President Droupadi Murmu to address nation on Republic Day eve

President Droupadi Murmu is set to address the nation tomorrow, January 25, 2026, ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, which will be broadcast at 7:00 pm on the national network of All India Radio (Akashvani) and telecast on all Doordarshan channels in Hindi, followed by English.

Regional language versions will follow on Doordarshan’s regional channels, while Akashvani will air them from 9:30 pm on its respective regional networks.

Ahead of Republic Day, President Murmu will also preside over the 16th National Voters’ Day (NVD-2026) celebrations on Sunday. The event, themed “My India, My Vote” with the tagline “Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy”, will see the president handing over Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to newly enrolled young voters. Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal will be the Guest of Honour, while Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will lead the proceedings.

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During the event, President Murmu will present the Best Electoral Practices Awards across categories including election management, innovative voter awareness, effective use of technology, and implementation of the Model Code of Conduct. The NVD celebrations will include the launch of two publications: “2025: A Year of Initiatives and Innovations” and “Chunav Ka Parv, Bihar Ka Garv”, highlighting the successful conduct of Bihar’s General Elections. A video showcasing the Election Commission of India’s leadership in electoral management globally will also be screened.

An exhibition detailing the election process, from preparation of electoral rolls to the conduct of elections, will be part of the celebrations. Simultaneous events will also be held nationwide at State and District levels through the offices of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs). Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will felicitate new voters at their polling stations, distributing EPICs.

European Union leaders to attend Republic Day parade

On the other hand, India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2026, will carry significant diplomatic weight as top European Union leaders will be present as chief guests. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa will attend the parade at Kartavya Path, New Delhi. This is the first time the EU’s top leadership has been invited together, signaling a deeper engagement between India and Brussels.

Von der Leyen arrived in India on Saturday for a State Visit, greeted by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics & IT, Jitin Prasada. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed her visit as a step toward advancing the India–EU Strategic Partnership, emphasising the shared democratic values of both sides. Earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President Kaja Kallas also arrived in New Delhi for her first official visit. The MEA described her visit as timely for strengthening India–EU ties amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

India–EU strategic cooperation in focus

The EU leaders’ visit comes amid intensified India–EU diplomatic engagement. On Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with EU ambassadors in New Delhi to discuss global volatility and the need for enhanced cooperation.

“Spoke to EU ambassadors about a world where volatility and instability have become the new normal,” Jaishankar said on X (formerly Twitter). He emphasised that closer India–EU cooperation could help stabilise the global economy, enhance supply chain resilience, support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, and strengthen trade, mobility, and security partnerships.

During their visit, President von der Leyen and President Costa will meet President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for both restricted and delegation-level talks. They will also co-chair the 16th India–EU Summit on January 27.