List of chief guests at Delhi Republic Day parade explained

Since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. During 1950–1954, Republic Day celebrations were organised at different venues (like Irwin Amphitheatre, Kingsway, Red Fort and Ramlila Maidan). It was only starting 1955 when the parade in its present form was organised at Rajpath.[1] The guest country is chosen after a deliberation of strategic, economic and political interests. During 1950s–1970s, a number of Non-Aligned Movement and Eastern Bloc countries were hosted by India. In 1968 and 1974, India played host to two countries on the same Republic Day.

By continent, the invitations break up as follows:

ContinentInvitationsCountries
Asia36Afghanistan, Bhutan (4 times), Brunei, Cambodia (twice), China, Indonesia (thrice), Iran, Japan (twice), Kazakhstan, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal (twice), Pakistan (twice), Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore (twice), South Korea, Sri Lanka (twice), Thailand (twice), United Arab Emirates, Vietnam (twice)
Europe25Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France (6 times), Greece, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Soviet Union/Russia (4 times), Spain, Yugoslavia (twice), United Kingdom (5 times)
Africa12Algeria, Egypt, Mauritius (thrice), Nigeria (twice), South Africa (twice), Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia
South America5Argentina, Brazil (thrice), Peru
North America3Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
Oceania1Australia

By geographic region, the invitations break up as follows:

RegionInvitationsCountries
South Asia13Afghanistan, Bhutan (4 times), Maldives, Nepal (twice), Pakistan (twice), Sri Lanka (twice)
Central Asia1Kazakhstan
East Asia4China, Japan (twice), South Korea
Southeast Asia16Brunei, Cambodia (twice), Indonesia (thrice), Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore (twice), Thailand (twice), Vietnam (twice)
West Asia3Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
North Africa2Algeria, Egypt
West Africa2Nigeria (twice)
Central Africa1Zaire
Southern Africa6South Africa (twice), Mauritius (thrice), Zambia
East Africa1Tanzania
Eastern Europe8Bulgaria, Poland, Yugoslavia (twice), Soviet Union/Russia (4 times)
Western Europe17Belgium, Denmark, France (6 times), Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom (5 times)
Northern America2United States, Mexico
Caribbean1Trinidad and Tobago
South America5Argentina, Brazil (thrice), Peru
Oceania1Australia

List of chief guests

YearPortraitChief GuestCountryDesignationNoteHost
1950Sukarno[2] President of IndonesiaRajendra Prasad
1951Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah[3] King of Nepal
1952
1953
1954Jigme Dorji Wangchuck[4] King of BhutanRajendra Prasad
1955Malik Ghulam Muhammad[5] Governor-General of PakistanFirst guest for parade at Rajpath[6]
1956Rab ButlerChancellor of the ExchequerTwo guests[7]
Kōtarō TanakaChief Justice of Japan
1957Georgy Zhukov[8] Minister of Defence
1958Ye Jianying[9] ChinaMarshal of the People's Liberation Army
1959Philip[10] [11] [12] Consort of Queen Elizabeth II2nd invitation
1960Kliment Voroshilov[13] Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet2nd invitation
1961Elizabeth II[14] Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms3rd invitation
1962Viggo Kampmann[15] Prime Minister of Denmark
1963Norodom Sihanouk[16] King of CambodiaSarvepalli Radhakrishnan
1964Louis Mountbatten[17] Chief of the Defence Staff4th invitation
1965Rana Abdul HamidMinister of Food and Agriculture2nd invitation
1966
1967Mohammed Zahir Shah[18] AfghanistanKing of AfghanistanSarvepalli Radhakrishnan
1968Alexei KosyginChairman of the Council of Ministers3rd invitationTwo guests[19] Zakir Husain
Josip Broz TitoPresident of Yugoslavia
1969Todor Zhivkov[20] Prime Minister of Bulgaria
1970Baudouin[21] [22] King of BelgiumV. V. Giri
1971Julius Nyerere[23] President of Tanzania
1972Seewoosagur Ramgoolam[24] Prime Minister of Mauritius
1973Mobutu Sese Seko[25] President of Zaire
1974Josip Broz TitoPresident of Yugoslavia2nd invitationTwo guests[26]
Sirimavo BandaranaikePrime Minister of Sri Lanka
1975Kenneth Kaunda[27] President of ZambiaFakhruddin Ali Ahmed
1976Jacques Chirac[28] Prime Minister of France
1977Edward Gierek[29] PolandFirst Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party
1978Patrick Hillery[30] President of IrelandNeelam Sanjiva Reddy
1979Malcolm Fraser[31] Prime Minister of Australia
1980Valéry Giscard d'EstaingPresident of France2nd invitation
1981Jose Lopez Portillo[32] President of Mexico
1982Juan Carlos I[33] King of Spain
1983Shehu Shagari[34] President of NigeriaZail Singh
1984Jigme Singye Wangchuck[35] King of Bhutan2nd invitation
1985Raúl Alfonsín[36] President of Argentina
1986Andreas Papandreou[37] Prime Minister of Greece
1987Alan Garcia[38] President of Peru
1988J. R. Jayewardene[39] President of Sri Lanka2nd invitationRamaswamy Venkataraman
1989Nguyễn Văn Linh[40] General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam
1990Anerood Jugnauth[41] Prime Minister of Mauritius2nd invitation
1991Maumoon Abdul Gayoom[42] President of the Maldives
1992Mário SoaresPresident of Portugal
1993John MajorPrime Minister of United Kingdom5th invitationShankar Dayal Sharma
1994Goh Chok TongPrime Minister of Singapore
1995Nelson Mandela[43] President of South Africa
1996Fernando Henrique CardosoPresident of Brazil
1997Basdeo PandayPrime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
1998Jacques ChiracPresident of France3rd invitationK. R. Narayanan
1999Birendra Bir Bikram ShahKing of Nepal2nd invitation
2000Olusegun ObasanjoPresident of Nigeria2nd invitation
2001Abdelaziz BouteflikaPresident of Algeria
2002Cassam UteemPresident of Mauritius3rd invitation
2003Mohammed KhatamiPresident of IranA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
2004Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil2nd invitation
2005Jigme Singye WangchuckKing of Bhutan3rd invitation
2006Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-SaudKing of Saudi Arabia
2007Vladimir PutinPresident of Russia4th invitation
2008Nicolas SarkozyPresident of France4th invitationPratibha Patil
2009Nursultan NazarbayevPresident of Kazakhstan
2010Lee Myung Bak[44] President of South Korea
2011Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono[45] [46] President of Indonesia2nd invitation
2012Yingluck Shinawatra[47] Prime Minister of Thailand
2013Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck[48] King of Bhutan4th invitationPranab Mukherjee
2014Shinzo Abe[49] Prime Minister of Japan2nd invitation
2015Barack Obama[50] President of the United States
2016François HollandePresident of France5th invitation[51]
2017Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan[52] Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
2018Hassanal BolkiahSultan of BruneiTen guests (heads of the ASEAN states)[53] Ram Nath Kovind
Hun SenPrime Minister of Cambodia2nd invitation
Joko WidodoPresident of Indonesia3rd invitation
Thongloun SisoulithPrime Minister of Laos
Najib RazakPrime Minister of Malaysia
Aung San Suu KyiState Counsellor of Myanmar
Rodrigo DutertePresident of the Philippines
Lee Hsien LoongPrime Minister of Singapore2nd invitation
Prayut Chan-o-chaPrime Minister of Thailand2nd invitation
Nguyễn Xuân PhúcPrime Minister of Vietnam2nd invitation
2019Cyril Ramaphosa[54] [55] President of South Africa2nd invitation
2020Jair Bolsonaro[56] President of Brazil3rd invitation
2021
2022
2023Abdel Fattah el-Sisi[57] President of EgyptDroupadi Murmu
2024Emmanuel Macron[58] President of France6th invitation
2025

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of all Chief Guests on Indian Republic Day Parades (1950–2021). Jagran Josh. 25 January 2021.
  2. News: Republic Day celebrations: President Pranab Mukherjee tweets images from 1950 onwards. 25 July 2017. The Economic Times.
  3. Web site: King Tribhuvan of Nepal was the guest of honour for the Republic Day in 1951 #26Januarypic.twitter.com/piqaZUKolr. President of. India. 18 January 2015.
  4. Web site: Selected works of Jawaharlal Nehru . claudearpi.net . 26 January 2014 . 17 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160417235426/http://www.claudearpi.net/maintenance/uploaded_pics/SW29.pdf . dead .
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20050205163551/http://www.dawn.com/2005/01/31/fea.htm
  6. Book: India in world affairs, 1954–56 . registration . Asia Publishing House . Rajan . M. S. . 1964. 978-0-210-26916-9 .
  7. News: . REPUBLIC DAY IN DELHI: Parade In Heart Of City . The Times of India . 22 January 1956 . 4 .
  8. Web site: Zhukov At India's National Day Aka Zhukov – India (1957). British Pathé. 13 April 2014. YouTube.
  9. Book: India & China, 1904–2004: A century of peace and conflict . 9788178271125 . Deepak . B. R . 1 January 2005.
  10. Web site: In India, they have been celebrating Republic Day. After the parade....
  11. Web site: Archived copy . mealib.nic.in . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503062254/http://mealib.nic.in/?pdf2547?000 . 3 May 2015 . dead.
  12. Web site: Duke Popular Everywhere (1959). British Pathé. 13 April 2014. YouTube.
  13. Book: Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Correspondence and Select Documents . 9788170230021 . Prasad . Rajendra . 1984.
  14. Web site: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, News Photo, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth be . Timescontent.com . 26 January 1961 . 24 January 2014.
  15. Web site: Archived copy . mealib.nic.in . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503130033/http://mealib.nic.in/?pdf2488?000 . 3 May 2015 . dead.
  16. Book: Indian Information . 1962.
  17. Web site: Republic Celebration (1964). British Pathé. 13 April 2014. YouTube.
  18. Web site: Archived copy . mealib.nic.in . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503065225/http://mealib.nic.in/?pdf2555?000 . 3 May 2015 . dead.
  19. Web site: visit to New Delhi of Mr Kosygin on the occasion of Republic Day – Google zoeken . 2 November 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  20. Asian Recorder . 1969.
  21. Web site: Archived copy . mealib.nic.in . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150503123711/http://mealib.nic.in/?pdf2558?000 . 3 May 2015 . dead.
  22. Book: Link: Indian Newsmagazine. 25 July 1970.
  23. India . 1971.
  24. Foreign Affairs Record . 1972.
  25. The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who . Reed . Sir Stanley . 1974.
  26. Indian and Foreign Review . 1973.
  27. Book: Lok Sabha Debates: 13th Session . Written Answers . 20 February 1975 . Col. 40 . XLVIII . Lok Sabha Secretariat . New Delhi.
  28. Web site: Interview given by Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, to the Indian weekly magazine "India Today" – la France en Australie . www.ambafrance-au.org . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090922113137/http://www.ambafrance-au.org/france_australie/spip.php?article1521 . 22 September 2009 . dead.
  29. The Eastern Economist . 1977.
  30. Web site: Patrick J. Hillery . Clarelibrary.ie . 24 January 2014 . 26 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220626071558/http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/projects/hillery_exhibition/5_visits.htm . dead .
  31. Web site: Bilateral Visits . Hcindia-au.org . 24 January 2014.
  32. Web site: MEA | MEA Links : Indian Missions Abroad . Mealib.nic.in . 23 September 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  33. Web site: MEA | MEA Links : Indian Missions Abroad . Mealib.nic.in . 23 September 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  34. Web site: MEA | MEA Links : Indian Missions Abroad . Mealib.nic.in . 23 September 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  35. Web site: MEA | MEA Links : Indian Missions Abroad . Mealib.nic.in . 23 September 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  36. Web site: India Argentina Relations . Mea.gov.in . 24 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101126161900/http://mea.gov.in/meaxpsite/foreignrelation/23fr01.pdf . 26 November 2010.
  37. Web site: Annual Report 2000–2001 . Mea.gov.in . 24 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101221130453/http://mea.gov.in/meaxpsite/annualreport/ar20002001.pdf . 21 December 2010.
  38. Web site: meacommunity.org . meacommunity.org . 24 January 2014 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317122920/http://meacommunity.org/Documents/MEA%20Annual%20Report%201986.doc . dead .
  39. Web site: meacommunity.org . meacommunity.org . 24 January 2014 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317122939/http://meacommunity.org/Documents/ANNUAL%20REPORT%201987.doc . dead .
  40. Web site: meacommunity.org . meacommunity.org . 24 January 2014 . 17 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317122946/http://meacommunity.org/Documents/ANNUAL%20REPORT%201988.doc . dead .
  41. Web site: Choosing R-Day chief guest: Behind the warm welcome, a cold strategy . www.indianexpress.com . 15 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110124161434/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/choosing-rday-chief-guest-behind-the-warm-welcome-a-cold-strategy/571348/6 . 24 January 2011 . dead.
  42. News: Choosing R-Day chief guest: Behind the warm welcome, a cold strategy . Indian Express . 25 January 2010 . 24 January 2014.
  43. http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/general/1990s.html "General South African History timeline"
  44. News: Choosing R-Day chief guest: Behind the warm welcome, a cold strategy . Indian Express . 25 January 2010 . 24 January 2014.
  45. Web site: Indonesian President next R-Day parade chief guest – Rediff.com India News . News.rediff.com . 24 January 2014.
  46. Web site: Indonesian President next R-Day parade chief guest – Rediff.com India News . . 25 January 2012.
  47. Web site: New Delhi, 2 Dec (IANS) . Thai PM to be chief guest on India's Republic Day . Deccan Herald . 20 January 2012 . 25 January 2012.
  48. Web site: India invites King of Bhutan as chief guest at Republic Day celebrations . https://web.archive.org/web/20130129011741/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-invites-king-of-bhutan-as-chief-guest-at-republic-day-celebrations/317802-3.html . dead . 29 January 2013 . Ibnlive.in.com . 26 January 2013 . 24 January 2014.
  49. Web site: India likely to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Republic Day chief guest : India, News – India Today . Indiatoday.intoday.in . 24 January 2014.
  50. News: Obama in India joins Modi at Delhi Republic Day parade. BBC News. 26 January 2015.
  51. Web site: French President Hollande invited as Republic Day guest. 22 November 2015.
  52. Web site: Abu Dhabi Crown Prince to be chief guest on Republic Day.
  53. Web site: India to invite heads of 10 Asean nations for Republic Day celebrations – Times of India. The Times of India.
  54. Web site: South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa accepts PM Modi's invite, to be 2019 Republic Day chief guest. 1 December 2018. www.hindustantimes.com.
  55. Web site: Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale: PM had a number of bilateral engagements this morning.Argentina PM is keen to make a visit to India in 2019. PM extended South Africa Pres Cyril Ramaphosa invitation to be chief guest for India's Republic Day in 2019& Ramaphosa accepted.#G20Summitpic.twitter.com/DinFx7zdTV. 1 December 2018.
  56. Web site: PM Modi to hold talks with Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro in New Delhi today . All India Radio . 25 January 2020 . 25 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200125041250/http://www.newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=379237 . dead .
  57. Web site: Egypt's president to be chef guest at Republic Day Celebration . 2022-11-28 . www.indiatvnews.com.
  58. Web site: 2023-12-23 . French President Macron to be chief guest for 2024 Republic Day parade . 2024-01-24 . Hindustan Times . en.

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