In this file photo, soldiers march during the Indian Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Reuters / Altaf Hussain
As part of the new protocols, all contingents and marching participants will be required to wear face masks and the contingents will be smaller this time. Instead of 144 members, each will have 96 participants.
- News18.com
- Last update: December 30, 2020 8:33 AM IST
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In an attempt to avoid overcrowding and ensure social distancing amid the fury coronavirus
pandemic, the central government made a number of changes to the Republic Day parade in 2021.
For the first time in R-Day history, the parade will not culminate at the Red Fort. It will start at Vijay Chowk and end at the National Stadium. The distance of the parade has been reduced by half, from the previous 8.2 kilometers to the current 3.3 kilometers.
As part of the new protocols, all contingents and marching participants will be required to wear face masks and the contingents will be smaller this time. Instead of 144 members, each will have 96 participants.
The number of spectators has also been reduced from 1.15,000 to 25,000 and children under the age of 15 will not be allowed to enter. The number of cultural programs has also been reduced.
The new set of rules comes as India struggles to contain the coronavirus pandemic. About 150 army jawans who had recently traveled to Delhi to participate in the Republic Day parade tested positive for COVID-19. All of them have been quarantined in the Delhi cantonment.
India has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the main guest. The Foreign Office clarified last week that the British prime minister will be part of the Republic Day celebrations despite the scare over the new strain of the virus in his country.
India has reported 16,432 new COVID-19 cases, 24,900 recoveries and 252 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health in a statement.
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