India marked its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday by unfurling the tricolour at Delhi’s Rajpath with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries in attendance.
India’s military prowess is on display at the parade as the nation proudly showcased its T-90 tanks, the Samvijay electronic warfare system, Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets and the newly-acquired Rafale fighter planes.
The Indian Air Force showcased models of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and indigenously-developed anti-tank guided missile Dhruvastra on its tableau during the parade.
The Indian Navy, meanwhile, displayed the models of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant and naval operations that were conducted during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
PM Modi marked the beginning of the Republic Day celebrations by paying tribute to fallen soldiers at the National War Memorial in the national capital.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, Indian Army chief Gen M.M. Naravane, Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and Indian Air Force chief (IAF) Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria were also in attendance.
A total of 32 tableaux—17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from the defence—have been displayed at Rajpath. Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019 after the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir, will showcase its tableau for the first time.
The year’s Republic Day celebrations are a scaled-down affair due to the coronavirus pandemic. The parade route has been shortened adhering to the necessary COVID-19 protocols in place, and fewer spectators and participants are present. The number of spectators has been reduced from 1.25 lakh to 25,000 this year.
The parade which usually end at the Red Fort every year, will cease at the National Stadium this time.
