French President Emmanuel Macron is set to be the chief guest during the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on January 26.

India initially extended an invitation to United States President Joe Biden for the occasion; however, he declined the invitation to attend the event in Delhi this time.

Prior to Macron, former French Prime Minister Jacques Chirac was the Chief guest on India’s Republic Day celebrations in 1976 and 1998, and former Presidents Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Francois Hollande in the years 1980, 2008 and 2016 respectively.

The Republic Day ceremony holds great significance in India, marking the adoption of the Constitution in 1950. The participation of foreign dignitaries as chief guests is a tradition that symbolises diplomatic ties and international cooperation.

(With inputs from ANI)