Army Day 2026: Jaipur Witnesses Indian Army’s Expanding Operational and Technological Focus
The Indian Army celebrated its 78th Army Day in Jaipur on January 15, 2026, with a parade held along Mahal Road. This is the first time the parade took place outside a city’s cantonment limits.
The day began with a wreath-laying ceremony at Prerna Sthal, where the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and the Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.
The South Western Command hosted the event for the first time, following earlier parades in Bengaluru, Lucknow and Pune since 2023.
General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the parade and took the salute.
The parade included over 30 participating entities, with seven marching contingents representing regimental centres such as the MADRAS Regimental Centre, RAJPUT Regimental Centre, Regiment of Artillery, Mixed Scouts Contingent and an NCC Girls Contingent. Two Bhairav Battalion contingents from RAJRIF and SIKH LI took part for the first time, reflecting the Army’s move towards specialised, agile formations. A helicopter fly-past featuring LCH, ALH, WSI and Apache platforms was also conducted.
Bands from various regimental centres participated in the parade, including contingents from the SIKH, DOGRA, MARATHA LI, BEG, Artillery and EME centres, along with a mixed NCC band. The Nepal Army band also participated, highlighting longstanding military ties between the two countries.
The parade showcased a range of vehicle-mounted contingents, weapons and equipment. These included main battle tanks, infantry combat vehicles, artillery systems, rocket launchers, air defence platforms, unmanned systems, counter-drone equipment and robotic platforms. Weapon systems employed during Operation Sindoor, including missile systems, artillery guns, air defence assets and special mobility vehicles, were also displayed.
The parade also featured thematic tableaus highlighting Operation Sindoor, the Army’s Decade of Transformation initiatives and new-generation equipment, along with a cultural tableau presented by the Rajasthan government.
In his address, the Chief of the Army Staff said the Army is transforming into a future-ready force with emphasis on agility, technology and self-reliance. He said indigenisation has become a strategic necessity and that networking and data-centric systems will be key focus areas in the coming years, while reaffirming that technology is intended to support the soldier.
