Republic Day 2026: Grand Parade To Highlight India’s Defence Power And Rich Cultural Heritage

New Delhi: Today the 77th Republic Day will be celebrated in a grand manner on the duty path of Delhi. This national function will be presided over by President Draupadi Murmu. The program will start at 10:30 am and will last for about one and a half hours, in which a glimpse of India's military strength, cultural heritage and modern technology will be seen.

Who will be the chief guest this time and why is his presence important?

This year the ceremony will be attended by two senior leaders from the European Union – European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their presence reflects the strengthening relations and global partnership between India and Europe.

What does the theme of the parade tell about the country's story?

This year the main theme of the parade has been kept as ‘150 years of Vande Mataram’. Through this, India's spirit of independence, heritage of the Constitution, cultural diversity, participation of common people and the strength of the army will be presented together.

How will the ceremony begin?

Before the program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach the National War Memorial and pay tribute to the martyrs. After this, the president will ride in a traditional buggy to the salute stage, where she will be escorted by the president's bodyguard.

With the unfurling of the national flag, a 21-gun salute will be fired from 105 mm guns. After this, about 100 artists will give a cultural presentation on the theme of “Unity in Diversity”. Four Mi-17 helicopters will rain flowers from the sky.

What new strategic glimpse will the army show for the first time?

This time for the first time, the Indian Army will showcase its combat capability in “Phases Battle Array Formation”, which will include modern military elements related to both land and air. 61 Cavalry will be seen in its new battle gear. Along with this, High Mobility Reconnaissance Vehicle and indigenous Armored Light Specialist Vehicle will also be part of the parade.

What will air power and modern weapons look like?

In the helicopter show, Dhruv and Rudra will fly in “Prahar” formation, while Apache and Prachanda helicopters will showcase their battlefield prowess. State-of-the-art systems like T-90 Bhishma and Arjun tanks, BMP-II, Nag missile system, special forces vehicles, robotic dogs and unmanned ground vehicles will also be included in the parade.

Apart from this, indigenous weapons like Dhanush cannon, ATAGS, BrahMos missile, Suraksha rocket system, Akash and MRSAM will give a glimpse of self-reliant India.

How will Operation Sindoor be presented?

A special tableau based on Operation Sindoor which took place in May 2025 will also be shown. In this, the Integrated Operational Center built in a glass case and the joint functioning of the three armies will be shown, which will show how important coordination is in modern warfare.

Which forces and states will be part of the parade?

Cadets from Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, paramilitary forces along with NCC and NSS will also participate in the parade. There will be 30 tableaux from across the country, which will reflect 17 states and union territories and 13 ministries and departments.

The navy's tableau will feature icons like INS Vikrant, the Nilgiri-class warship and Kalvari class submarine. Whereas Rafale, MiG-29, Sukhoi-30 and Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Air Force will do the fly-past.

Overall, what message will this parade give?

This 77th Republic Day parade will not just be a military display but will also give a strong message of India's cultural roots, technological progress, self-reliance and global identity. With the spirit of 'Vande Mataram' the country will showcase its past, present and future on one platform.