Nation celebrates Republic Day: India flaunts Military might on display

The Nation is celebrating 73rd Republic Day on Wednesday. The main function was held at Rajpath in New Delhi where President Ram Nath Kovind took the salute of the parade presented by Ceremonial Battery of 871 Field Regiment. On the occasion, Jammu and Kashmir Police ASI Babu Ram were conferred with Ashok Chakra posthumously for displaying valour and courage during an anti-terror operation in 2020 in Srinagar in which he killed three terrorists. His wife and son received the award from President Kovind.

The Republic Day Parade ceremony started with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial where he led the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

The Republic Day parade at the Rajpath this year saw the "grandest and largest" flypast ever with the participation of 75 aircraft to mark the 'Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav' celebrations. The flypast concluded with 17 Jaguar fighter aircraft flypast in the 'Amrit' formation. The flypast included Tangail formation which saw one Dakota and two Dornier flying in Vic formation. This was a tribute to the Tangail airdrop operations of the 1971 War. There was also a Meghna formation of 1 Chinook and four Mi-17s. The flypast began with the 'Dhwaj' formation with four Mi-17 aircraft, followed by 'Rudra' and 'Rahat' formations with four and five Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), respectively.

LIVE: Republic Day Parade - 2022 https://t.co/0HCKnNKnFr

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How Indian Army uniforms and rifles have evolved over the decades since the Indian independence was on display at this year's Republic Day parade.There were a total of six marching contingents of the Army at the parade this year. Each marching contingent this year comprised 96 soldiers instead of the usual 144 so that proper attention can be given to COVID-19 protocol. ITBP jawans unfurled the flag at a hight of 15,000 ft in Ladakg amid severe cold ans snow. 

The Ministry of Defence has conceptualized a series of new events for the main parade on Rajpath. Special arrangements have been made to give an opportunity to those segments of society which usually do not get to watch the parade. Some sections of auto-rickshaw drivers, construction workers, safai karamcharis, and frontline health workers have been invited to watch the Republic Day Parade.  

Overall, there were a total of 14 marching contingents -- six of Army, one of Navy, one of Air Force, four of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), two of National Cadet Corps (NCC), one of Delhi police and one of National Service Scheme (NSS)