Pune to host Army Day parade next year

This will be the third occasion when a city other than New Delhi will host the Army Day parade, keeping in line with the Union government’s decision of holding events of national importance outside the national capital.

Subedar Ganga Ram was serving at the HQ Commander Works Engineer (Air Force) Lohegaon, Pune, and was tried for committing two offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. (File photo)

Pune will play host to the next Army Day Parade on January 15, 2025, and to various events in the run up to it, Army officials in Pune said on Saturday.

This will be the third occasion when a city other than New Delhi will host the Army Day parade, keeping in line with the Union government’s decision of holding events of national importance outside the national capital, in order to give them wider visibility and participation of citizens. The Army Day parades of 2023 and 2024 were hosted by Bangalore and Lucknow, respectively.

Every year, January 15 is commemorated as ‘Army Day’ to mark the occasion when General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949, and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India.

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With the city hosting the next Army Day parade, the Pune headquartered Southern Command will host the prestigious event second time, having played host to it at Bengaluru in its area of responsibility earlier.

Over the weeks, in the run up to the main event on January 15, which is slated to take place at Bombay Engineer Group and Centre in Khadki, Pune will witness many events and displays, officials said.

The main feature of the Army Day commemoration is a parade by contingents from various formations of the Army, which is reviewed by the Army Chief and a solemn event attended by key defence dignitaries.

Officials said that programmes in the run up to the main event will celebrate Pune’s significance in the military history of the country. There will be also be displays showcasing India’s defence capabilities and country’s journey towards self-reliance in Defence.

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