Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday attended the 78th Army Day celebrations being held in Rajasthan’s Jaipur. Notably, the parade is being held at Mahal Road, Jagatpura, marking the first
time the parade will be held outside the cantonment area.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, BJP Rajasthan President Madan Rathore, along with a large number of other dignitaries, were also present for the occasion.
The parade displayed the army’s artillery and rocket capabilities, with several missile and launcher systems on show, including the BrahMos cruise missile, which can strike targets up to 800 kilometres away from land, sea or underwater platforms, according to the Army.
#WATCH | Rajasthan | Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi takes salute at the 78th Army Day Parade underway in Jaipur.
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, CM Bhajanlal Sharma also present. pic.twitter.com/kErv1lbL2P
— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2026
The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher will also feature. It was recently tested with long-range guided rockets that have a range of up to 120 kilometres.
Other systems on display include the upgraded BM-21 Grad multi-barrel rocket launcher and the SMERCH system.
Indian Air Force also showcased their defence capabilities, the indigenous Akashteer system with its medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which proved their effectiveness in a high-threat environment during Operation Sindoor.
In addition to this, the parade also marks the first public appearance of the Bhairav Battalion, the unit which has been raised as part of the Army’s recent restructuring, drawing operational lessons from global conflicts, including its own Operation Sindoor.
The Bhairav Battalion is positioned between the Para Special Forces and regular infantry units. The battalion was raised to meet modern warfare requirements to provide a quick and precise offensive solution against enemy threats to the nation.
(With agency inputs)
