On Republic Day tomorrow, the nation’s expanding “Nari Shakti” and Aatmanirbhar military strength will be on display along Kartavya Path in the capital.
The all-women Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, led by Major Srishti Khullar, will march down the Kartavya Path with Captain Amba Samant of the Army Dental Corps, Surgeon Lieutenant Kanchana of the Indian Navy, and Flight Lieutenant Dhivya Priya of the Indian Air Force. The all-women Tri-Service contingent, led by Captain Sandhya of Military Police, will also march down the route. The three redundant officers in this contingent are Captain Sharanya Rao, Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav, and Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Rao.
Leading the Mechanised Column as the first Army contingent is the 61 Cavalry, under the command of Major Yashdeep Ahlawat. After combining all of the “State Horsed Cavalry Units,” the 61 Cavalry was founded in 1953 and is currently the only operational Horsed Cavalry regiment in the world.
According to an announcement from the Defence Ministry, it was followed by 12 marching contingents, 11 mechanised columns, and an Army Aviation Corps fly-past of advanced light helicopters.
The mechanised columns will feature a variety of attractions, including the Tank T-90 Bhishma, NAG Missile System, Infantry Combat Vehicle, All-Terrain Vehicle, Pinaka, Weapon Locating Radar System ‘Swathi,’ Sarvatra Mobile Bridging System, Drone Jammer System, and Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile System.
The Madras Regiment, the Grenadiers, the Rajputana Rifles, the Sikh Regiment, and the Kumaon Regiment are among the Army Marching Contingents.
There will be 144 men and women in the Indian Navy contingent, with Lt Prajwal M serving as the contingent commander and Lts. Mudita Goyal, Sharvani Supreiya, and Devika H leading their respective platoons. The Naval Tableau, which illustrates the concepts of “Nari Shakti” and “Sea Power Across the Oceans Through Indigenization,” will come after it.
The Indian Navy’s female members in all ranks and roles are included in the first section of the tableau. The second, on the other hand, shows the first-ever indigenous Carrier Battle Group, which includes the Aircraft Carrier Vikrant, her extremely competent escort ships, Delhi, Kolkata, and Shivalik; the Kalvari Class Submarine; the Light Combat Aircraft and Advanced Light Helicopter; and the GSAT-7, Rukmani Satellite.
Squadron Leader Rashmi Thakur will lead the 144 airmen and four officers that make up the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Contingent Commander will be followed by Flight Lieutenant Kirti Rohil and Squadron Leaders Sumita Yadav and Pratiti Ahluwalia as they march by. Under the theme “Bharatiya Vayu Sena: Saksham, Sashakt, Aatmanirbhar,” the IAF tableau is displayed.
The tableau shows a C-295 transport aircraft being piloted by female aircrew in the cockpit, together with LCA Tejas and Su-30 aircraft flying above the IOR. The GSAT-7A, which is positioned on the tableau, symbolises how the IAF uses space technology in its daily operations. The tableau demonstrates how the IAF has led the way in providing humanitarian relief both domestically and internationally.
Assistant Commandant Chunauti Sharma will lead the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) contingent, with Assistant Commandants Priya Dahiya, Hardik, and Pallavi trailing behind. The ICG can neutralise threats at sea and to the air with its fleet of 154 ships and 78 aircraft. In the 4.6 million square kilometre Indian Search & Rescue Region, it also serves as the central organisation for coordinating maritime search and rescue operations. Since its launch, it has saved roughly 11,516 lives at sea, or one life every two days.
Women personnel will be in charge of the Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) contingents.
According to the Defence Ministry, “Assistant Commandant Monika Lakra will lead the Marching Contingent of the Border Security Force; Assistant Commandant Tanmayee Mohanty will lead the Central Industrial Security Force; Assistant Commandant Megha Nair will lead the Central Reserve Police Force; Assistant Commandant Moniya Sharma will lead the Indo-Tibetan Border Police; Deputy Commandant Nancy Singla will lead the Sashastra Seema Bal; and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Shweta K Sugath
Deputy Commandant Manohar Singh Kheechee will be in charge of the Border Security Force’s Camel Contingent. Female camel riders will be participating in the parade for the second time on their adorned camels.
Diverse NCC contingents will see female representation. Lead by Senior Under Officer Tanu Tevatia of the Uttar Pradesh Directorate, there will be an all-girl Tri-Service Marching contingent for the first time.
The 148 cadets that make up the Girls Marching contingent (Army) will be commanded by Senior Under Officer Punnya Ponnamma of the Karnataka & Goa Directorate. There will also be an all-girl contingent in the NCC band. Under the leadership of Ankita Sharma and Senior Under Officer Yashasvica Gaur, the Combined Band, comprising girls from Birla Balika Vidya Peeth Pilani, Rajasthan, and the Northeastern Region, will perform.
The contingent for the National Service Scheme (NSS) will consist of two hundred (200) female volunteers. Regina Tamang of the Sikkim Regional Directorate of the NSS, Guwahati, will serve as its leader.
