The 66^th Republic Day was celebrated on 26^th January, 2015 at the Wildlife Institute of India campus with participation of faculty, staff, researchers and students. Officers of the Indian Revenue Service, Postgraduate Diploma Course in Advanced Wildlife Management and Certificate Course in Wildlife Management currently undergoing training at the Institute also participated in the event which began by unfurling of the national flag by Dr V.B.Mathur, Director of the Institute. Speaking on the occasion he said 26^th January is a very significant date in our nation’s calendar, on which we celebrate the establishment of free India as a Republic, based on the ideology of justice and equality. It is a day when we recall with gratitude the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the work of our Founding Fathers, for giving to us a country, where our dignity and individual freedoms are guaranteed by an enlightened Constitution.

Dr Mathur said that the strength of an institution is not determined by the challenges it faces, but by its responses to these challenges and therefore what actions the Institute will take now in terms of leveraging the advantages and addressing the shortcomings, will shape the destiny of the institution.

On this occasion awards were given to staff, officer-trainee and researchers for excellence in games and sports. Four Institute’s drivers were felicitated for showing valour and saving the life and property, which got endangered due to an accidental fire which broke out during night in a camp of officer-trainees in Rajaji National Pak.