New Delhi: More than 6,000 military personnel will participate in this year’s Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, with the Bhairav Battalion and Shaktibaan regiment set to take part in the ceremonial march for the first time.
Major General Navraj Dhillon, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, said Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area, will lead the parade for the fourth consecutive time. He added that along with the Bhairav Battalion and Shaktibaan regiment, the Ladakh Scouts will also be part of the parade, marking a significant first-time inclusion.
For the first time, the Republic Day celebrations will also feature kites, Zanskar ponies, and the Bactrian camel, adding a distinctive cultural and regional dimension to the event.
A full-dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade was held at Kartavya Path on Friday, during which several roads in Central Delhi were temporarily closed to facilitate the practice run.
A total of 30 tableaux will roll down Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Day Parade on January 26. These include 17 tableaux from States and Union Territories and 13 from various Ministries, Departments, and Services.
According to the Ministry of Defence, this year’s celebrations will revolve around the themes ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The tableaux will present a blend of the 150-year legacy of the national song Vande Mataram and India’s progress driven by self-reliance across sectors, while highlighting the country’s rich cultural diversity.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase its key innovations for national security during the parade and at Bharat Parv 2026. Among the highlights will be the display of the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) and a DRDO tableau titled ‘Naval Technologies for Combat Submarines’.
This year, the Indian Air Force is the lead service responsible for conducting all ceremonial events associated with the Republic Day celebrations.
