<p>The number of people that would be allowed to attend the Republic Day parade this year would be curtailed by 70-80 per cent to approximately 5,000-8,000 due to the ongoing wave of Covid-19, senior officials of the defence ministry said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Approximately 25,000 people were allowed to attend the last year's parade.</p>.<p>Moreover, the decision on whether chief guests will come or not for this year's parade is yet to be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, the officials mentioned.</p>.<p>There was no chief guest at the parade last year.</p>.<p>Officials said the aim is to keep the people away and maintain social distancing at all times so that the parade should not become a super spreader event.</p>.<p>Therefore, the numbers have been significantly curtailed, they added.</p>.<p>While the exact number is yet to be decided, it would be anywhere between 5,000-8,000 people this year, they mentioned.</p>.<p>People would be encouraged to watch the parade on TV and livestreaming, they stated.</p>.<p>The decision regarding chief guests is being handled by the Ministry of External Affairs and we will wait for their decision in this regard, the officials said. </p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH videos:</strong></p>
<p>The number of people that would be allowed to attend the Republic Day parade this year would be curtailed by 70-80 per cent to approximately 5,000-8,000 due to the ongoing wave of Covid-19, senior officials of the defence ministry said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Approximately 25,000 people were allowed to attend the last year's parade.</p>.<p>Moreover, the decision on whether chief guests will come or not for this year's parade is yet to be taken by the Ministry of External Affairs, the officials mentioned.</p>.<p>There was no chief guest at the parade last year.</p>.<p>Officials said the aim is to keep the people away and maintain social distancing at all times so that the parade should not become a super spreader event.</p>.<p>Therefore, the numbers have been significantly curtailed, they added.</p>.<p>While the exact number is yet to be decided, it would be anywhere between 5,000-8,000 people this year, they mentioned.</p>.<p>People would be encouraged to watch the parade on TV and livestreaming, they stated.</p>.<p>The decision regarding chief guests is being handled by the Ministry of External Affairs and we will wait for their decision in this regard, the officials said. </p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH videos:</strong></p>