The Army will field 16 marching contingents while 17 military bands comprising the three Services will enthrall the audience at this year’s Republic Day parade. The annual event will also see 25 tableaux of various States, departments and armed forces.
The Army will be represented by a mounted column of cavalry, 14 mechanised columns, six marching contingents and a fly past by advanced light helicopters of its aviation wing.The mechanised columns of the Army will show one PT-76 tank, one
Centurion tank, two MBT Arjun MK-I tanks, one APC TOPAS armoured personnel carriers, one BMP-I infantry fighting vehicle and two BMP-II infantry fighting vehicles, officials said here on Saturday.
One 75/24 Pack howitzer, two Dhanush howitzers, one PMS bridge-laying system, two Sarvatra bridge-laying systems, one HT-16 electronic warfare system, two Taran Shakti electronic warfare systems, one Tiger Cat missile system and two Akash missile systems will also be part of the mechanised columns. The six marching contingents include Rajput Regiment, Assam Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, Sikh Light Infantry, Army Ordnance Corps Regiment and Parachute Regiment. One marching contingent each of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy will also participate in the parade.
Five marching contingents of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Police Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indian Coast Guard (ICG)and Border Security Force (BSF) will also participate.
Overall, there will be 16 marching contingents from the armed forces, central paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) along with 17 military bands, pipes and drum bands at the parade. Two Param Vir Chakra and one Ashok Chakra awardees will also participate in this year's parade.
Before the commencement of the parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial, the official statement by the army said. The parade will begin at 10.30 am and end at 12 noon, it said.Two teams -- one male team of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and one female team of Border Security Officer (BSF) -- will perform daring motorcycle display.
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, General Officer Commanding Delhi Area, will be the parade commander and Major General Alok Kacker, Chief of Staff Delhi Area, will be the second-in-command of the parade. The parade will start from Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium through the traditional route of Rajpath, it said.
The Indian Navy's tableau will depict the 1946 naval uprising, which contributed in the country's independence movement, and its marching contingent will be led by a woman officer Lt Commander Aanchal Sharma. The tableau will also show the navy's theme of 'Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive'.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation tableau is showcasing its “Udan” scheme (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) this year. In the aircraft shaped tableau, the front part showcases women pilots depicting women power in India’s aviation, as India tops in women commercial pilots, globally.
The rear portion of the tableau shows symbol of Buddhism and motto of UDAN- Sab Uden, Sab Juden.
The middle portion showcases Buddha circuit, featuring, Buddha Statue at Gaya where He attained enlightenment, Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath where He delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Parivartan) and the Mahaparinirvana Stupa, Kushinagar where He attained Mahaparinirvana.
Both sides of the middle portion of the tableau depict heritage sites- Humayun tomb from North, Konark sun temple in East, Hampi temple chariot in South and Ajanta caves in West, connected with air services.