India will celebrate its 72nd Republic Day today with a shortened programme at Rajpath in Delhi amid the coronavirus pandemic. The programme will begin at 9 am and conclude after the traditional flypast 11:25 am from the usual starting point at Vijay Chowk and culminate at the National Stadium instead of the Red Fort.
The parade will be held while following all necessary COVID-19 preventive protocols. Apart from a reduced list of events, the parade will also have a shorter route, no chief guest, fewer spectators, no children under 15 in the annual parade, and fewer soldiers in the Army and Navy contingents.
On the occasion, Colonel Santosh Babu, the Commanding Officer of 16 Bihar, who martyred during action at Galwan valley clash along with 19 others, will be decorated with a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra.
DRDO has brought two important tableaux to Republic Day parade 2021. Showcasing major achievements of the year are LCA Tejas Navy take-off & landing onboard the aircraft carrier & the complete family of Anti Tank Guided Missiles, ANI reports.