Republic Day 2026: Animal contingent to march on Kartavya Path — Camels, dogs to debut

NEW DELHI: India’s Republic Day parade successful 2026 volition diagnostic a uncommon and striking spectacle, with an carnal contingent of the Indian Army marching on Kartavya Path for the archetypal time, highlighting their captious relation successful subject operations crossed utmost terrains. According to quality bureau ANI, a specially curated carnal contingent of the Army’s Remount & Veterinary Corps (RVC) volition instrumentality portion successful the parade, showcasing endurance, sacrifice and India’s unsocial high-altitude defence capability.The contingent volition see 2 Bactrian camels, 4 Zanskar ponies, 4 raptors, 10 Indian-breed Army dogs and six accepted subject dogs presently successful service. Together, they bespeak the Indian Army’s blend of tradition, innovation and increasing absorption connected self-reliance.

Leading the file volition beryllium the Bactrian camels, precocious inducted for deployment successful Ladakh’s acold godforsaken regions. Adapted to freezing temperatures, debased oxygen levels and altitudes supra 15,000 feet, these camels tin transportation loads of up to 250 kg and question agelong distances with minimal h2o and feed. Their induction has strengthened logistics and patrol capabilities on the Line of Actual Control, particularly successful sandy stretches and steep terrain.

Marching alongside them volition beryllium the Zanskar ponies, an indigenous upland breed from Ladakh. Despite their tiny size, these ponies tin transportation 40 to 60 kg astatine utmost altitudes and temperatures that tin autumn to minus 40 degrees Celsius. Since being inducted successful 2020, they person operated successful immoderate of the toughest locations, including the Siachen Glacier, and are utilized for logistics and mounted patrols covering agelong distances.The enactment volition besides diagnostic 4 raptors, utilized by the Army for bird-strike power and surveillance, highlighting the innovative usage of earthy abilities for operational safety.Another cardinal item volition beryllium the Army dogs, often referred to arsenic the Army’s “silent warriors”. Trained astatine the RVC Centre and College successful Meerut, they enactment counter-terrorism operations, explosive detection, tracking, guarding and catastrophe response.

Many person earned gallantry awards for acts of bravery.As portion of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make successful India push, the Army has progressively inducted indigenous canine breeds specified arsenic Mudhol Hound, Rampur Hound, Chippiparai, Kombai and Rajapalayam. Their beingness connected Kartavya Path volition underline India’s thrust for self-reliance successful defence.