From Army dogs to French soldiers a lot will be different this year.
On this Republic Day, India will see a lot of changes in the parade with several new elements added to the programme. This day which marks the sovereignty of the country is the day when the Constitution of India was adopted in 1950. Every year, the Republic Day Parade which is the signature celebration of the event is held in New Delhi.
From comeback of army dogs to the chief guest at the event, here's what you can expect at the 67th Republic Day Parade this year:
1. Army Dogs: Indian Army dogs are set to march on the Republic Day Parade this year after 26 years. According to media reports, a bunch of Labradors and German shepherds will be seen marching with their handlers on 26th January 2016.
It was in 1990 that the army dog squad was last seen participating in Republic Day parade and before that it was in 1963.
As many as 36 dogs have been selected to run down the Rajpath on this January 26. These canine are undergoing training at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
2. French Soldiers: For the first time, soldiers from France will be participating in the 67th Republic Day parade in New Delhi this January 26th. Vikas Swarup, spokesperson, External Affairs Ministry said, "In a first-of-its-kind gesture, a French contingent will march along with Indian troops on January 26 on Rajpath."
3. 23 tableaux: A total of 23 tableaux would be on display at the ceremonial parade this year which will include a giant statue of Dr BR Ambdekar, rare natural abode of Asiatic lions in Gir and white tiger safari. The parade will also witness PM Narendra Modi's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat' and 'Digital India' as themes.
Out of 23, 17 tableaux will belong to various states and Union Territories. For the third consecutive year, there will be no tableau from Delhi.
Panchayati Raj and Election Commission will also find place along with six tableaux from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New and Renewable energy, Drinking water and Sanitation, Communication IT at the 67th Republic Day parade on the Rajpath.
The parade will also showcase a postal stamp and two commemorative coins of Rs 125 and Rs 10 denominations which was released by PM Modi on December 2015 in the memory of Ambedkar.
4. Shorter Parade time: According to mapsofindia, the Republic Day parade will be shorter by at least 15 minutes. This year, the plan is to hold a 90-minute parade instead of the 2-hour one.
5. Chief Guest- French President: French President Francois Hollande will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade this year. "We are confident that this visit will further strengthen the robust strategic partnership between India and France and the special ties shared by the two countries", said Vikas Swarup to the Economic Times. This will be the fifth time that a French President will honour the event by becoming the chief guest.
6. Glass Roof: Unlike last year's much embarrassment when US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle had to use an umbrella to shield themselves from the drizzle that lasted through the first half of the parade, this year the government has decided to set up a motorised glass roof at the VVIP enclosure where the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Guest will be seated with other dignitaries. "The motorised roof can be rolled off when the air flypast takes place, so that dignitaries have a clear view", according to an official.
7. Doordarshan's meticulous plans for live telecast: Doordarshan has planned to give people a visual treat this Republic Day. They are going to have 27 high-definition state-of-the-art cameras, two giant hydraulic cranes and a team of over one hundred personnel to ensure that its live telecast of the Republic Day celebrations is a visual treat.
Last year there were only 24 such cameras used for the live telecast. Exclusive dynamic microphones will also be deployed on the parade ground to pick up foot moments, command of officers and atmospheric sounds.
8. More visitors: You may witness more number of visitors at the Republic Day parade this year. According to awesomeindia.in over 25,000 will invite them over.
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