Key Highlights of 2021 Republic Day Parade

Photo: Siddharth Singh

This year, the national festival of India, Republic Day will be celebrated amidst several restriction because of the ongoing Pandemic caused by COVID19. At the same time this Republic Day is going to be an unique day with several firsts, here are the key highlights of the 2021 Republic Day Parade, which is the only attraction of the 72nd Republic Day of India.

Woman fighter pilot, Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth will be a part of the Republic Day parade this year to become the first woman fighter pilot to take part in India’s biggest ceremonial event on January 26. She will be a part of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) tableau that will showcase mock-ups of the light combat aircraft, light combat helicopter and the Sukhoi-30 fighter plane.

Flypast by Rafale jets along with 42 other aircraft, newly-inducted Rafale jets will also participate in this year’s parade. These aircraft will be part of different formations during the flypast including 15 fighter jets, five transport aircraft, 21 helicopters and a vintage Dakota aircraft. A Rafale aircraft will fly with two Jaguars and two MiG-29 fighter jets in one of the formations at the flypast, which will wrap up with the Rafale carrying out another manoeuvre.

Soldiers in masks. Following the new norms of Covid-19, soldiers marching down the Rajpath will also be seen wearing masks along with spectators. The number of officials participating in the parade has also been reduced to 96. Earlier, there was a 12×12 contingent system which had 144 Soldiers 
CRPF tableau.

In another first, a tableau of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is also set to wow spectators during the Republic Day parade. “This year we will be having our own tableau and its theme will be combat skills of CRPF in conflict zones.

Schilika weapon system with woman commander. The upgraded Schilika weapon system will roll down in Rajpath for the first time this year in the Republic Day parade, led by the only woman contingent commander from the army.Ram Mandir tableauUttar Pradesh’s tableau will feature a replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which is currently under construction. It will also display the culture, tradition and art related to the temple town.Things that will be missing this year.

No chief guest. More than five decades, this year’s parade will be the first Republic Day parade to be organised without a chief guest. Before this, there were no chief guests during the Republic Day parade in 1952, 1953 and 1966. No motorcycle parade. No veteran parade