Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday paid tribute at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to soldiers who had laid down their lives in the defence of the country.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony and the three service chiefs were with him for the ceremony to mark India's 61st Republic Day.

After the prime minister laid a wreath at the memorial, the last post was sounded and two minutes' silence was observed. While the prime minister was dressed in a dark bandhgala, the defence minister was in his customary white sarong.