Overview
- European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are confirmed as chief guests, with a European Union naval contingent joining the parade for the first time.
- The parade adopts a phased battle array with live commentary, sequencing reconnaissance, logistics, strikes and support, and featuring indigenous platforms including BrahMos, Akash, MRSAM, ATAGS, Dhanush, T-90 and Arjun, plus drone displays.
- A large flypast will field Rafale, Su-30 and MiG-29 fighters, Apache, LCH and ALH helicopters, P-8I, C-130 and C-295 aircraft, aligning air elements to the operational storyline.
- Eighteen marching contingents, 13 bands and 30 tableaux are slated, with first-time entries such as the Bhairav Battalion, Shaktibaan artillery elements, Drone Shakti and an Army animal contingent; around 2,500 artists will perform under the Vande Mataram theme.
- Rehearsals on Kartavya Path run January 17, 19–21 with 10:15 am–12:30 pm traffic curbs, airport airspace restrictions take effect January 26 and 29, Rashtrapati Bhavan Circuit 1 is closed January 21–29, and Delhi Police have deployed a multi-layer security plan with river-named enclosures to aid visitor flow.