Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The 76th Army Day parade is set to take place in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, today, deviating from its traditional venue in Delhi for the second consecutive year. The grand event will unfold at the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre in Lucknow.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Governor Anandi Ben Patel are expected to attend the parade as chief guests.
Army Day, observed annually on January 15, commemorates the historic moment in 1949 when General KM Cariappa assumed command of the Indian Army, marking the transition from British leadership. General Cariappa became the first Indian to lead the Army, succeeding General Sir Francis Roy Bucher, the last British-serving chief.
Field Marshal KM Cariappa, affectionately known as 'Kipper,' was a trailblazer in Indian military history. His journey included being the first Indian at the Royal Military College in Sandhurst, commanding a Battalion, and ultimately achieving the prestigious rank of Field Marshal in 1986. He passed away at the age of 94 in 1993.
This year's Army Day parade falls under the jurisdiction of the Army's 'Central Command,' headquartered in Lucknow. The Central Command is one of the seven operational commands of the Indian Army, underscoring the rotational nature of parade responsibilities.
The parade will happen at the 11 Gorkha Rifles Regimental Centre under the command of Major General Salil Seth. The event will feature marching contingents from various regiments, military bands, and a diverse display by units like the 50th Parachute Brigade, Sikh Light Infantry, Jat Regiment, Garhwal Rifles, Bengal Engineer Group, and the Army Air Defence contingent.
The 76th Army Day Parade will leverage Artificial Intelligence for the first time to evaluate the 'Best Marching Contingent.' Major General Salil Seth explains that AI will assess individual movements captured by cameras, assigning scores for precision and timing. This innovative approach adds a modern dimension to the traditional parade evaluation process.