How does India select its chief visitor for 26 January parade

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a399/live/055d9470-f826-11f0-9001-7f071bc02a11.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA/Shutterstock Indian paramilitary soldiers take part during Republic Day parade rehearsals in New Delhi, India, 21 January 2026. India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on 26 January 2026." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> EPA/Shutterstock The Republic Day parade is a show of India's tradition, achievements and army would possibly

India will mark its 77th Republic Day on 26 January - the day when the nation adopted its structure and formally turned a republic, breaking from its colonial previous.

The annual grand parade will happen alongside Delhi's iconic central boulevard, with army tanks rolling previous and fighter jets roaring overhead as hundreds watch.

The parade is a spectacle in itself, however consideration can be targeted on who's occupying essentially the most distinguished seats on the ceremony. This yr, it is going to be European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa.

India has invited them as chief company for the celebrations, putting the European Union on the centre of one of many nation's most prestigious state occasions.

On today, India turns the center of its capital right into a stage. Hundreds of troops march earlier than cheering crowds, armoured automobiles transfer down the Kartavya Path (previously Rajpath or King's Avenue) and vibrant tableaux or floats move by spectators in Delhi, whereas tens of millions extra watch on their screens throughout the nation.

The parade is presided over by the Indian president, with the chief visitor seated alongside - nearer to the presidential chair than even the senior-most authorities officers.

Who sits subsequent to India's president has lengthy been learn as greater than a matter of protocol. Over the many years, the selection of chief visitor has come to be carefully watched as an indicator of India's international coverage priorities and the relationships Delhi desires to spotlight at a selected second, specialists say.

The apply started in 1950 with the then Indonesian president, Sukarno, attending India's first Republic Day parade. In its early years as a republic, India prioritised ties with different newly-independent international locations - a spotlight mirrored in its early alternative of chief company.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8489/live/ecf3ff40-f849-11f0-a468-83233a09c7a0.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by President Rajendra Prasad, leave the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in an open carriage to attend the Republic Day Parade, New Delhi, January 26th 1961. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photos Queen Elizabeth II was the chief visitor at India's Republic Day parade in 1961

Since then, the parade has hosted leaders from internationally, reflecting shifts in India's international relations and strategic priorities. The chief company have been from leaders of neighbouring international locations - similar to Bhutan and Sri Lanka - to heads of state and authorities from main powers, together with the US and the UK.

The UK has featured because the chief visitor 5 occasions - together with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip - reflecting the lengthy and sophisticated historical past between the 2 international locations. Leaders from France and Russia (previously Soviet Union) have additionally been invited practically 5 occasions since 1950, reflecting India's long-standing strategic ties with the 2 international locations.

With such a variety of previous company, the query is how India decides who receives an invite in a selected yr.

The choice course of is essentially out of public view. Former diplomats and media studies say it sometimes begins inside the international ministry, which prepares a shortlist of potential invitees. The ultimate choice is taken by the prime minister's workplace, adopted by official communication with the choose international locations - a course of that may take a number of months.

A former international ministry official talking on situation of anonymity mentioned: "Strategic targets, regional steadiness and whether or not a rustic has been invited earlier than are all taken under consideration."

Former Indian ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna mentioned plenty of thought goes into the choice making.

"It is a steadiness between vital companions, neighbours and main powers," he mentioned, including that availability of the state chief throughout that point additionally performs an important function.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f2ea/live/b79c13b0-f81b-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Hindustan Times via Getty Images Former president of United States of America (USA) Barack Obama along with his wife Michelle Obama, President of India Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during the ceremony of 66th Republic Day of India, at Rajpath, on January 26, 2015 in New Delhi, India. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Hindustan Instances through Getty Photos Barack Obama turned the primary American president to attend the parade in 2015

International coverage analyst Harsh V Pant mentioned the evolving listing of chief company mirrors India's altering engagement with the world. "If you happen to consider the EU delegation this yr, with its management coming, it is very clear that we're doubling down on our engagement with the EU."

He added that probably a commerce deal could be introduced - signalling that India and the European bloc are on the identical web page in the case of the present geopolitical state of affairs.

This comes as India continues to have interaction with the US on a commerce deal. The talks, which have been occurring for nearly a yr, have strained their relationship because the US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian items, the best in Asia, together with penalties linked to India's buy of Russian oil.

"It [the choice of the parade's chief guest] provides you a way of India's priorities at that specific level - which geography it desires to concentrate on, or whether or not there's a milestone it desires to mark," Pant mentioned, declaring that India continued to have interaction carefully with the worldwide south.

In 2018, for instance, leaders of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) had been invited as chief company. It was the primary time a regional grouping was invited - marking 25 years of India's engagement with the bloc, Pant added.

On the similar time, some absences from the visitor listing have additionally mirrored strained relationships.

Pakistani leaders attended twice as chief company earlier than the neighbours went to warfare in 1965. Islamabad has not been invited thereafter - an indication of continuous pressure in ties. The one time China attended was when Marshal Ye Jianying got here in 1958, 4 years earlier than the 2 international locations went to warfare over their disputed border.

However the significance of Republic Day extends past diplomacy and visitor lists.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/408b/live/84379a40-f81a-11f0-8652-4de4e28f2840.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Indian President Abdul Kalam (R), Russian President Vladimir Putin (2R) and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) watch Indian army jets flying over India's 58th Republic Day parade from a bullet-proof box, in New Delhi, 26 January 2007. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> AFP through Getty Photos Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the Republic Day parade in 2007

Analysts says India's parade stands aside from related army shows elsewhere on the planet for numerous causes. The truth that India has a visitor virtually yearly is one in every of them.

Additionally, for many international locations, these parades commemorate army victories. Like Russia's Victory Day marks the defeat of Germany in World Warfare Two, France's Bastille Day celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution and the eventual fall of the monarchy, and China's army parade marks their victory over Japan in World Warfare Two.

India's celebration, in contrast, is centred on the structure, says Pant.

"For a lot of different international locations, these celebrations are associated to victories in warfare. We do not have a good time that. We have a good time changing into a constitutional democracy - the approaching into impact of the structure."

Not like army parades in lots of Western capitals, India's Republic Day additionally blends shows of its army functionality with cultural performances and regional tableaux, projecting each energy and variety.

Past technique and symbolism, the parade usually leaves a extra private impression on visiting leaders.

The previous official who spoke anonymously recalled how the Obamas had been significantly struck by the camel-mounted contingents - a second that stayed with them lengthy after the formal ceremonies ended.