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Republic Day 2026 Parade Adopts Battle Array Format Under ‘Vande Mataram’ Theme

India will pair a narrative-style operational showcase with EU outreach by hosting the European Council and Commission presidents as chief guests.

Overview

  • Officials confirmed a phased battle array with live commentary to demonstrate how operations progress from reconnaissance and logistics to long‑range fires and air integration.
  • European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend, and a small European Union naval contingent will join the parade for the first time.
  • The programme lists 18 marching contingents, 13 bands and 30 tableaux, with debuts by the Bhairav light commando battalions, Shaktibaan artillery elements focused on drone warfare and Drone Shakti.
  • The flypast will include Rafale, Su-30, MiG-29, Apache, P-8I, C-130, C-295, LCH, ALH and Mi-17 platforms, while BrahMos, Akash, MRSAM, ATAGS and Dhanush will feature in the ground display.
  • Enclosures have been renamed after Indian rivers and digital tools such as the Rashtraparv portal/app support wider public access, as the Vande Mataram sesquicentennial is highlighted with Tejendra Kumar Mitra’s artwork and nationwide band performances.