Indian Army marked its 78th Army Day on 15 January 2026 with a historic parade in Jaipur, Rajasthan, underscoring the transition towards modern, agile, and technology-driven warfare.
- Fourth time the Army Day Parade was held outside Delhi
- First-ever parade outside an Army cantonment, conducted at the heart of Jaipur city (Mahal Road: Akshay Patra Circle → Bombay Hospital)
- South Western Command hosted the parade for the first time
- Previous host cities since 2023: Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune
Historical Background & Significance
- Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January
- Commemorates 15 January 1949, when K. M. Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army
- He took over command from F. R. R. Bucher, the last British officer
- Symbolises:
- Complete military sovereignty
- End of British control over India’s armed forces
- National pride and self-rule in defence affairs
- President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force)
Indian Army Day 2026: Theme
“Year of Networking and Data Centricity”
Focus areas:
- Digital transformation of warfare
- AI-driven decision-making
- Cyber resilience and data security
- Integrated battle management systems
- Real-time information sharing
This aligns with the Army Modernisation Plan, addressing emerging threats such as:
- Drones and swarm warfare
- Cyber warfare
- Hypersonic weapons
Key Highlights of Army Day Parade 2026
1. Strategic & Tactical Displays
- Debut of Bhairav Battalion contingents
- Represent lean, agile, rapid-response formations
- Designed for future multi-domain operations
2. Indigenous Defence Technology Showcase
Displayed Made-in-India platforms:
- Armour & Artillery:
- T-90 tanks, Arjun tanks
- K-9 Vajra
- Dhanush artillery gun
- ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System)
- Missiles & Rocket Systems:
- BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
- Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher
- Unmanned Systems (Drones):
- Prabal
- Switch
- Baaz
With about 1.4 million active personnel, the Indian Army is the world’s largest standing army, larger than China’s.
3. Cultural & Martial Heritage
The parade highlighted India’s cultural diversity:
- Rajasthani folk dances: Kalbelia, Gair
- Chenda percussion performance (Kerala)
- Traditional martial arts:
- Kalaripayattu
- Mallakhamb
About Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa
- First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army
- Led Indian forces on the Western Front during the 1947 Indo-Pak War
- One of only two Indian Field Marshals:
- K. M. Cariappa
- Sam Manekshaw
- First Indian officer selected for Imperial Defence College (UK) training (1947)
- Awarded Legion of Merit by Harry S. Truman
- Conferred the rank of Field Marshal in 1983 by the Government of India
Important Defence Days
| Defence Day | Date | Significance |
| Army Day | 15 January | Cariappa took command (1949) |
| Navy Day | 4 December | Operation Trident (1971) |
| Air Force Day | 8 October | IAF formation (1932) |