Why is it in news?
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G-20 summit and invited him to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations 2019.
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2019 also marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
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The South African leader accepted the invitation to grace the occasion.
Republic Day
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Republic Day-
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It honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.
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Guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations-
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since 1950, India has been hosting head of state or government of another country as the state guest of honour for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
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The guest country is chosen after a deliberation of strategic, economic and political interests.
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Previous Guests-
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2015- Barak Obama-USA
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2016-President François Hollande-France
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2017-Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan- UAE
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2018-Ten guests (Heads of ASEAN states)
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2019-President Cyril Ramaphosa-South Africa
Source
The Hindu