Republic Day parade in 1971. 1967, Indira Gandhi, the new PM, dances with folk dancers for Republic Day1961 Republic Day, a well-designed handloom industries float. The first mention of Republic Day in the Times of India (ToI) deals with state symbolism . Eventually a bronze version was installed, but for India's first Republic Day, the plaster model sufficed.Such focus on state symbolism was appropriate since Republic Day has always been about celebrating the Indian state. (A ToI reader appealed for a 'Republic Day result' to pass students who had narrowly failed).That first Republic Day in Delhi was relatively simple.

Source: Economic Times January 27, 2018 18:00 UTC