For the first time, NCC contingent of girls and robotic mules will be included in the Army Day Parade, know the special things.

New Delhi: This year, the Girls Marching Contingent of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) will participate in the Army Day Parade. Four thematic tableaux will also be displayed in it. Among these tableaux, there will also be a tableau based on the Mission Olympic Cell of NCC. Defense Ministry sources said the Bengaluru-based Corps of Military Police (CMP), a Mahila Agniveer contingent from the Center and School and a group of ‘marching robotic mules’ will also mark their presence in the prestigious annual Army Day parade for the first time.

Army Day Parade on 15 January

The Army Day parade will be held on January 15 at the Bombay Engineering Group (BEG) and Centre, which comes under the Southern Command of the Army, in Pune, Maharashtra. Sources said there are plans to organize a program titled ‘Gaurav Gatha’ in the evening after the parade, which will showcase the evolution of welfare from ancient times to the contemporary era. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to attend this program.

What is special this time in the Army Day Parade?

This time the theme of the 77th Army Day celebrations is ‘Samarth Bharat, Saksham Sena’ and its objective is to contribute to a strong nation by showcasing the capabilities of the Army. Defense Ministry sources said some of the equipment to be displayed during the parade included K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer, BMP-2 Sarath infantry fighting vehicle, T-90 tank, Swati weapon locating radar, Sarvatra Bridging System, Multi -barrel rocket system, ATOR N1200 all-terrain vehicle, drone jammer system and mobile communication nodes.

NCC girls contingent will be included for the first time

A source said this year’s parade will include a women’s contingent from the NCC and a women’s Agniveer contingent from the Bengaluru-based Military Police Corps Center and both will be participating in the Army Day parade for the first time. Apart from this, ’12 robotic mules’ standing in two equal rows and their handlers behind them will also participate in the parade for the first time. These robotic mules were inducted into the Army last year and represent steps towards modernization of the Army.

Robotic mules will be included

The source said these nimble-footed machines can carry loads, move into inaccessible areas and even deal with terrorists. The source said that when they reach the front of the stage while marching, the robotic mules will salute the veterans present there before moving ahead in the parade. Apart from this, in line with the theme of the parade, four tableaux similar to those shown in the Republic Day parade will also be displayed, highlighting the valor of the Indian Army, green initiatives etc., a source said.