Four veterans of the Indian National Army (INA), an all-women contingent of the 183-year-old Assam Rifles marching down Rajpath and an IAF aircraft flying using a mix of traditional and biofuel on Saturday, were among the many firsts for a Republic Day.
The artillery gun system M777 American Ultra Light Howitzers, recently acquired from the US and K-9 Vajra, a self-propelled artillery gun were also new additions this year.
The four INA veterans, aged over 90, rode down the ceremonial boulevard in a open jeep, as a striking black and white portrait of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hung from the side of their vehicles.
They received a round of applause from the crowd as they passed by.
The INA was an armed force formed by Indian nationalist Rash Behari Bose in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. Later, Netaji took charge of the army to fight against British forces.
Maj Gen Rajpal Punia, Chief of Staff, HQ Delhi Area said, the veterans participated for the first time during the parade.
The 70th Republic Day parade also saw a dazzling display of ‘Nari Shakti' led by an all-women contingent of the Assam Rifles, which created history by walking down Rajpath for the first time.
Maj Khushboo Kanwar, 30, and mother of a child, who led the contingent of…