Republic Day is celebrated every year in India on January 26 to commemorate the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect, in 1950 & the country became a republic. India became independent on August 15, 1947, but it was not a date that India had chosen for itself. The date was thrust upon by Lord Louis Mountbatten, as it marked the second anniversary of Japan’s submission to allied powers after World War II. While India became independent from British Raj following the Indian Independence movement, it didn’t have a constitution of its own. Indian laws were based on a modified version of the British established, Government of India Act 1935. Two weeks later, a Drafting Committee with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman was appointed for drafting a permanent Indian Constitution. Although the Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, it came into force on January 26, 1950, a day chosen by Indians for themselves for it held immense significance for the country. Watch the video to know more.