How India chooses its chief guest for the January 26 parade

India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on January 26, the day the country adopted its constitution and officially became a republic, breaking with its colonial past.

The grand annual parade will take place along Delhi’s iconic central boulevard, watched by thousands of people, with military tanks and fighter jets roaring overhead.

The parade is a spectacle in itself, but attention is also focused on those who occupy the most prominent places during the ceremony. This year, they will be the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the European Council António Costa.

India invited them as chief guests of the celebrations, placing the European Union at the center of one of the country’s most prestigious state events.

On this day, India transforms the heart of its capital into a stage. Thousands of soldiers march past cheering crowds, armored vehicles drive down the Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath or King’s Avenue) and colorful paintings or floats parade before spectators in Delhi, while millions more watch on their screens across the country.

The parade is presided over by the President of India, with the chief guest seated nearby – closer to the presidential chair than even the most senior government officials.

The question of who sits next to the Indian president has long been seen as more than a matter of protocol. Over the decades, the choice of the chief guest has become a keen indicator of India’s foreign policy priorities and the relationships Delhi wants to emphasize at any given time, experts say.

This practice began in 1950 when the then Indonesian President Sukarno attended India’s first Republic Day parade. In its early years as a republic, India prioritized connections with other new freelancers country – a priority which is reflected in the early choice of the main guests.

Since then, the parade has hosted leaders from around the world, reflecting changes in India’s global relations and strategic priorities. The main guests included leaders of neighboring countries – such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka – as well as heads of state and government of major powers, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The UK has been the chief guest on five occasions – including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip – reflecting the long and complex history between the two countries. The leaders of France and Russia (former Soviet Union) have also been invited nearly five times since 1950, reflecting the long-standing strategic ties between India and the two countries.

With such a wide range of past invitees, the question is how India decides who gets an invitation in a given year.

The selection process takes place largely out of public view. Former diplomats and media reports say it usually starts within the Foreign Ministry, which prepares a shortlist of potential guests. The final decision is made by the Prime Minister’s Office, followed by official communication with the selected countries – a process that can take several months.

A former Foreign Ministry official speaking on condition of anonymity said: “Strategic objectives, regional balance and whether a country has been invited before are all taken into account.”

Former Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna said a lot of thought went into making the decision.

“It is a balance between important partners, neighbors and major powers,” he said, adding that the availability of the head of state during this period also plays a crucial role.

Foreign policy analyst Harsh V Pant said the evolution of the list of chief guests reflects India’s evolving engagement with the world. “If you think about the EU delegation this year, with the arrival of its leaders, it is very clear that we are redoubling our engagement with the EU.”

He added that a trade deal would most likely be announced, which would indicate that India and the European bloc are on the same page when it comes to the current geopolitical situation.

It comes like India continues to negotiate trade deal with the United States. The negotiations, which have lasted nearly a year, have strained relations since the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, the highest in Asia, including sanctions linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil.

“He [the choice of the parade’s chief guest] it gives you an idea of ​​India’s priorities at this particular juncture – what geography it wants to focus on, or if there is a milestone it wants to mark,” Pant said, emphasizing that India has continued to engage closely with the Global South.

In 2018, for example, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were invited as chief guests. This was the first time a regional group was invited – marking 25 years of India’s engagement in the bloc, Pant added.

At the same time, some absences from the guest list also reflect strained relationships.

Pakistani leaders were present twice as chief guests before their neighbors went to war in 1965. Islamabad was not invited again after that – a sign of lingering strains in relations. The only time China participated was when Marshal Ye Jianying arrived in 1958, four years before the two countries went to war over their disputed border.

But the importance of Republic Day extends beyond diplomacy and guest lists.

Analysts say the Indian parade stands out from similar military demonstrations elsewhere in the world for a number of reasons. The fact that India has a guest almost every year is part of it.

Also, for most countries, these parades commemorate military victories. As Victory Day in Russia marks Germany’s defeat in World War II, July 14 in France celebrates the start of the French Revolution and the eventual fall of the monarchy, and the Chinese military parade marks victory over Japan in World War II.

In India, on the other hand, the celebration is centered on the constitution, Pant says.

“For many other countries, these celebrations are linked to war victories. We don’t celebrate that. We celebrate the becoming of a constitutional democracy – the coming into force of the constitution.”

Unlike the military parades held in many Western capitals, India’s Republic Day also combines displays of military capabilities with cultural spectacles and regional spectacles, projecting both power and diversity.

Beyond strategy and symbolism, the parade often leaves a more personal impression on visiting leaders.

The former official who spoke anonymously recalled how the Obamas were particularly struck by the camel contingents – a moment that stuck with them long after the official ceremonies ended.

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