any terror strike or untoward incident.

The Delhi traffic police have also issued an advisory to commuters to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays and avoid the route of the Republic Day parade between Vijay Chowk and Red Fort grounds in the national capital.

President Ram Nath Kovind - addressed the nation ahead of the 70th Republic Day 2019 and spoke on a range of issues including the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country.

Two days before the Republic Day, two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members were arrested for allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes in Delhi during the celebrations.

Snapshot

• President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the nation on Friday, 25 January, on the eve of the 70th Republic Day
• Around 25,000 security personnel are stationed across Delhi-NCR to thwart any terror strike or untoward incident.
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is the chief guest for the 70th Republic Day

8:19 AM, 26 JANUARY 2019

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AP Guv Hoists Tricolour in Vijayawada

Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan hoists tricolor on Republic Day in Vijayawada.

8:21 AM, 26 JANUARY 2019

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TN Guv Unfurls Tricolour in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurls the national flag on Republic Day. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam were also present.


7:31 AM, 26 JANUARY 2019

Entry, Exit of Four Delhi Metro Stations Closed Today

Entry and exit at some of the metro stations in central Delhi will be closed for few hours in the morning of Republic Day on Saturday as part of security arrangements, officials said.

For two stations neighboring Rajpath, Central Secretariat, and Udyog Bhawan, entry and exit facilities will not be available from 6.00 am to 12.00 pm, a senior DMRC official said.

"Entry and exit at Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg metro stations will be closed from 8.45 am to 12.00 pm," he said.

The Central Secretariat station can only be used for interchange facilities for passengers, between Line 2 or Yellow Line (HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli) and Line 6 or Violet Line (Kashmere Gate-Raja Nahar Singh).


3:49 AM, JANUARY 2019

Delhi Traffic Police Issues Advisory to Commuters

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The Delhi traffic police have issued an advisory to commuters to plan their journeys in advance to avoid delays and avoid the route of the Republic Day parade between Vijay Chowk and Red Fort grounds in the national capital, news agency ANI reported.

• Traffic movement has been closed since 2 am on the C Hexagon - India Gate till the parade crosses Tilak Marg.
• However, alternate routes have been provided for the North-South and East-West movement of the traffic via the Ring Road.
• The Delhi traffic police have deployed 3,000 personnel for Republic Day duty.

1:24 AM, JANUARY 2019

Sudarshan Pattnaik Makes Sand Sculpture on Republic Day

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Sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik's makes a sand sculpture in Odisha’s Puri, on the eve of Republic Day.

1:19 AM, JANUARY 2019

Visuals from Lalbagh Republic Day Flower Show in Bengaluru

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The Lalbagh Republic Day Flower Show started on Friday, 25 January, in Bengaluru. The show houses a recreation of Mahatma Gandhi's cottage in Wardha Ashram, Rajghat, models of the three monkeys, glasses made of millets & sculpture of Dandi March.

1:10 AM, JANUARY 2019

Mumbai CST Railway Terminus Illuminated on the Eve of Republic Day

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Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Municipal Corporation Building, and Mantralaya building in Mumbai, Maharashtra, illuminated on the eve of Republic Day.

8:22 PM, JANUARY 2019

Security Heightened at Bhopal Junction

Security has been heightened at Bhopal Junction railway station on the eve of the Republic Day, reported ANI.

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8:14 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

The Indian Army Conducts a "Beating the Retreat" Ritual

The Indian Army conducted a “beating the retreat” ritual on the Attari-Wagah border, reported ANI.

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Delhi: #RepublicDay2019 parade will begin at Rajpath at 9.50 am, prior to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti pic.twitter.com/ByzZ4nwZTs

— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2019

7:54 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

President Kovind Stresses the Importance of Voting

• Addressing the nation on the eve of Republic Day, President Ramnath Kovind stressed on the significance of this Independence Day.

• Ram Nath Kovind Addresses the Nation on The Eve of Republic Day.
• Posted by The Quint on Saturday, January 26, 2019

“Independence Day is important for us in a special way. On 2 October, we’ll celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Not only for India, but this anniversary is also an opportunity for the entire world to understand, adopt and implement his principles.”

He also stressed the importance of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and pointed out that those born in the 21st century will get to vote for the first time.

Showing pride in the daughters of the nation, President Kovind said:

Apart from education, art, medicines, and sports, our daughters are now creating an identity for themselves in the three Armed Forces as well. In topmost educational institutes, often there are more daughters than sons among medal-winning students.”

4:17 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

855 Police Personnel Decorated,149 Get Gallantry Medals

A total of 855 police and paramilitary personnel were awarded police medals Friday, including 149 for gallantry in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxal violence-affected areas and others, ahead of the Republic Day.

The CRPF, the country's largest paramilitary force, was decorated with a maximum of 44 awards for bravery followed by Odisha Police at 26 medals, Jammu and Kashmir Police 25 medals and Chhattisgarh 14 medals.

Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were also decorated posthumously with the top category President's Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).

12:35 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

Ramaphosa meets PM Modi

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 25 January, ahead of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow.

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12:12 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

Unprecedented Security Cover in Delhi for R-day Celebrations

The national capital has been wrapped in an unprecedented security blanket with around 25,000 security personnel keeping hawk-eyed vigil to thwart any terror strike or untoward incident during the 70th Republic Day celebrations.

Security has been beefed up in the wake of the arrest of two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members, who were allegedly planning to carry out terror strikes in the national capital during the Republic Day celebrations.

The JeM members had reportedly identified the Lajpat Nagar market, Haj Manzil, Turkman gate, Paharganj, India Gate and the IGL gas pipeline in east Delhi as potential targets.

Multi-layered security arrangements are in place. Around 25,000 police personnel, including traffic officials, have been deployed. CCTV cameras and face-recognition cameras have also been installed at Rajpath, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said.

12:12 PM, 25 JANUARY 2019

President Ram Nath Kovind to Address The Nation Today

• President Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation on Friday, 25 January, on the eve of the 70th Republic Day.

The address will be broadcast from 7 pm on the entire national network of All India Radio and telecast on all channels of Doordarshan in Hindi followed by the English version, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

This will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan, the channel said in a statement.

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India Republic Day Google Doodle

India Republic Day Google Doodle

Google dedicates its doodle to India that celebrates its 70th Republic Day today. January 26 or Purna Swaraj Day was the day the Constitution of India came into force in 1950, though it was adopted in 1949. In a bid to announce the complete freedom from the British rule in the country, the Congress issued a bold resolution with the declaration of the Indian Constitution. 

The Republic Day is celebrated across the country in grandeur with the capital city taking the center stage where a parade runs along Rajpath near the President's residence. The tradition dates back to the morning of January 26, 1950, when thousands gathered to watch a simple yet grand ceremony at the Durbar Hall where the first President was sworn-in. 

The ceremonial parade has since then been the highlight of the Republic Day celebrations in the country. In today's doodle, guest artist Reshidev RK recreates the colorful celebrations depicting the iconic Republic Day Parade, representing various components of India's history: environment, architecture, textiles, wildlife, monuments, and farming.

The doodle, with the Rashtrapati Bhawan in the background, shows off India's heritage and architecture.