<div style="float: left;">
		<img align="left" alt="republic day, republic day parade" class="imgCont" height="464" src="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2019-01/26/full/1548496487-9738.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-right: 10px; padding: 1px; float: left; z-index: 0;" title="republic day, republic day parade" width="620" />
		<div style="float: left; clear: both; font-style:italic; padding: 10px 10px 10px 0px; width:620px;">
			K-9 Vajra Tank at Rajpath during the 70th Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi. BS photo by Dalip Kumar</div>
	</div>

India's 70th Republic Day: Theme for the Republic Day celebrations this year was the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Catch LIVE updates on R-Day celebrations

rEPUBLIC DAY, REPUBLIC DAY PARADE

<div>
	
	Today, India celebrated its 70th Republic Day. The celebration began with the ceremonial parade at Rajpath, amid tight security in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs. The chief guest of this Republic Day was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. At the unfurling of the tricolour, the band played the national anthem with a 21-gun salute fired in the background. Many senior leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Ghulam Nabi Azad and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were among those present on the occasion.</div>
<br />
<div>
	The overall theme for the Republic Day celebrations this year is the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and tableaux of many states, themed on him, are lined up for the occasion.</div>
<br />
<div>
	India&#39;s military might was also on display, with the artillery gun system M777 American Ultra Light Howitzers, recently acquired from the US, and K9 Vajra, a self-propelled artillery gun, showcased on Rajpath, being new additions this year.</div>
<br />
<div>
	&#39;Nari Shakti&#39; (women power) was on full display on the ceremonial boulevard with an all-woman Assam Rifles contingent creating history this year by participating for the first time in the parade, which was led by Maj Khushboo Kanwar.</div>
<br />
<div>
	Contingents of the Navy, Army Service Corps and a unit of Corps of Signals (transportable satellite terminal) were led by women officers too, as the crowd cheered.</div>
<br />
<div>
	The march began with showering of flower petals by helicopters led by the parade commander, parade second-in-command and Param Vir Chakra and Ashoka Chakra awardees.</div>
<br />
<div>
	The Indian Army&#39;s T-90 tank, Ballway Machine Pikate (BMP-II/IIK), Surface Mine Clearing System, 155 mm/52 Calibre Tracked Self-propelled Gun (K-9 Vajra), Transportable Satellite Terminal, Troop Level Radar and Akash Weapon System were also showcased at the parade.</div>

Republic Day 2019: 'Nari shakti', military might on display at parade

Business Standard

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="tl">
		<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2019</a> : Tableaux of Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, Maharashtra and Sikkim <a href="https://t.co/fumDqB7xQl">pic.twitter.com/fumDqB7xQl</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089028352013451265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="in">
		Visuals of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> celebrations from Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal Madarasa in Lucknow <a href="https://t.co/KQkxlZdvyn">pic.twitter.com/KQkxlZdvyn</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1089027886244192256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		First indigenously developed air defence system of India, the Akash weapons system; can carry out surveillance of airspace upto 150 kms and can effectively engage hostile aerial platforms upto 25 kms<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/G4M6gbJZ5Y">pic.twitter.com/G4M6gbJZ5Y</a></p>
	&mdash; PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1089028486264545280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

First indigenously developed air defence system of India, the Akash weapons system on display at R-Day Parade

<div>
	First indigenously developed air defence system of India, the Akash weapons system; can carry out surveillance of airspace upto 150 kms and can effectively engage hostile aerial platforms upto 25 kms.</div>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> : Camel Mounted Band of BSF playing &#39;Hum Hai Seema Suraksha Bal&#39;, at Rajpath <a href="https://t.co/u7gdMHcsMU">pic.twitter.com/u7gdMHcsMU</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089027280733646848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The camel contingent became part of R-Day in 1976

The camel contingent became part of R-Day in 1976. See the iconic 90-member Border Security Force (BSF) camel-mounted contingent ambling down Rajpath.

https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/live-blog/full/15484796318917.jpg

Bear witness to the magnificence of these beasts of a T 90 Bhishma tanks at Republic Day parade

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		They last thing the enemy sees is a flash of light with a boom !! Bear witness to the magnificence of these beasts of a T 90 Bhishma tanks <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/eYCtC5Zflj">pic.twitter.com/eYCtC5Zflj</a></p>
	&mdash; PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1089026199190269953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/live-blog/full/15484792101538.jpg

Republic Day parade isplays India&#39;s diversity an plurality.

85 personnel marches on at Republic Day parade.

Govt names 112 persons who have been selected for Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri

<div>
	The government announced names of 112 persons, who have been selected for Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri in the fields of art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service etc.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Among the Padma Vibhushan - the country&#39;s second highest civilian award - and Padma Bhushan awardees are President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh, L&amp;T chairman A M Naik, veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar, former CAG V K Shanglu and former union ministers Kariya Munda and S S Dhindsa. The award ceremony will be held in March or April this year.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Late actor Kadar Khan, former diplomat S Jaishankar and cricketer Gautam Ghambir were among the prominent personalities named on Friday for conferment of this year&#39;s Padma awards.</div>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		Jammu &amp; Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik unfurls the national flag on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a>, in Jammu <a href="https://t.co/9X43kD3Ojf">pic.twitter.com/9X43kD3Ojf</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089023522326892544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		We have been a peaceful country that has never backed down from a forced conflict. What could symbolise this better than the twin tunes of National Anthem and 21 Gun blazing for a salute at Rajpath<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/wSFtYO6l9u">pic.twitter.com/wSFtYO6l9u</a></p>
	&mdash; PIB India (@PIB_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1089022451420299265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		Visuals of the T-90 (Bhishma), the main battle tank of the Indian Army, commanded by Captain Navneet Eric of 45 Cavalry <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/NjGHg2oMDS">pic.twitter.com/NjGHg2oMDS</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089020904498216960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	<p dir="ltr" lang="en">
		Visuals of the K-9 Vajra-T, a self-propelled howitzer, commanded by Captain Devansh Bhutani <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/republicdayindia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#republicdayindia</a> <a href="https://t.co/czufPJMQBK">pic.twitter.com/czufPJMQBK</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1089021677491707904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>