India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on Monday, marking the adoption of the Constitution, with President Droupadi Murmu all set to preside over the grand ceremony at Kartavya Path in New Delhi.
The celebrations along the historic stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the National War Memorial will showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage and formidable military strength. This year’s event will also present an extraordinary blend highlighting the 150-year legacy of the national song Vande Mataram.
According to a statement from the Defence Ministry, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the celebrations as chief guests.
The cultural and military parade will commence at 10.30 am and last approximately 90 minutes. The ceremony will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the National War Memorial, where he will pay tribute to the fallen heroes. The prime minister, along with other dignitaries, will then proceed to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to witness the parade.
Doordarshan will livestream the celebrations from 9 am onwards.
Following the President’s arrival, the national flag will be unfurled and the national anthem will be played, accompanied by a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105 mm Light Field Guns—an indigenously developed artillery system.
The cultural segment will feature 100 artists performing on the theme “Vividata Mein Ekta – Unity in Diversity”, reflecting India’s unity and cultural richness. The military parade will be commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area.
Delhi under tight security
Security has been heightened across the national capital, with over 30,000 personnel deployed citywide as part of a multi-layered security arrangement for Republic Day. Around 10,000 police personnel have been stationed in the New Delhi district alone, which includes the ceremonial parade route and other high-security zones.
Additionally, more than 3,000 CCTV cameras equipped with advanced video analytics and Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) have been installed across the New Delhi area, including along the parade route and surrounding locations.