Republic Day 2026 | Under Vande Mataram theme, parade to showcase how battle unfolds

New Delhi: With the military evolving into forces to fight the warfare of future, India will showcase new formations like Bhairav battalion and Shaktiban regiment in this year’s Republic Day parade that will have a central theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram, a top official said here on Friday.

Also for the first time, a phased battle array display will be presented on the Kartavya Path to give the viewers a broad sense of how a battle unfolds in real time beginning with recce and gradually escalating to the strike.

The weapons that will be on display include Brahmos cruise missile, medium range-surface to air missile, Aakash and Nag missile systems, Dhanush howitzers and a new universal rocket launcher.

Defence Secretary R K Singh said there would be 18 marching contingents from the forces including the Bhairav contingent in ‘Uncha kadam taal’ (high step marching) and Ladakh Scouts. The Shaktiban regiment, a new artillery unit focussing on future warfare, and Drone Shakti initiative that pushes for indigenous drone development will be a part of the parade.

“A phased battle array will make the parade interesting for viewers as it will integrate the manpower and weapons. The air display will also happen in a phased array format. But there would be no drone flying. The drones will be a part of the static display,” he said.

The flypast will comprise Rafale, Su-30 and MiG-29 combat jets; P8I surveillance aircraft, C-130J and C295 transport aircraft; and Apache, LCH (light combat helicopters), ALH (advanced lightweight helicopters) and Mi-17 helicopters.

The President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Republic Day celebrations as chief guests, highlighting India’s growing strategic engagement with the European Union. There will also be a small naval contingent from the EU.

Singh said 17 tableau from the states and 13 from union ministries and departments would roll on the central boulevard. Six of these tableaux will have Vande Mataram as a theme. Of the 77,000 seats, tickets are being sold for 32,000 seats. In addition, 10,000 special guests will be housed in the enclosures.

A series of paintings by artist Tejendra Kumar Mitra and published in 1923 will be displayed in the enclosures and printed on the card and tickets.

An unusual, silent marching contingent led by two Bactrian camels from Ladakh will also march on the Kartavya Path. The camels will be followed by four Zanskar ponies, four raptors, ten Indian breed army dogs and six conventional military dogs as the Remount and Veterinary Corps of the Indian Army will showcase the critical role played by animals in safeguarding the nation’s most challenging frontiers.