India Celebrates 63rd Republic Day

Rajpath comes alive with the dare devil stunts of motorbike riders of Border Security Force during the 63rd Republic Day Parade-2012, in New Delhi on January 26, 2012. PIB Photo

NEW DELHI (NNN-IANS) -- India Thursday celebrated its 63rd Republic Day, showcasing its military might and the nation's rich cultural heritage.

The main ceremonial parade was held in the capital with Thailand's first woman Prime Minister Yinluck Shinawatra as the guest of honour.

The ceremony began around 10 a.m. with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laying a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to pay tribute to an unknown soldier.

This was followed by a grand parade from on the Rajpath highlighting the might of Indian armed forces as neatly uniformed men and women marched past, shoulder-to-shoulder, saluting President Pratibha Patil on the dais.

Lt. Gen. Vijay Kumar Pillai, general officer commanding, Delhi Area and his deputy Major General Rajbir Singh commanded the parade.

Border Security Force marching contingent passes through the

Rajpath during the 63rd Republic Day Parade-2012, in

New Delhi on January 26, 2012. PIB Photo

The marching contingents of the Indian Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, Parachute Regiment, Bengal Engineer Group and Centre, Brigade of the Guards, Kumaon Regiment, Assam Regiment, Mahar Regiment, Gorkha Rifles Regiment and the Corps of Military Police.

The Indian Navy's contingent was led by Lt Commander Manikandan K. and the Air Force contingent by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat - the first woman ever to lead an IAF contingent at the Republic Day parade.

The contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary forces included those from the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme.

Tableaux from 23 states and central ministries presented the varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country in the ongoing parade.

The first tableau was from West Bengal depicting Shantiniketan.

Agni-IV, India's latest nuclear-capable strategic missile was showcased publicly for the first time Thursday at the Republic Day parade.

The missile formed part of a tableau from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), its developer.

The DRDO contingent, led by Lt. Col. V.S. Thapa, also showed new tactical battlefield support high-speed missile Prahaar and the medium altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle Rustom-I.

Agni-IV, the most potent and technologically advanced in India's arsenal, adds a new dimension to country's capabilities in terms of strategic deterrence.

The missile was successfully tested for the first time in November 2011, after its initial failure in the earlier avatar as Agni-II Prime in 2010.

Capable of being sent aloft from a self-contained road mobile launcher from anywhere, the two-stage surface-to-surface missile with solid-propulsion can reach targets 3,500 km away.

A quantum leap in indigenous technology, Agni-IV incorporates a composite rocket motor casing, a highly accurate guidance and navigation system, modern and compact avionics, digital control system and many contemporary and advanced technologies making it comparable to the best in the world. -- NNN-IANS