Addis Ababa, January 27, 2026 (FMC) – India is holding festivities to mark one of its most important national holidays – Republic Day, celebrated annually on 26 January. In an exclusive comment to TV BRICS, the Indian Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, described the date as a very significant day and a celebration on multiple levels.
“This day that we celebrate as Republic Day of India is the day when, in 1950, India became a republic. […] After long centuries, India adopted a new fundamental law to govern the diverse country, take care of the interest, and promote the socio-economic development for a whole lot of people. It is a very living document. […] So this is a celebration at multiple levels. At the level of law, we have a fundamental law which encompasses all the people. At the level of socio-economic development, for fraternity and equality of our people, everybody is equal before the law. The large number of people breaking this minus 20 in Moscow clearly shows that people appreciate what they have as a governing framework for the country,” Vinay Kumar said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the national holiday as a symbol of pride and glory, emphasising that Republic Day should give the entire nation “pride and honour” and “should infuse new energy and enthusiasm, strengthening the resolve for Viksit Bharat.” His greeting was reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.
The Prime Minister also praised the address to the nation by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, delivered on the eve of the holiday.
“It is a matter of pride that today’s India is moving forward with new self-confidence, conscious of its glorious traditions,” the Indian leader said, according to ANI.
On the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, India received congratulations from heads of state of BRICS nations and its partner countries. Notably, the Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, stated on social media that the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, sent a congratulatory message to the President of India.
“It should be the right choice for China and India to be good-neighborly friends and partners that help each other succeed, and have the dragon and the elephant dance together,” the ambassador said, as reported by ANI.
President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent a congratulatory telegram to Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister of the UAE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Vice President of the UAE Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan sent congratulatory messages to Murmu and Narendra Modi. This was reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), a partner of TV BRICS.
President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also sent a congratulatory telegram to the President of India on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Republic Day, MENA, a partner of TV BRICS, reports.
Wishing peace and prosperity to the Indian people, the President of Belarus, Aleksander Lukashenko, sent greetings to Prime Minister Modi.
“This holiday embodies the age-old wisdom of Indian civilisation, which serves as a solid foundation for the world’s largest democracy. The country’s achievements in economic development, innovation, and the social sector command respect and set an example for many states,” the Belarusian leader noted in his message, cited on the official presidential website.
Lukashenko particularly highlighted India’s BRICS chairmanship in 2026 and underscored its contribution to strengthening a multipolar and just world, while expressing hope to meet Narendra Modi during the BRICS summit, as reported by TV BRICS.