Republic Day 2024: A look at Viksit Bharat and Bharat - Loktantra ki Matruka theme for this year

For the first time, the Republic Day Parade will be heralded by 100 women artists playing Indian musical instruments. It will commence with the music of Sankh, Naadswaram, Nagada, etc. which will be played by women artists.

This year's parade will see an all-women Tri-Service contingent marching down the Kartavya Path for the first time. Women personnel will also comprise the CAPF contingents. “Best representation of women will be seen in this year’s Republic Day parade,” the Defence Secretary said.

The third edition of the Vande Bharatam dance competition was organised as part of Republic Day Celebrations 2024. Groups of women artists will carry out a performance at the Kartavya Path. Around 200 women artists will perform in front of the Saluting Dais.

The Viksit Bharat theme for the 75th Republic Day envisages the government's long-term vision for India, one in which the nation will be economically successful as well as socially and technically developed.

On December 11, 2023, Prime Minister Modi launched the Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth. Highlighting the role of educational institutions in the personality development of an individual, he noted that a nation can become developed only with the development of its people.

“For India, this is the time, right time,” the Prime Minister noted while emphasising that each moment of the 'Amrit Kaal' should be utilised.

“Today, every institution and every individual should move with a resolution that every effort and act will be for Viksit Bharat. The aim of your goals, your resolutions should be only one – Developed India,” PM Modi said.

He noted that India's rapidly increasing population is empowered by youth, adding that the country is going to be the leader in terms of the working-age population for the coming 25-30 years. “Youth power is both the agent of change and also the beneficiaries of change”, he said.

“We have 25 years of Amrit Kaal in front of us. We have to work 24 hours a day for the goal of Viksit Bharat. This is the environment we have to create as a family,” he added.

Viksit Bharat @2047 is aimed at making India a developed nation by 2047 when the country will mark the 100th year of its Independence. Several aspects of development such as social advancement, environmental sustainability, economic growth, and good governance are all included in it.

Another theme for this year's Republic Day is Bharat - Loktantra ki Matruka or India - Mother of Democracy.

The term democracy has been an age-old concept in India. “As per the Indian ethos, democracy comprises the values of freedom, acceptability, equality, and inclusivity in the society and allows its common citizens to lead a quality and dignified life. The Rigveda and the Atharvaveda, the earliest available sacred texts refer to participatory institutions like the Sabha, Samiti, and Sansad, the last term being still in currency denoting our Parliament,” read a September 2023 release from the Ministry of Culture.

The two epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, also talk about involving people in the process of decision-making.

As per the ministry release, the Indian democracy is "truly a festive proclamation of veracity, cooperation, collaboration, peace, sympathy and collective strength of the people."

French President Emmanuel Macron will be the chief guest at this year’s Republic Day Parade.

This time, a 95-member marching contingent and a 33-member band contingent from France will also take part in the annual parade at Kartavya Path, which will start at 10:30 am and will run for a duration of around 90 minutes.

Moreover, around 13,000 special guests have been invited to the Republic Day Parade this year.