NEW DELHI: The 77th Republic Day parade on January 26 will mark a significant departure from tradition, as India’s armed forces present a reimagined, narrative-driven display of military power designed to show how a modern battle actually unfolds. Against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor — the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan in May last year — the parade will adopt a “phased battle array” format that brings together infantry, armour, artillery, missiles, drones, logistics, and airpower in a seamless, combat-like sequence.

Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh announced the changes on Friday, describing the new approach as an effort to make the 90-minute spectacle more engaging and meaningful for audiences lining Kartavya Path and the millions watching across the country and abroad. For decades, the Republic Day parade has followed a largely fixed template, with marching contingents, weapon displays, and a flypast conducted in predictable blocks. This year, officials say, that stereotype is being deliberately broken.

“The idea is to weave a story of how equipment and manpower actually get used in a battle,” Singh said at a media briefing. “Earlier parades were quite stereotyped. Given the general excitement about Operation Sindoor, the intent is to show operational elements — how a battle progresses from reconnaissance and logistics to the use of long-range systems, and then to follow-up support and integration of air power.”

The redesigned parade draws clear inspiration from Operation Sindoor, launched by India in the early hours of May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. During the operation, Indian forces carried out precision strikes on terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), before a ceasefire was reached on May 10. The confrontation marked one of the most intense military engagements between the two countries in recent years, involving fighter jets, missiles, armed drones, and sustained artillery exchanges.

While Singh stressed that the parade is not a re-enactment of Operation Sindoor, he acknowledged that the conflict has influenced the thinking behind the new format. “It is perhaps a bit linked to Operation Sindoor, but primarily the intent is to make it more interesting and to tell a story rather than present a static, ceremonial display,” he said.

For the first time, spectators will see weapons and platforms arranged not by service or type alone, but in the order they would be deployed in an actual conflict. The parade will begin with reconnaissance and surveillance elements, including drones and forward units, followed by infantry formations and armoured columns featuring T-90 and Arjun main battle tanks, as well as BMP-II infantry combat vehicles. Artillery systems such as the indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) and the Dhanush gun will demonstrate the firepower that supports ground forces.

Missile systems, including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Akash surface-to-air missile, and the medium-range surface-to-air missile system, will underline India’s strike and air-defence capabilities. A new universal rocket launcher system will also be showcased, highlighting ongoing efforts to modernise and indigenise the armed forces.

The parade will also reflect structural changes under way in the army. The recently raised Bhairav light commando units, designed for rapid deployment and high-intensity operations, will make their Republic Day debut. Alongside them will be the Shaktibaan artillery elements, which specialise in drone-enabled warfare — a capability that has assumed growing importance in recent conflicts worldwide and was prominently employed during Operation Sindoor.

Air power, traditionally reserved for the climactic flypast at the end of the parade, will this year be woven into the phased battle narrative. Singh confirmed that the flypast will no longer be a standalone finale but will align with the Indian Air Force’s role in the battle order. “Air elements will be displayed in the phased battle array format,” he said.

The flypast will feature a wide range of IAF platforms, including Rafale fighters, Sukhoi-30 MKIs, MiG-29s, Apache attack helicopters, and Mi-17 helicopters. Strategic and support aircraft such as the C-130J special operations plane, the P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft, and the newly inducted C-295 transport aircraft will also participate. The advanced light helicopter and light combat helicopter will further highlight the growing role of indigenous platforms.

Operation Sindoor underscored the centrality of air power in modern warfare. During the conflict, Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing at least 100 terrorists, while the IAF struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. Pakistan, officials said, lost between 12 and 13 aircraft, including US-made F-16s and Chinese-origin JF-17s, to Indian precision strikes on the ground and in aerial engagements.

Beyond the military narrative, the parade will also reflect India’s diplomatic priorities. A naval contingent from the European Union will take part in the celebrations, symbolising growing strategic cooperation. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa will attend as chief guests, marking only the second time India has invited leaders of a multilateral grouping to the Republic Day celebrations — the first being the Asean leaders in 2018.

Officials described the invitation as a signal of the EU’s importance as a strategic and economic partner. “This is an honour reserved for those with whom India shares deep and enduring ties,” an official said.

In all, 18 marching contingents and 13 military bands will participate in the parade. Thirty tableaux, including those from six states and several government departments, will roll down Kartavya Path. The celebrations this year are organised around the theme of “Vande Mataram,” marking 150 years since the first two stanzas of the song were published. The tableaux will reflect themes of patriotism, heritage, and national unity.

A large-scale cultural dance performance involving around 2,500 artistes will add colour and energy to the event, blending tradition with spectacle.

In a symbolic step aimed at ending VIP culture, enclosures along Kartavya Path have been renamed after rivers, replacing the old V1, V2 nomenclature traditionally associated with seating for dignitaries. Similarly, enclosures at the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29 have been named after musical instruments, reinforcing the emphasis on inclusivity and cultural symbolism.

With an expected audience of around 77,000 people along Kartavya Path and millions more watching on television, this year’s Republic Day parade aims to be more than a ceremonial display. By aligning pageantry with operational realism, officials hope it will offer citizens a clearer window into how India’s armed forces prepare for, fight, and win modern wars — while reaffirming the values and unity the Republic Day celebrations are meant to honour.