India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday across the country, albeit in a muted manner due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, farmers protesting the newly-passed agricultural laws have gathered in Delhi to participate in the tractor rally.

Delhi Police has advised people to watch the live telecast of Republic Day parade at home due to COVID-19 protocols. Invitees attending parade at Rajpath have to comply with the COVID-19 advisory that includes temperature check, use of sanitiser, mask and social distancing.

This time, there would not be a chief guest at the Republic Day parade. Additionally, the route of the marching contingent will end at the India Gate C-Hexagon instead of Red Fort.

Here are the updates:

10.55 am

The Indian Navy’s tableau showcases the 1971 war, INS Vikrant conducting flying operations with Sea Hawk and Alize aircrafts.

It is followed by the Camel contingent of the Border Security Force. Deputy Commandant Ghanshyam Singh is leading the contingent.

10.50 am

Tableaus, the highlight of Republic Day parade, now marches towards the saluting dias.

The Air Force tableau is the first one to come. Flight Lieutenant Bhawna Kanth, one of the first three female fighter pilots of the country, is part of the Indian Air Force tableau at the Republic Day parade.

The Air Force tableau is based on the theme Touch the sky with glory.

10.45 am

Parallel parade

As the parade marches down Rajpath, a parallel parade is being taken out by farmers protesting against the new farm laws.

The hundreds of farmers on tractors who have removed the barriers at Singhu border and are currently on the road towards Delhi.

10.40 am

Captain Preeti Choudhary of 140 Air Defence Regiment (Self Propelled) leads upgraded Schilka Weapon system. She is the only woman contingent commander from Army at the parade.

Schilka is a self-propelled Soviet-origin system dating back to the 1970s. The upgraded version is refurbished by Bharat Electronics Ltd.

The Schilka Upgrade, according to BEL, is an all-weather, day/night, tracked system. Its four automatic 23mm-calibre guns provide low-level air defence.

10.30 am

Marching contingents now march past the saluting base.

Garhwal Rifles is the first one to march. It is being led by Captain Rajpoot Saurabh Singh of 17th Battalion.

It is followed by Indian Navy’s Naval Brass Band. Led by Sumesh Rajan, Master Chief Petty Officer (Musician), the band is playing ‘Jai Bharti’.

10.25 am

Indian Army’s arms and ammunition are on display.

Captain Karanveer Singh Bhangu leads the 54 Armoured Regiment atop T- 90 Bhishma. The made in India tank is produced at Engine Factory Avadi.

Captain Quamrul Zaman is leading the Brahmos Missile and its Mobile Autonomous Launcher. The surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos is developed as part of India-Russia joint venture. The Brahmos are deployed along the Line of Actual Control in strategic locations such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Capt Vibhor Gulati leads 841 Rocket Regiment’s Pinaka Multi Launcher Rocket System. 214 mm Pinaka MBRL is one of the most advanced rocket systems in world. A fully automated system, it can deliver firepower within a short span of time over large area, according to ANI.

10.20 am

Bangladesh contingent takes part in R-Day parade

This year, a 122-member marching contingent and band of Bangladesh Army is participating in India’s Republic Day parade. It is being led by  Lt Col Abu Mohammed Shahnoor Shawan.

This coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh.

The only other time a foreign contingent took part in India’s Republic Day parade was in 2018, when the  French Army marched at the Rajpath.

10.15 am

President Ram Nath Kovind hoists the national flag as the national anthem is being played.

The Ceremonial Battery of 223 Field Regiment presents 21 Gun Salute.

Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Mishra, leads this year’s parade, as the Parade Commander.

The first contingent to march will be the winners of Param Vir Chakra and the Ashok Chakra.  These are millitary awards awarded for valour during war and peacetime respectively.

10.10 am

Changes in R-Day parade due to the pandemic  

• All participants and performers will wear masks during parade 
• Only 25,000 spectators are allowed, including 4,000 general public 
• No shoulder-to-shoulder march with a distance of 1.5m between two persons  
• The parade will only march 3.5 km, earlier the distance was 8.5 km 
• The number of tableaus has been increased to 32. But will not be placed at Red Fort for public display 
• The size of every contingent has been cut short to 96 members instead of 144 
• Mask, temperature check, sanitiser and medical teams at each enclosure  
• Children below 15 years and elderly with co-morbidities will not be allowed 
• The newly inducted Rafale fighter aircraft will feature 
• Week-long ‘Bharat Parv’ event will not be celebrated  
•  Only 4,000 seats for the Beating Retreat ceremony compared with 25,000 earlier 
• No standing spectators will be allowed  

Source: Delhi Police 

10. am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the Rajpath after paying tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti of India Gate.

This year, owing to the pandemic there will be no chief guest to view the parade.

Delhi

Kejriwal greets people

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal greeted people on the 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, saluting the “commitment and struggles of farmers, corona warriors and soldiers of the country”.

In a video message, Kejriwal said that glimpses of the great Republic of India and the strength of its unity was witnessed on various occasions in the last one year.

“We saw doctors and nurses serving people putting their own lives at risk, we saw sanitation workers maintaining cleanliness, brave soldiers safeguarding the country and we saw the commitment and struggle of our annadatas serving the people of this great Republic amid the biggest pandemic in the history of human race.” He said entire India salutes these “true servers” of the country, staying firm in the difficult times.

“With new hopes and aspirations, congratulations to you all on the 72nd anniversary of the largest Republic of the world,” said the chief minister.

Tamil Nadu

TN Governor unfurls tricolour from Marina

The 72nd Republic Day was celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday with Governor Banwarilal Purohit unfurling the tricolour at the Marina here.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami gave away medals, including for gallantry and communal harmony to various recipients.

Colourful cultural programmes depicting India’s diversity were performed at the event while a few floats were also taken out to mark the day.

 

PM Modi greets nation on Republic Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on Tuesday on the occasion of Republic Day.  India is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day, the day its Constitution came into force in 1950.

“Wishing all the people of India a Happy Republic Day. Jai Hind!” Modi tweeted.

 

U.K. PM Boris Johnson greets India on R-Day, says working together to eliminate COVID

The U.K. and India are working side by side to free humanity from the coronavirus pandemic, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a special reference to the vaccine collaboration in his Republic Day message on Tuesday.

Mr. Johnson was due to be in New Delhi as the chief guest at the annual parade to mark the India’s Republic Day but had to call off the visit to focus on the domestic crisis unleashed by the emergence of a new, deadlier variant of coronavirus in the U.K. at the end of last year.

In his video message to celebrate the birth of an “extraordinary Constitution” that established India “as the biggest sovereign democracy in the world”, the U.K. PM reiterated his plan to visit India in the coming months.

 

India’s colourful heritage comes alive in Republic day Google doodle

Vibrant colours, art, and architectural, cultural and sartorial heritage of India has been captured in a fascinating doodle by internet search giant Google to mark the 72nd anniversary of the the country’s Republic Day.

 

The artwork showcases beautiful old buildings in the backdrop in light saffron hue along with people in the front in green shade, with the letters of the company’s name in blue emblazoned in the middle, in a nod to the tricolour.

While letters ‘G’ and ‘O’ stand towards the left of a caparisoned elephant with a mahout, last three letters of ‘Google’, are positioned to its right. The majestic pachyderm itself represents the second ‘O’ in the technology bellwether’s name.