Every year on 26 January, schools across India fill with saffron, white and green. Little ones arrive with paper flags, older children practise for assemblies, and teachers look for activities that are meaningful but still right for small hands. If you are a parent or teacher planning for Nursery to Class 2, this guide is for you.
Print-ready worksheets for this topic
Republic Day Worksheets for Kids PDF – Flag Colouring, Puzzles, Quiz & Certificate, Ages 4–8 (23 Pages) – A4 PDF, instant download. ₹49 ₹99
Below you will find a simple explanation of Republic Day for children, tricolour crafts, printable activity ideas, classroom games, short speech lines, tricolour snacks and a few gentle reminders about handling the national flag with respect.
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Quick answer: Good Republic Day activities for kids aged 3 to 8 include:
- Crafts: hand-print tricolour flag, paper plate Ashoka Chakra, tricolour paper chain, paper badge.
- Printables: flag colouring, national symbols colouring, maze, word search, counting flags, tracing.
- Games: tricolour sorting, national symbols match, flag relay, freeze-and-salute.
- Talk: explain in simple words that on 26 January 1950, India’s Constitution came into effect and India became a republic.
What is Republic Day? Explained in simple words for kids
Children don’t need long history lessons, but a short, clear explanation helps them understand why they are celebrating. Here is a version you can say to a five- or six-year-old:
“Every country needs rules so that everyone is treated fairly. India’s big book of rules is called the Constitution. On 26 January 1950, India started following its Constitution, and India became a republic. That means the people choose their leaders. So every year on 26 January, we celebrate Republic Day.”
For slightly older children (Class 1 and 2), you can add a few more facts:
- A committee wrote the draft of the Constitution. Dr B. R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee.
- The main Republic Day parade takes place at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. It includes marching contingents and colourful tableaux from different states and union territories.
- Our national flag has three colours: saffron on top, white in the middle and green at the bottom, with a navy blue Ashoka Chakra that has 24 spokes in the centre.
Children often confuse Republic Day with Independence Day. A simple way to explain: “On Independence Day, 15 August, we remember the day India became free. On Republic Day, 26 January, we remember the day India’s Constitution began.”
Tricolour crafts for Nursery and LKG
For the youngest children, crafts should be short, messy in a good way and focused on colours and shapes.
1. Hand-print flag
On a sheet of white paper, help your child press a saffron hand-print at the top and a green hand-print at the bottom, leaving white in between. Once dry, draw or stick a blue circle in the middle for the chakra. A great way to talk about the order of colours.
2. Paper plate Ashoka Chakra
Give your child a paper plate and a navy blue crayon or sketch pen. Draw a small circle in the centre and help them draw lines outward like the spokes of a wheel. For LKG, focus on the idea of a wheel. For UKG and Class 1, count the spokes together until you reach 24.
3. Tricolour paper chain
Cut strips of saffron, white and green paper. Children loop and glue them in order: saffron, white, green, saffron, white, green. This builds fine-motor skills and pattern sense at the same time.
4. Torn-paper flag collage
Tearing paper is excellent for little fingers. Children tear saffron and green paper and stick the bits in the right bands on a flag outline.
5. Tricolour balloon or kite drawing
Draw a simple balloon or kite outline and let your child colour it in three bands. Simple, cheerful and perfect for a classroom wall.
Printable Republic Day activities
Printables are handy for teachers with a full class and for parents who want a calm, screen-free activity. Good options for ages 4 to 8 include:
| Activity | Best for | Skill practised |
|---|---|---|
| Flag colouring | Nursery – UKG | colour recognition, pencil control |
| 24-spoke chakra colouring | UKG – Class 2 | counting, fine-motor control |
| National symbols colouring | LKG – Class 2 | general knowledge, vocabulary |
| India Gate and parade scene | UKG – Class 2 | observation, talking about pictures |
| Counting flags | Nursery – UKG | counting, number writing |
| Maze | LKG – Class 1 | problem-solving, pencil control |
| Word search | Class 1 – Class 2 | reading, spelling |
| Tracing words | UKG – Class 1 | handwriting |
| Short quiz | Class 1 – Class 2 | recall, general knowledge |
National symbols to talk about
A national symbols match or colouring sheet is a lovely way to bring in a little GK:
- National animal: tiger
- National bird: peacock
- National flower: lotus
- National fruit: mango
- National tree: banyan
- National anthem: Jana Gana Mana, written by Rabindranath Tagore
- National song: Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
For more questions children can practise, see our LKG GK questions and Class 1 GK questions.
Republic Day games for the classroom
- Tricolour sorting. Mix saffron, white and green objects (paper squares, blocks, beads) in a tray. Children sort them into three bowls. Perfect for Nursery.
- National symbols match. Put picture cards face down (tiger, peacock, lotus, mango, banyan) with name cards. Children match picture to name.
- Flag relay. Teams pass a paper flag down the line without dropping it, then the last child carries it carefully back to the front. A gentle way to practise holding the flag with care.
- Freeze and salute. Play patriotic music. When it stops, children freeze and stand straight. Keep the national anthem separate, as it should be sung standing still and never used for a game.
- Parade march. Children march in a line, swinging arms, as they might see in the Republic Day parade on TV. Add a “band” with spoons and steel plates.
- Odd one out. Show four colours or pictures; children find the one that isn’t part of the flag.
Short speech lines and slogans for UKG and Class 1
Small children often get asked to “say a few lines” at assembly. Keep it short, clear and in their own voice. Here is a simple six-line speech:
Good morning to everyone. Today is Republic Day. On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect. Our flag is saffron, white and green, with a blue chakra in the middle. I love my country. Happy Republic Day!
Easy slogans for posters and badges:
- Happy Republic Day!
- One nation, many colours.
- Proud to be Indian.
- Unity in diversity.
- Jai Hind!
Practise in front of family a few times. If your child gets nervous, let them hold a small card with key words, or hold up a flag drawing they have made.
Prefer ready-to-print pages?
Republic Day Worksheets for Kids PDF – Flag Colouring, Puzzles, Quiz & Certificate, Ages 4–8 (23 Pages) – A4 PDF, instant download. ₹49 ₹99
Tricolour snack ideas
Food is a fun, hands-on way to talk about colours. A few easy ideas:
- Tricolour sandwich: a layer of carrot spread or grated carrot, a slice of paneer or cheese, and mint or coriander chutney.
- Tricolour idli or dhokla: colour the batter with carrot purée and spinach purée, keeping the middle layer plain.
- Fruit flag: orange or papaya pieces on top, banana or coconut in the middle, green grapes or kiwi at the bottom.
- Tricolour rice: plain rice, carrot rice and palak rice arranged in three bands.
Always check for allergies before sharing food in a classroom.
Handling the flag with respect
Republic Day is a good time to teach children a few simple habits around the national flag:
- The saffron band always goes on top.
- Don’t let paper flags fall on the ground or get trampled. After the celebration, collect them and keep them safely.
- Choose paper or cloth flags rather than plastic ones.
- Don’t use the flag as a decoration on clothes below the waist, as a napkin or for wrapping things.
- Paper flags made for crafts should be treated with the same care as any flag.
Explain gently that the flag belongs to everyone in India, so we look after it together.
Download: Republic Day activity pack
If you would like a ready-to-print set, our Republic Day Activity Pack PDF (₹49, ages 4 to 8) includes flag colouring, a 24-spoke chakra page, national symbols colouring, India Gate, a parade scene, counting flags, a maze, a word search, tracing and writing pages, a paper badge, a card, a quiz and a certificate. It prints on A4, so you can make as many copies as you need for home or class.
Get the Republic Day Activity Pack – ₹49
For more India-themed fun, the Incredible India Colouring & Mazes Fun Pack works well alongside it. And if you would like to build GK beyond the festival, the EVS & GK Worksheets PDF (₹99) is a good next step.
See the Incredible India Colouring & Mazes Pack
Browse all our festival packs, activity packs and EVS and GK worksheets. Planning ahead for other celebrations? Try our ideas for Children’s Day activities and Diwali activities for kids.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do we celebrate Republic Day on 26 January?
We celebrate Republic Day on 26 January because the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. From that day, India became a republic, where the people choose their leaders.
How do I explain Republic Day to a preschooler?
Keep it simple: every country needs rules, and India’s big book of rules is called the Constitution. India started following it on 26 January 1950, so we celebrate every year. Then move on to a hands-on craft like a hand-print flag.
Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
Dr B. R. Ambedkar was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India.
What are easy Republic Day activities for nursery kids?
Easy activities for nursery children include a hand-print tricolour flag, tricolour sorting with paper squares, flag colouring, a torn-paper flag collage and a simple marching parade.
Where is the main Republic Day parade held?
The main Republic Day parade is held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. It features marching contingents and tableaux from different states and union territories.
