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The nation is all set to observe the 77th Republic Day on January 26, with the customary annual parade at Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) in New Delhi. Ahead of its celebration, authorities have announced a symbolic change to the seating arrangements for the annual Kartavya Path procession. The change aims to remove the long-standing ‘VIP culture’ by renaming all guest enclosures after Indian rivers.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh revealed that all enclosures along the parade route will have the names of rivers, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Cauvery, Ghagra, Sindhu, Jhelum, Pennar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, and many more, breaking with the customary practice of designating locations as ‘VVIP’ and ‘VIP.’
"This year, to end the VIP culture, we have named all our enclosures for the Republic Day parade after Indian rivers and the enclosures for the Beating Retreat ceremony after musical instruments", Singh told ANI News.
Similarly, enclosures will be named after Indian instruments during the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29. These instruments include the bansuri, damaru, santoor, sarod, shehnai, sitar, surbahar, tabla, sarangi, sarinda, veena, and many more.
He also emphasised the dedication to cleanliness by declaring that a campaign will be launched following the events on January 26 and 30. “NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers will remove the waste from the Kratavya Path and surrounding areas,” he added.
The Republic Day parade, along Kartavya Path, is one of the most popular events in the nation. It includes marching bands, military contingents, cultural tableaux, and flypast displays. The administration is presenting this year's switch to river names as a step towards an equitable and culturally relevant protocol. Traditionally, the sitting sections closest to the saluting dais were designated for guests with special tags.
The government has prioritised post-event cleanup activities. Singh emphasised that following the Republic Day and Beating Retreat rituals, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and volunteers from My Bharat will lead waste-management initiatives along Kartavya Path and nearby communities, highlighting a wider emphasis on civic duty.
The 2026 Republic Day will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’. The parade's cultural tapestry will be enhanced with creative backgrounds that feature early stanzas of the song and floral tributes to its creator, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Moreover, the song will be performed by military and Central Armed Police Forces bands at over 235 places around the country from January 19 to 26.
The celebrations will gain diplomatic gravity with the presence of foreign dignitaries: It is anticipated that European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the primary guests, coinciding with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi to be held on January 27.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh revealed that all enclosures along the parade route will have the names of rivers, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Godavari, Cauvery, Ghagra, Sindhu, Jhelum, Pennar, Ravi, Sone, Sutlej, and many more, breaking with the customary practice of designating locations as ‘VVIP’ and ‘VIP.’
"This year, to end the VIP culture, we have named all our enclosures for the Republic Day parade after Indian rivers and the enclosures for the Beating Retreat ceremony after musical instruments", Singh told ANI News.
#WATCH | Delhi | Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh says, "This year, to end the VIP culture, we have named all our enclosures for the Republic Day Parade
after Indian rivers and the enclosures for the Beating Retreat ceremony after musical instruments..." pic.twitter.com/rGVaQ7nU7u
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
Similarly, enclosures will be named after Indian instruments during the Beating Retreat Ceremony on January 29. These instruments include the bansuri, damaru, santoor, sarod, shehnai, sitar, surbahar, tabla, sarangi, sarinda, veena, and many more.
He also emphasised the dedication to cleanliness by declaring that a campaign will be launched following the events on January 26 and 30. “NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers will remove the waste from the Kratavya Path and surrounding areas,” he added.
The Republic Day parade, along Kartavya Path, is one of the most popular events in the nation. It includes marching bands, military contingents, cultural tableaux, and flypast displays. The administration is presenting this year's switch to river names as a step towards an equitable and culturally relevant protocol. Traditionally, the sitting sections closest to the saluting dais were designated for guests with special tags.
The government has prioritised post-event cleanup activities. Singh emphasised that following the Republic Day and Beating Retreat rituals, National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and volunteers from My Bharat will lead waste-management initiatives along Kartavya Path and nearby communities, highlighting a wider emphasis on civic duty.
The 2026 Republic Day will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’. The parade's cultural tapestry will be enhanced with creative backgrounds that feature early stanzas of the song and floral tributes to its creator, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
Moreover, the song will be performed by military and Central Armed Police Forces bands at over 235 places around the country from January 19 to 26.
The celebrations will gain diplomatic gravity with the presence of foreign dignitaries: It is anticipated that European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the primary guests, coinciding with the 16th India-EU Summit in New Delhi to be held on January 27.
