Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2018 will ‘especially be remembered through the ages.’ Addressing the nation through the last ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode of the year, PM Modi said, “The Republic Day will be celebrated with leaders of all ten ASEAN countries coming to India as Chief Guests. This is unprecedented in India's history.”

The year 2017 has been special for both ASEAN and India. ASEAN completed its 50 years of formation in 2017 and in 2017 25 years of India's partnership with ASEAN were completed, he added.

Setting a target for August 15, Modi proposed that a mock Parliament will be organized around the August 15 in Delhi. The mock parliament will comprise one young representative selected from every district of India who would participate and deliberate on how a new India could be formed in the next five years.