Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's National War Memorial on Monday evening in New Delhi. The National War Memorial draws inspiration from the 'Chakravyuh' formation and is spread on an area spanning over 40 acres at the India Gate complex.
According to the ministry of defence's Twitter handle, Modi is expected to arrive at the site of the National War Memorial by 5.45pm. Before the unveiling, Modi will also address a rally of ex-servicemen at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The defence minister and the service chiefs are expected to be present at the inauguration of the National War Memorial.
Providing details about the National War Memorial on Sunday, defence ministry officials said the project was executed at a cost of approximately Rs 176 crore.
The names of 25,942 war casualties have been inscribed on 16 walls at the National War Memorial, which consists of four concentric circles extending outward: the Amar Chakra (circle of immortality), Veerta Chakra (circle of bravery), Tyag Chakra (circle of sacrifice) and Rakshak Chakra (circle of protection).
The National War Memorial honours the memory of Indian soldiers who died in all wars starting from the 1948 war with Pakistan to the Kargil conflict of 1999 and also those who lost their lives in UN peacekeeping missions, humanitarian operations and counter-insurgency deployments.
While the National War Memorial will have a new 'eternal flame', the existing eternal flame at the Amar Jawan Jyoti will continue, officials said. The Amar Jawan Jyoti was built in 1972 in honour of soldiers who lost their lives in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
