Unlike before the pandemic, only 24,000 people will be allowed to attend the Republic Day parade this year because of the COVID-19 situation in the national capital, sources in the defence establishment informed on Friday. In 2020, before the pandemic, the parade was attended by around 1.25 lakh people.
Last year, the parade was attended by 25,000 people amidst the second wave of the Covid pandemic. This year, similar to the last, the parade may not have any foreign dignitary as the chief guest. India was planning to invite the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, sources said.
Of the 24,000 to attend, 19,000 would be invited, and the remaining would be the general public. Those who want to attend can purchase tickets, sources said.
The parade would be conducted following COVID-19 protocols. Seating arrangements would be made following social distancing norms, and sanitiser dispensers would be available everywhere. Wearing masks would be compulsory.