In a 1st, R-Day parade this year to showcase how battles are fought

BRINGING a sense of the battlefield to Kartavya Path, Republic Day 2026 will transform India's ceremonial boulevard into a dynamic display of how the armed forces operate in real combat conditions.

- MAYANK SINGH @New Delhi

In a significant departure from tradition, missiles, artillery systems and soldiers will move not as static showpieces but in formations that mirror battlefield deployment, offering spectators an immersive view of modern military sequencing.

At the heart of the parade is a new "phased battle array formation", under which key Army assets will roll out in operational order. Reconnaissance elements will lead the column, followed by logistics units and combat platforms, with troops moving alongside in full battle gear.