Republic Day 2024 LIVE: Flowers will be showered on the audience
After hoisting the national flag, along with the national anthem, a 21-gun salute will be given from the indigenous gun system ‘105-mm Indian Field Gun’. According to the Defense Ministry, four Mi-17 helicopters of ‘105 Helicopter Unit’ will shower flowers on the spectators present on the duty path. After this the parade will start with President Murmu taking the salute. The parade will be commanded by Lieutenant General Bhavneesh Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. The duty path will witness the march past of the combined band and marching squad of the French Armed Forces.
Republic Day 2024 LIVE: French President Emmanuel Macron chief guest
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend this grand ceremony focusing on the country’s women power and democratic values as the chief guest. Domestic weapons and military equipment like missiles, drone jammers, surveillance systems, vehicle mounted mortars and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles will be displayed on the duty path in the armed forces parade.
Republic Day 2024 LIVE: This will happen for the first time
For the first time, women contingents from all three services will participate in this biggest event of the country. In another historic first, Lieutenants Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda will lead the weapon detection ‘Swati’ radar and Pinaka rocket system in the parade. Lieutenants Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda are among the 10 women officers appointed to the Artillery Regiment last year. The parade will begin for the first time with more than 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments like Shankha, Nadaswaram, Nagada, instead of the traditional military band.
Republic Day 2024 LIVE: Republic Day parade will start at 10.30 am
Around 15 women pilots will also represent ‘Nari Shakti’ during the ‘fly-past’ of the Indian Air Force. Only women personnel will also be included in the contingents of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). The Republic Day parade will start at 10.30 am and will last for about 90 minutes. The celebrations will begin with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the ‘National War Memorial’, where he will pay floral tributes to the martyred heroes.