India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026. The most special thing about Republic Day is the parade held on that day, in which India’s military might and cultural diversity is shown. This parade is organized every year on the duty path and every time something new is seen in it. For the first time in the 2026 parade, the Indian Army will feature animal squad in the ceremonial parade. The main theme of this year’s parade will be ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Self-reliant India’.
This parade, which takes place on the duty path, starts from near Rashtrapati Bhavan and goes to the Red Fort via Vijay Chowk and India Gate. Since 1955, this parade is being held permanently on the duty line.
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Animal Squad Specialties
This animal squad is derived from the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC). It will showcase the vital role animals play in protecting India’s most challenging and sensitive borders, from icy glaciers to cold deserts. This contingent will include two Bactrian camels, four Zanskar ponies, four Raptors, ten Indian breed army dogs and six traditional military dogs which are currently in active service. The contingent will be led by Bactrian camels who have recently been deployed in the cold deserts of Ladakh.
all animals special
- CamelBactrian camels are specially adapted to altitudes above 15,000 feet in harsh weather conditions. It is capable of lifting load up to 250 kg. They can cover long distances with less water and fodder.
- Zanskar Pony- This is a local hill breed of Ladakh. Despite their small size, they are known for their extraordinary stamina. They can lift a load of about 40 to 60 kg. They can also go to such areas where the temperature can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Since joining the Army in 2020, he has served in some of the toughest operational areas including the Siachen Glacier.
- Raptor- These have been deployed for bird-strike control and surveillance. This includes predatory birds like hawk, eagle, owl.
- Army Dogs- They are often called ‘silent warriors’ of the Indian Army. Trained and bred at the RVC Center and College in Meerut, these dogs help soldiers in counter-terrorism operations, explosive and mine detection, tracking, patrolling, disaster response and search and rescue operations.
- The Army has inducted indigenous breeds like Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, Chippiparai, Kombai and Rajapalayam which shows India’s endeavor towards self-reliance in the defense sector.
How to book tickets?
The booking process for tickets for Republic Day 2026 and Beating Retreat is likely to start in the first week of January. Ticket prices range from Rs 20 to Rs 100 depending on the seating area. For online booking –
- Visit aamantran.mod.gov.in portal or Aamantran app.
- Login, verify with mobile number and OTP.
- Select the event, number of tickets and complete the payment.
Arrangements for offline counters are made by the government at many places. Tickets can be booked by visiting places like Sena Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Jantar Mantar and Rajiv Chowk. For its booking, it is mandatory to carry a valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Voter ID etc.). For this information, check updates on official sites rashtraparv.gov.in or aamantran.mod.gov.in.
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Tight security arrangements in Delhi
As preparations for Republic Day and New Year celebrations are in full swing, security has also been beefed up in the national capital. Verification campaigns are being conducted on a large scale in sensitive areas of Delhi. Also, Delhi Police and central security agencies are continuously holding several meetings to prevent any incident.
Around 20,000 police personnel, including traffic police and paramilitary forces, will be deployed across the city. Special traffic arrangements have been made in highly congested areas. Security has been tightened on Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
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