Six Indian troopers from the French Foreign Legion, an elite cadre consisting of international volunteers within the pay of France, will probably be part of the 95-member French navy contingent collaborating within the seventy fifth Republic Day parade, which can have French President Emmanuel Macron because the chief visitor, officers stated on Tuesday.

India’s largest ceremonial parade, which will probably be headlined by ladies in several roles, will even characteristic two of the ten ladies military officers commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery for the primary time final 12 months, the officers stated.

Also learn: Interesting facts about the Republic Day parade you must know

The French Foreign Legion in an built-in combating pressure that accounts for 9,000 troopers from 140 nations, and 6 volunteers from India will participate within the parade on January 26, stated Captain Louis Noel, who will lead the French marching contingent. Two Rafale fighters and an Airbus A330 MRTT (multi-role tanker transport) of the French air pressure will even participate within the Republic Day fly previous.

“Our participation in the parade reflects the strong military partnership between India and France. It will enable us to further strengthen our military ties. The contingent, including six Indians and six Nepalis, is excited about the parade,” he stated. A 33-member band from France will even participate within the parade.

The Indians within the French marching squad are Sujan Pathak, Dipak Arya, Parbin Tandan, Gurvachan Singh, Aniket Ghartimagar and Vikas Djeassegar, the officers stated, searching for anonymity.

Foreign troopers took half within the parade for the primary time in 2016 when a French military contingent of 130 troopers marched down Rajpath (now Kartavya Path). Then French President Francois Hollande was chief visitor. This was adopted by a United Arab Emirates contingent in 2017, a Bangladesh military contingent in 2021 and an Egyptian marching squad in 2023.

This 12 months’s parade will probably be led by Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area, with Major General Sumit Mehta as his deputy.

Women will take centre stage on the parade this 12 months and 80% of all actions will contain them, Mehta stated at a media briefing. For the primary time, as an alternative of the normal navy bands, the parade will probably be heralded by 100 ladies artistes taking part in Indian musical devices, he stated.

Women will probably be part of the fly previous, marching contingents and the cultural present, reflecting the federal government’s give attention to furthering ladies’s empowerment. The commander of the French contingent can be a girl officer, Colonel Anne-Laure Michel, a fighter pilot, although she gained’t be marching down Kartavya Path, stated French air pressure press officer Lieutenant Romain Bresson.

Barely 5 months in service, Lieutenants Deepti Rana and Priyanka Sevda will lead the Swathi weapon finding radar and Pinaka rocket system show on the parade. They are among the many 10 ladies officers commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery for the primary time. “I am truly grateful to the army for giving me this opportunity. It fills me with ineffable joy and pride,” stated Sevda, whose father and grandfather had been in Rajasthan police.

An all-women officer contingent from the Armed Forces Medical Services will participate within the parade for the primary time. “From holding the surgical knife to carrying a sword at the parade, the new role is quite challenging and rewarding,” stated paratrooper and eye surgeon Major Srishti Khullar, who will lead the marching contingent.

Captain Sandhya Mahla from the Corps of Military Police will lead the all-women tri-service contingent on the parade together with Sub Lieutenant Aashu Yadav, Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Verma and Captain Sharanya Rao. The contingent will consist of girls Agniveers from the three providers. “Some of the women Agniveers are fresh out of training. They are fit, motivated and putting up a good show,” stated Mahla.

The medium-range floor to air missile (MRSAM) system and drone jammers determine within the gear that be showcased on the 100-minute parade for the primary time alongside the staple providing of T-90 tanks, BMP-2 infantry fight automobiles, rocket techniques, assault bridging techniques and a wide range of combating automobiles, the officers stated.

“The MRSAM system is making its debut at the parade and leading that display is a big honour for me,” stated Lieutenant Sumedha Tiwari.

Lieutenant CH Enoni, a girl officer from Manipur, is without doubt one of the reserve officers for the parade. She is without doubt one of the first 10 ladies officers commissioned into artillery final 12 months. Concerned in regards to the ethnic violence in her state, she believes there’s hope for peace.

The Indian Air Force’s 144-member marching contingent will probably be led by a girl officer, Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur. Squadron Leader Sumita Yadav, Squadron Leader Pratiti Ahluwalia and Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil will probably be part of the marching squad that may embrace 144 males.

The fly previous will contain 56 navy plane, together with 29 fighter jets, a few of which will probably be flown by ladies pilots. Fifteen ladies pilots, together with six fighter pilots, will participate within the fly previous. They will probably be flying Rafales, Sukhoi-30s and MiG-29s.

Around 77,000 spectators will witness the parade at Kartavya Path, together with 13,000 particular visitors. These visitors will embrace patent holders, these representing profitable start-ups, greatest performers in numerous fields and people who made greatest use of round 30 authorities schemes together with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Ujjwala Yojana, PM Street Vendor’s Aatmanirbhar Nidhi and PM Fasal Bima Yojana.