Around 10,000 special guests from diverse backgrounds have been invited to witness the 76th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path, New Delhi on 26 January 2025 in line with the objective to increase ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (public participation) in events of national importance, the Ministry of Defence has informed.
The special guests include architects of ‘Swarnim Bharat’ (golden India) such as sarpanches (village head), whose villages have achieved targets in selected government initiatives, SHGs working in areas of food, nutrition, health, water sanitation & hygiene, Panchayati Raj Institutions-Community Based Organisations Convergence and gender activities. The Ministry stated that some of the invited guests are carrying out exemplary work to ensure income & employment generation and environment protection through Self Help Groups (SHGs) and said that preference has been given to a SHG member who has not visited Delhi.
Other invited guests include PM-JANMAN mission participants, Tribal artisans/Van Dhan Vikas Yojna members, National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation ventures, ASHA workers, MyBharat volunteers.
Further, for their excellent work in the area of disaster relief and environment protection, disaster relief workers, Pani Samiti, Water Warriors, Community Resource Persons, Forest and wildlife conservation volunteers have been invited for the first time. Farmers and families who have supported environment conservation and use of renewable energy under PM Surya Ghar scheme and PM KUSUM have also been invited for the first time.
The Defence Ministry also said that members of para-Olympic contingent, chess Olympiad medalist, Bridge World Games Silver medalist and Snooker World Championship Gold medalist have been invited. Encouraging innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, Patent holders and start-ups have also been included as special guests. School children with patriotic fervour who have emerged as winners of All India School Band Competition and Veer Gatha competition will also be attending the Republic Day Ceremony as special guests.
In addition to the Republic Day celebrations, these special guests would be visiting the National War Memorial, PM Sangrahalay and other prominent places in Delhi. They will also get an opportunity to interact with the respective Ministers.
