Republic Day parade: Focus on ‘Make in India’, ‘Nari Shakti’

India will witness several firsts at the 74th Republic Day parade on January 26 this year. This will be the first to be hosted at Delhi’s revamped Central Vista Avenue and after Rajpath was renamed Kartavya Path. The front row seats for watching the show have been reserved for special invitees, which include labourers who worked on the Central Vista project, rickshaw pullers, and vegetable sellers.The focus of the parade will be Nari Shakti and Make in India. For the first time, an Egyptian President will grace the occasion as chief guest, and a 120-member contingent from Egypt will also march in the parade.What’s new this time?The army will display only Made in India weapons and equipment. Even the vintage artillery with 25 pounder guns — that traditionally fires the 21-gun salute — will be replaced. Part of the 2281 field regiment, seven canons of the early 1940s era form part of the artillery that has been firing these ceremonials in the backdrop of the Republic Day celebration. Made in the United Kingdom, these 25-pounder guns had participated in World War II.Egyptian President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi has been invited as the chief guest. Military contingent from Egypt will also participate in the parade. Newly recruited Agniveers will also be part of the parade.How will Nari Shakti be displayed at the parade?The focus of the Narendra Modi government for the past two to three years has been on the display of Nari Shakti, or women power, during the Republic Day parade. Gradually, women’s participation has increased. This year, 29-year-old Navy woman officer Lieutenant Commander Disha Amrit, who is deployed at a strategic place, will lead the Naval contingent of 144 sailors. Lieutenant Commander Amrit is an engineering graduate in computer science from Karnataka. She was part of NCC's Republic Day team in 2008. Then she nurtured the dream of being part of the Republic Day marching contingent. Finally, her dream is coming true.For the first time, women soldiers guarding the desert border with Pakistan will be part of the BSF camel contingent.Lieutenant Dimple Singh Bhati will jointly lead the Corps of Signals Daredevil. She hails from Jodhpur and has been practicing for the last one year to show her acrobatics on a 50CC motorcycle as part of the Daredevil team.Havildar Modal will try to break his own world record by climbing an 18.8-foot ladder mounted on a motorcycle. Lieutenant Chetna Sharma from the Army Air Defence Corps is part of the Akash Missile defence system.Will the Navy aircraft fly for the last time during flypast?IL-38 is a maritime reconnaissance aircraft with the Indian Navy that has served the Navy for nearly 42 years. IL-38 will for the first and last time fly at this flypast. It will be among the 50 aircraft that will take part in the flypast. Nine Rafale aircraft, recently acquired from France, will also be part of the flypast.Will the parade route change this time?The marching contingent will start from Vijay Chowk at 10:30 am to the Red Fort. The route was earlier changed due to Covid restrictions.There will be 16 marching contingents from the Armed Forces, Central paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, NCC, NSS etc.What will be new during the Beating Retreat ceremony?The Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29 will witness the biggest drone show comprising 3,500 indigenous drones. These will light up the evening sky over the rising hill, weaving myriads forms of national figures and events through smooth synchronization.For the first time, the ceremony will have tunes based on Indian classical ragas in a bid to make the celebrations more desi. Audio Production: Anil Chauhan