India is set to showcase its military prowess and rich cultural heritage and display a symbolic confluence of ‘virasat’ and ‘vikas’ on Kartavya Path in New Delhi to mark the 76th Republic Day on January 26 when the nation will also commemorate the platinum jubilee of the enactment of the Constitution.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest on the occasion and the ceremonial parade will also see participation of a marching contingent and a band contingent from Indonesia.

School teachers and students celebrate Republic Day, in Jammu, on January 25, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
He will be the fourth Indonesian President to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations. Mr. Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia, was the chief guest at India’s first Republic Day celebrations in 1950.
75 years of Constitution is the focus
While 75 years of the Constitution is the focus of celebrations this year, the theme for the tableaux is ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’.
Republic Day Parade: Chief guests India hosted
The then Indonesian President Sukarno was the first chief guest to grace Republic Day in 1950.

First Republic Day Parade held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium (then Irwin Amphitheater).
Malik Ghulam Muhammad, the then Governor-General of Pakistan, was the first chief guest to attend the Republic Day parade at Rajpath. Now renamed as Kartavya Path, this became the venue for R-Day parade from 1955.
Queen Elizabeth with the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad going in a coach to witness Republic Day parade at Rajpath, in New Delhi on January 26, 1961.

Kliment Voroshilov, Chairman of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet was the chief guest in Republic Day Parade in 1960
Tribal leaders from North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) who have come to Delhi for the Republic Day called on President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in 1966. In 1966 when no Chief Guest was present at the event which was held days after the demise of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent and the death of nuclear scientist Homi Bhabha in an air crash.
In 2018, the entire Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leadership comprising 10 heads of states were present at the Republic Day parade.
Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuck holds the distinction of being the chief guest twice – 1984 and 2005.
In 2020, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest.
President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam along with Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh during reception hosted on the occassion of 58th Republic Day celebrations in 2007

French President Emmanuel Macron was the chief guest on Republic Day on 2024. India hosted French Head of the State for a record six times, followed by UK (5) and Russia, Bhutan & Indonesia
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Sixteen tableaux from across states and Union Territories and 15 from central ministries, departments and organisations will roll down the ceremonial boulevard on Sunday.

The country will display its military prowess by showcasing some of the cutting-edge defence platforms including BrahMos, Pinaka and Akash, with the Army’s Battle Surveillance System ‘Sanjay’ and DRDO’s surface-to-surface tactical missile ‘Pralay’ set to register their presence in the ceremonial parade for the first time.

Tableau of Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on display during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade 2025 at the Kartavya Path, in New Delhi.
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PTI
T-90 ‘Bhishma’ tanks Sarath (infantry carrying vehicle BMP-II), Short Span Bridging System 10m, Nag Missile System, multi-barrel rocket launcher system ‘Agnibaan’ and ‘Bajrang’ (light specialist vehicle) will also be part of the parade, officials said on Thursday.
Parade will see many firsts
The parade will see many other firsts as well, such as the tri-services tableau that will depict the spirit of “jointness” among the armed forces.
The tableau would display a battlefield scenario demonstrating a synchronised operation in land, water and air with the indigenous Arjun battle tank, Tejas fighter aircraft and advanced light helicopter, according to the Defence Ministry.
The theme of the tri-services tableau will be ‘Shashakt aur Surakshit Bharat’ (Strong and Secure India).
Besides, the DRDO will present a tableau with the theme ‘Raksha Kavach — multi-layer protection against multi-domain threats’, officials said.
President Droupadi Murmu will deliver an address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.
This January 26 will carry extra significance as India’s Constitution, which came into effect on this historic day in 1950, completes 75 years.

Indian Air Force’s Su-30s aircrafts fly with an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft in Netra formation during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade 2025, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949.
Modi to lead nation in paying tribute to martyrs
Before the parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying tribute to the country’s martyrs by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.
The parade will begin in the morning with the National Salute and will continue for 90 minutes, reflecting the journey of India’s heritage and growth.
C-130J Super Hercules, C-295, C-17 Globemaster, P-8I, MiG-29 and Su-30, among other aircraft, will also take part in the celebrations.

Tableau of Animal Husbandry and Dairy on display during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade 2025 at the Kartavya Path, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
The ceremonial parade will be heralded by 300 cultural artistes playing ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’ on musical instruments representing different parts of the country, according to the Defence Ministry.
Lt Gen Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area will be the Parade Commander, while Parade Second-in-Command will be Chief of Staff (COS), Delhi Area, Maj Gen Sumit Mehta.
India’s military prowess
Maj Gen Mehta said the event will showcase India’s military prowess with a number of cutting-edge platforms and a range of vibrant tableaux depicting the country’s heritage.
Two Param Vir Chakra awardees — both Kargil war heroes — and one Ashok Chakra awardee will be part of the parade, he said.
The flypast will feature 40 Indian Air Force aircraft and three Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard.
The Indian Army will be represented by a mounted column, eight mechanised columns, and six marching contingents, officials said. The column will be represented by the 61 Cavalry.

A tableau of the central government’s Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is seen during a press preview of tableaux participating in the upcoming ‘Republic Day Parade 2025’, at Rashtriya Rangshala Camp, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
The marching columns will consist of contingents from the Brigade of the Guards contingent, Jat Regiment, Garhwal Rifles Regiment, J&K Light Infantry (JAKLI) regiment and a contingent of the Corps of Engineers.
Capt Ritika Khareta will be the contingent commander of a marching contingent of the Army’s Corps of Signals. The officer is the only woman member of her contingent and the rest are men.
There will also be a motorcycle display by daredevils of the Corps of Signals. Capt Ashish Rana will be its leader and Capt Dimple Singh Bhati, the second in line.
“I will be riding a ladder on a motorcycle and give a salute to the president during the parade,” Bhati said soon after the full dress rehearsal on January 23.
Capt Rana said Capt Bhati would become the “first woman officer” from the Army to give the ladder-born salute to the president in the history of Republic Day celebrations.
States that will display their tableaux during the 76th Republic Day Parade include Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Delhi and Chandigarh will showcase them among the Union Territories.
Published – January 25, 2025 03:36 pm IST