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Republic Day 2026 parade highlights: EU participation in celebrations a ‘milestone’, MEA says
Republic Day 2026 parade highlights: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on Monday, thanked President Droupadi Murmu for hosting her as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.
- 8:47 PM IST, Jan 26EU chief thanks President Murmu for hosting her at the celebrations
- 8:26 PM IST, Jan 26Rahul Gadhi at Rashtrapati Bhawan| Visuals
- 6:15 PM IST, Jan 26Congress MP says Rahul Gandi seating row ‘shows the mindset of the government’
- 4:01 PM IST, Jan 26EU chief's statement with Indian fashion, a Banarasi brocade bandhgala jacket
- 3:54 PM IST, Jan 26Sergio Gor's greeting for India
- 3:30 PM IST, Jan 26J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha asserts ‘new dawn’
- 3:22 PM IST, Jan 26What leaders of major UP political parties said on the occasion
- 3:07 PM IST, Jan 26J&K police band's musical performance| Watch
- 2:33 PM IST, Jan 26Kerala CM Vijayan targets Centre, calls for unity on R-Day
- 2:18 PM IST, Jan 26High Commission of India in Pakistan celebrates Republic Day
- 2:12 PM IST, Jan 26Sri Lanka PM Harini Amarasuriya extends greetings
- 1:59 PM IST, Jan 26Siddaramaiah flags 'conspiracy' to make Constitution irrelevant
- 1:46 PM IST, Jan 26Ex-VP Dhankhar, LoPs Kharge, Rahul Gandhi attend parade
- 1:29 PM IST, Jan 26IAF's Rafale, Sukhoi light up sky over Kartavya Path
- 1:16 PM IST, Jan 26Virat Kohli and Neeraj Chopra extend wishes
- 1:07 PM IST, Jan 26French President extends wishes on Republic Day
- 12:59 PM IST, Jan 26Simran Bala becomes first lady officer to lead all-male CRPF contingent
- 12:54 PM IST, Jan 26Top EU leaders witness India's grand parade
- 12:46 PM IST, Jan 26Operation Sindoor valour and cultural unity mark R-Day parade
- 12:39 PM IST, Jan 26What are 'Shaktibaan' and ‘Divyastra’?
- 12:26 PM IST, Jan 26Republic Day Parade concludes
- 12:21 PM IST, Jan 26Vajraang formation takes to the skies at grand parade
- 12:18 PM IST, Jan 26All-women contingent march past Kartavya Path
- 12:15 PM IST, Jan 26Indian Air Force presents fly-past at grand parade
- 12:06 PM IST, Jan 26Inside Odisha, Rajasthan, Nagaland and Maharashtra tableaux
- 12:03 PM IST, Jan 26Rafale jets fly past at grand parade
- 11:56 AM IST, Jan 26India shows off military might at grand parade
- 11:46 AM IST, Jan 26West Bengal, Manipur, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh tableaux on display
- 11:43 AM IST, Jan 26HIM Yodha, Bactrian Camel, Zaniskari pony, black kites on display
- 11:38 AM IST, Jan 26Inside Kerala, Himachal, UP, Punjab tableaux
- 11:33 AM IST, Jan 26Akash Weapon System, ABHRA Medium Range Missile System on display
- 11:31 AM IST, Jan 26Kochi water metro in Kerala on display at Kartavya Path
- 11:28 AM IST, Jan 26Drone Shakti on full display at parade
- 11:26 AM IST, Jan 26Divyastra and Shaktibaan displayed at Kartavya Path
- 11:21 AM IST, Jan 26Indian Air Force's marching contingent on display
- 11:19 AM IST, Jan 26‘Operation Sindoor’ tri-services tableau on display
- 11:14 AM IST, Jan 26Divyastra, Shaktibaan pass saluting base at Kartavya Path
- 11:11 AM IST, Jan 26Indian Navy's marching contingent on display
- 11:04 AM IST, Jan 26NAG missile system, infantry combat vehicle on display
- 10:59 AM IST, Jan 26Prahar formation carries ‘Operation Sindoor’ flag
- 10:52 AM IST, Jan 26Op Sindoor tableau, battle tanks, Apache helicopters on display
- 10:45 AM IST, Jan 26President Droupadi Murmu unfurls national flag
- 10:43 AM IST, Jan 26Prints of old paintings on display
- 10:38 AM IST, Jan 26Shubhanshu Shukla awarded Ashoka Chakra
- 10:33 AM IST, Jan 26Republic Day parade begins
- 10:28 AM IST, Jan 26Vice President arrives at venue
- 10:23 AM IST, Jan 26PM Modi lays wreath at National War Memorial
- 10:08 AM IST, Jan 26PM Modi at War Memorial with Rajnath Singh
- 10:04 AM IST, Jan 26Where to watch the parade live
- 9:56 AM IST, Jan 26People gather in large numbers at Kartavya Path, parade from 10:30 am
- 9:48 AM IST, Jan 26Inside the 77th Republic Day celebrations
- 9:32 AM IST, Jan 26Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi unfurls National Flag
- 9:30 AM IST, Jan 26Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma unfurls tricolour flag
- 9:19 AM IST, Jan 26How did India celebrate its first Republic Day?
- 9:07 AM IST, Jan 26Rahul Gandhi extends greetings, calls Constitution ‘greatest weapon’
- 9:03 AM IST, Jan 26Indian Air Force extends greetings
- 8:55 AM IST, Jan 26‘150 years of Vande Mataram’ to be celebrated
- 8:40 AM IST, Jan 26When and where to watch Delhi parade
- 8:28 AM IST, Jan 26Chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations
- 8:23 AM IST, Jan 26Security forces recover arms, neutralise IEDs in Manipur
- 8:14 AM IST, Jan 26What are the parade timings for the 77th Republic Day?
- 8:06 AM IST, Jan 26China sends congratulatory message, calls India ‘good friend’
- 7:55 AM IST, Jan 26Visuals of Republic Day parade rehearsal
- 7:49 AM IST, Jan 26Col Sofiya Qureshi, face of Operation Sindoor, on R-Day honours list
- 7:39 AM IST, Jan 26Bhairav battalion, Suryastra rocket launcher among highlights
- 7:28 AM IST, Jan 26US secretary of state Marco Rubio extends R-Day greeting
- 7:19 AM IST, Jan 26Is it the 76th or 77th Republic Day?
- 7:12 AM IST, Jan 26What President Murmu said in Republic Day eve address
- 7:06 AM IST, Jan 26PM Modi extends wishes on 77th Republic Day
- 7:02 AM IST, Jan 26Security intensified across Delhi-NCR and LoC
- 6:57 AM IST, Jan 26Where to watch the R-Day parade live
- 6:52 AM IST, Jan 26Republic Day Parade to begin at 10:30 am
Republic Day 2026 parade highlights: India celebrated its 77th Republic Day with a massive display of its cultural range, economic progress, and defence strength. The display included missiles, aircraft, and weapon systems used during Operation Sindoor. The theme of this year’s Republic Day was “150 Years of Vande Mataram". PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and chief guests from Europe were present at the venue....Read More
The theme of this year’s Republic Day was “150 Years of Vande Mataram”. India displayed its development journey, cultural diversity and military might at the parade.
An elaborate defence line-up, cultural performances, vibrant tableaux and chief guests from the European Council were among several elements planned for the grand Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on Monday, January 26. India marked its 77th Republic Day, the day that commemorates the adoption of the Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950.
The theme for this year’s Republic Day was “150 Years of Vande Mataram”, honouring the national song written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. The theme featured throughout the Republic Day Parade, cultural events, tableaux, public contests, and outreach programmes, placing the song at the centre of the celebrations while connecting freedom, cultural identity, and present-day national goals, an official press release said.
Who are the chief guests at the 77th Republic Day?
This year’s celebrations had Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, as the chief guests at the parade.
The two leaders received a Guard of Honour upon their arrival in India on Sunday. They are expected to adopt a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda and broaden regional and multilateral cooperation on January 27.
What is on display this Republic Day?
BrahMos and Akash weapon systems, the rocket launcher system ‘Suryastra’ with deep-strike capabilities, and the Main Battle Tank Arjun were among the main military platforms that India presented during the Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path today.
The newly raised Bhairav light commando battalion and Shaktiban Regiment, along with Zanskar ponies and Bactrian camels, took part in the ceremonial event for the first time, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Officials also said that India showcased its development path, cultural range, and defence strength, including newly raised units and models of major weapon systems used during Operation Sindoor, at the 77th Republic Day celebrations.
The parade also marked the first appearance of the Shaktiban Regiment, which has been formed within the artillery and is equipped with drone, counter-drone, and loiter munition systems.
A tri-services tableau showing replicas of major weapon systems used by the Indian military during Operation Sindoor last May was one of the key attractions at the parade.
Republic Day parade 2026
It opened with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the National War Memorial, where he led the nation in honouring the fallen heroes by placing a wreath. After this, the prime minister and other dignitaries moved to the saluting dais at Kartavya Path to watch the parade.
The arrival of President Droupadi Murmu, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission in the “Traditional Buggy” was accompanied by the President’s Bodyguard, the senior-most Regiment of the Indian Army.
As per tradition, the National Flag was unfurled, followed by the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute fired using 105 mm Light Field Guns, an artillery system developed in India.
The parade then moved forward with the President taking the salute. This year, about 2,500 cultural performers from every state and union territory took part. Around 10,000 special guests from different walks of life were invited to watch the parade.
