Present among the audience were Prime Minister's wife Gursharan Kaur, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, union ministers and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani.
The first to appear in the parade were winners of the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra, the nation's highest gallantry awards, followed by mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry led by Malaysian Prince Captain Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, the first foreigner to take part in the parade.
The army showcased its T-72 tanks, Bofors guns, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launching system, tactical control reporter radar, mobile de-contamination system and Army Wide Area Network on mobile node. The indigenously-built Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' was also showcased with three of the choppers flying past Rajpath.
Colourfully-attired military contingents made their entry marching to the tune of motivational song 'kadam kadam badaye jaa.'
The Parachute Regiment was followed by Brigade of the Guards, the first mechanised battalion of the army, and various other regiments accompanied by their bands. Tableau of the Remount Veterinary Corps displaying the Army sniffer dog contingent, and a float on military world games to be hosted by India later this year with its mascot 'Bravo', the great India bison, stood out for their uniqueness.
Smartly-dressed navy personnel came along with a tableau depicting new acquisitions like INS Talwar, IL-38 aircraft and Scorpene submarine linked through a network, while the Air warriors, accompanied by indigenously developed Indra-II radar, marched to lilting tunes of the 'Tiger Hill.'
The country's military prowess was unveiled by the DRDO, which showcased Brahmos supersonic cruise missile, unique small-sized 'Ex Tank,' Nag anti-tank guided missile, Akash weapon system, weapon-locating radars and a host of border surveillance equipment.
Putin was seen taking keen interest in the armament showcased in the parade as President Kalam offered him insight into equipment on display.