India’s Republic Day Parade and Its Special Chief Guests
The Republic Day Parade in India is a big celebration of the country’s independence, democracy, and military strength. Every year, India invites a well-known leader from another country as the Chief Guest for the event. This shows India’s strong ties with other nations. Here’s a look at the first Chief Guest in 1950 and the Chief Guest for 2025.
First Chief Guest on Republic Day in 1950
In 1950, Indonesia’s President Sukarno was the first foreign leader invited to India’s Republic Day celebrations. His visit was a big moment for India and Indonesia, as it strengthened the bond between the two countries. President Sukarno’s presence showed the shared values of freedom and democracy between the nations. This event also made India’s Republic Day more important on the global stage.
Chief Guest on Republic Day 2025
In 2025, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto was be the Chief Guest for India’s Republic Day. His visit is a step forward in making the partnership between India and Indonesia even stronger. It shows how both countries are working together in areas like defense and other important fields. This invitation reflects the growing friendship and shared goals between the two nations.
List of Chief Guests on Republic Day: 1950-2025
| Year | Leader | Country |
| 1950 | President Sukarno | Indonesia |
| 1951 | King Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Singh | Nepal |
| 1954 | King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck | Bhutan |
| 1955 | Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad | Pakistan |
| 1956 | Chancellor of the Exchequer R.A. Butler | United Kingdom |
| 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 Mountbatten | United Kingdom |
| 1965 | Food and Agriculture Minister Rana Abdul Hamid | Pakistan |
| 1967 | King Mohammed Zahir Singh | Afghanistan |
| 1968 | Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin | USSR |
| 1969 | Prime Minister Todor Zhivkov | Bulgaria |
| 1970 | King Baudouin | Belgium |
| 1971 | President Julius Nyerere | Tanzania |
| 1972 | Prime Minister Seewoosagur Ramgoolam | Mauritius |
| 1973 | President Mobuto Sese Seko | Zaire |
| 1974 | President Josip Broz Tito | SFR Yugoslavia |
| 1975 | Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike | Sri Lanka |
| 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 Valery Giscard d’Estaing | France |
| 1981 | President Jose Lopez Portillo | Mexico |
| 1982 | King Juan Carlos I | Spain |
| 1983 | President Shehu Shagari | Nigeria |
| 1984 | King Jigme Singye Wangchuck | Bhutan |
| 1985 | President Raul Alfonsin | Argentina |
| 1986 | Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou | Greece |
| 1987 | President Alan Garcia | Peru |
| 1988 | President Junius Jayewardene | Sri Lanka |
| 1989 | General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh | Vietnam |
| 1990 | Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth | Mauritius |
| 1991 | President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom | Maldives |
| 1992 | President Mario Soares | Portugal |
| 1993 | Prime Minister John Major | United Kingdom |
| 1994 | Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong | Singapore |
| 1995 | President Nelson Mandela | South Africa |
| 1996 | President 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 Mohammad Khatami | Iran |
| 2004 | President Luiz Inácio 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 | South Korea |
| 2011 | President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono | Indonesia |
| 2012 | Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra | Thailand |
| 2013 | King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | Bhutan |
| 2014 | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe | Japan |
| 2015 | President Barack Obama | United States |
| 2016 | President Francois Hollande | France |
| 2017 | Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed | UAE |
| 2018 | ASEAN Leaders (Multiple) | Various Nations |
| 2019 | President Cyril Ramaphosa | South Africa |
| 2020 | President Jair Bolsonaro | Brazil |
| 2021 | Prime Minister Boris Johnson | United Kingdom |
| 2023 | President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi | Egypt |
| 2024 | President Emmanuel Macron | France |
| 2025 | President Prabowo Subianto | Indonesia |
