French President Emmanuel Macron extended his heartfelt wishes to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the people of India on the occasion of the country’s 76th Republic Day.
Sharing a photograph of himself with PM Modi from his 2024 visit to India as the Republic Day Chief Guest, Macron reflected on the strong ties between the two nations. He also expressed eagerness to meet PM Modi at the upcoming Summit on Action for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in France.
“My congratulations to the Indian people and my dear friend Narendra Modi on this Republic Day. Fond memories of that great moment of friendship I shared with you in 2024. Looking forward to seeing you in France in February for the Summit on Action for Artificial Intelligence,” Macron wrote on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) recently confirmed PM Modi’s participation as a co-chair at the AI Action Summit in France, scheduled for February 10-11. The summit, hosted by France, aims to foster global cooperation in artificial intelligence.
“French President Emmanuel Macron has invited PM Modi to co-chair the summit, and we have accepted the invitation. Further updates regarding the visit will be shared in the coming days,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at a briefing.
Prime Minister Modi marked Republic Day by extending greetings to the nation. “Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity, and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India,” he posted on X.
The grand celebrations at Kartavya Path featured a vibrant showcase of India’s military might and cultural diversity. PM Modi shared highlights from the Republic Day parade, calling it a “vibrant display of India’s unity in diversity.” He praised the parade’s representation of cultural heritage, military prowess, and the rich traditions of Indian states through the tableaux.
Republic Day Highlights:
- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Chief Guest at this year’s Republic Day celebrations.
- Events included a grand parade featuring military strength and cultural diversity.
- Additional celebrations, such as the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29, the National School Band Competition, and Bharat Parv—a cultural festival at Delhi’s Red Fort—will continue through January 31.
Republic Day commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the chairperson of the Constitution Drafting Committee, played a pivotal role in shaping the foundational document of Indian democracy.
As India celebrates its Republic Day with grandeur, the nation also looks forward to strengthening its international partnerships, such as the upcoming collaboration with France on artificial intelligence.
