An all-women-tri-services contingent will for the first time take part in the Republic Day parade, Major General Sumit Mehta said on Tuesday.
“For the first time, an all-woman tri-services contingent will take part in the parade, which will include women’s troops of the army’s military police along with women from the navy and air force,” Mehta said.
Sources said civilians would be the focus of this year’s parade. The parade will start with 100 women artists playing Indian musical instruments and marching down Kartavya Path.
The contingents of the central armed police forces — the CRPF, BSF, ITBP and the CISF — will also have women personnel.
French President Emmanuel Macron is the chief guest for the R-Day parade. The French contingent, which includes Indian and Nepali-origin members, will also take part in the parade.
A variety of new-generation vehicles including terrain vehicles, light specialist vehicles and special mobility vehicles will be showcased. The ALH Dhruv Rudra and LCH Prachand will join the flypast. The Indian Air Force flypast will include 46 planes including fighters, helicopters and a heritage aircraft.
Around 13,000 special guests — sarpanches of “vibrant villages”, women workers of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, leaders of electronic manufacturing sectors, women space scientists from Isro, yoga teachers and winners of international sports events — have been invited.
