French marching contingent at Republic Day parade has members from India and Nepal
- Six Indians and six Nepalis will be part of the 95-member French Foreign Legion contingent that will march on the Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Republic Day.
- French President Emmanuel Macron is the chief guest at the parade this year.
Key Highlights
- The French marching contingent will be accompanied by a 33-member French military band.
- Two Rafale fighter jets and one Airbus-a330 multi-role tanker transport aircraft of the French Air and Space Force will be part of the flypast.
For the First Time
- An advanced radio frequency monitoring system, drone jammers, and medium-range surface-to-air missile will be on display for the first time at the parade
- An all-woman tri-services contingent will also take part in the parade for the first time,
- On July 14, 2023, Indian Prime Minister was the chief guest at the French Bastille Day parade
- Which saw a 242-member Indian tri-service contingent marching on Champs-Élysées. Rafale jets of the Indian Air Force also took part in the flypast.
French Bastille Day
- The National Day of France, also known as Bastille Day, is celebrated on July 14 every year.
- Known as La Fete Nationale or Le 14 Juillet in French, the day is celebrated with fireworks and a parade.
- One of the most important days in the history of France, it marks the fall of the Bastille, a military fortress and political prison, then considered a symbol of the monarchy and armoury.
Prelims Takeaway
- The National Day of France
- Rafale fighter