A shorter Republic Day parade this year

India’s Republic Day parade is a show of the country’s achievements, its pride and joy and a proud day for the people of the Republic. This year there will be certain changes, necessitated due to Covid restrictions still in place in the National Capital.

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India’s Republic Day parade is a show of the country’s achievements, its pride and joy and a proud day for the people of the Republic. This year there will be certain changes, necessitated due to Covid restrictions still in place in the National Capital. The pomp and grandeur will not be missed, though, and with the winter chill around, there will be enough opportunity to relax at home and enjoy the spectacle.

On show will be the old and the new era of the Indian Army in uniforms and weapons used. The Beating Retreat ceremony will see the inclusion of a laser mapping and drone show.

Details have been revealed to the media by Major General Alok Kakkar. He is the Chief of Staff of Delhi Area, and will be the second-in-command of the parade.

The following are the details of this year’s in the 73rd year of Independence Republic Day parade, with a lot of changes.

Delay: This year, the Republic Day parade will not start at the scheduled time of 10 am but with a 30-minute delay. The parade will commence at 10.30 am instead. The parade ends at 12 noon.

Contingents: COVID-19 restrictions have forced the reduction of the number of troops in marching contingents from 144 to 96. Also, following COVID norms, the troops will be seen marching in 12 rows and eight columns.

There will be 8 contingents of the Indian Armed Forces in the Republic Day Parade, which will include 6 contingents of Army, one each from Air Force and the Navy. The Parachute regiment contingent will wear the new combat uniform with the latest Tavor rifles.

Total 16 marching contingents would be there. Of these, eight will be of Indian Armed Forces, four of central Armed Police Force, two of NCC and one each of Delhi Police and NSS. A total of 21 tableaus will be shown in the parade.

There will be two motor-cycle formations. The women’s team will be of BSF and the men’s team will be of ITBP.

Shorter: This year, the parade has been shortened for the marching contingents to National Stadium which earlier used to conclude at Red Fort. The parade used to start from Raisina Hills and goes through Rajpath, India Gate till Red Fort. This year it will only be up to the National Stadium. Only the tableaux will go till Red Fort.

Mix of equipment: A “unique” mix of vintage and new equipment will be seen in the mechanised column. In the front, in the armoured column, a PT-76 and Centurion tanks will be shown which took part in 1965 and 1971 wars. This will be followed by main battle tank Arjun.

Aircraft: A total of 75 aircraft of the Indian Air Force in 15 formations will do a flypast.

Beating Retreat: Two new things will be seen in the Beating Retreat ceremony that is held at Vijay Chowk, Delhi. After the ceremony concludes, a projection mapping with laser would be done on the wall of the North and South block. It will be followed by a drone show in which 1,000 drones will take part.

Security: Following intelligence inputs, Delhi Police has intensified anti-terror measures under 26 parameters since last November for the preparation of Republic Day. This information has been provided by Rakesh Asthana, Delhi Police Commissioner. He told the media: “Arrangements for Republic Day began last year soon after the Independence Day celebration. Delhi is usually always under terror threat, so we have to take extra caution.

This year as well we are on full alert. Security agencies are coordinating with Delhi Police to keep a check on all anti-terror measures.”

Delhi Police has currently deployed more than 20,000 personnel, including Deputy Commissioners’ of Police, Assistant Commissioners’ of Police, Inspectors and Commanders for the Republic Day arrangement.

A total of 65 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) will also coordinate with these forces.

Vehicle checking, checking of lodges, tenant, servant and labourer verification have also been increased.

Counter rogue drone technology is being used to secure air space.

Apart from Delhi Police other agencies also coordinating in securing the airspace. All agencies are working in and around Central Vista in tandem with Delhi Police.

Apart from Delhi Police’s internal meetings, inter-state meetings with anti-terrorism squad chiefs, and Crime Investigation Departments’ heads have also been conducted.

For anti-sabotage checks, a total of 200 teams are working. Additionally, the Social media monitoring cell is working proactively in spreading awareness.

LIST OF REPUBLIC DAY TABLEAUX

  •      17 military bands, 16 marching contingents, and 25 tableaux of various states, departments, and the armed forces.
  •       Uttar Pradesh: Tableaux to highlight the Kashi Vishwanath Dham temple as well as the State Government’s One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.
  •       Uttarakhand: Tableaux to focus on the development schemes
  •       Goa: To highlight the symbols of Goan heritage.
  •       Indian Army: to be represented by a mounted column of cavalry, 14 mechanised columns, six marching contingents as well as a flypast by advanced light helicopters of its aviation wings. Also, the mechanised columns of the Indian Army will show one PT-76 tank, two MBT Arjun MK-I tanks, one Centurion tank, one BMP-I infantry fighting, one APS TOPAS armoured personnel carriers, and two BMP-II infantry fighting vehicles.
  • Two Dhanush howitzers, one 75/24 Pack howitzer, two-Sarvatra bridge-laying systems, two Taran Shakti electronic warfare systems, one HT-16 electronic warfare, two Akash missile systems, one Tiger Cat missile system, will also be part of the mechanised columns.
  •     Marching contingents: The six marching contingents of the Indian Army will be of Assam regiment, Rajput regiment, Sikh light infantry, Jammu and Kashmir Light infantry, Army Ordnance Corps Regiment, and the Parachute Regiment. One Marching contingent each of the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force will also participate. There will be a total of 16 marching contingents from the Central Paramilitary forces, armed forces, National Cadet Corps, Delhi Police, National Service Scheme along with 17 military drum bands, pipes, bands.

TABLEAUX
One Ashok Chakra awardee and two Param Vir Chakra awardees will also participate. 25 tableaux of the various Indian States, departments, and the armed forces.

Two teams- one female team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and one male team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)- will do the motorcycle display.

Homage: Before the commencement of the Republic Day Parade 2022, Prime Minister Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the soldiers who had made the sacrifice by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial.