- The 2024 Republic Day parade saw a march by an all-women Tri-service contingent for the first time. Some 265 women bikers from CRPF, BSF, and SSB performed brave motorcycle stunts. A group of 1,500 dancers gracefully presented various Indian folk dance forms with unity in diversity as the theme.
- From France, a 95-member marching contingent and a 33-member band contingent participated in the Republic Day parade. An Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and two Rafale fighter jets from the French Air Force featured along with a jaw-dropping flypast by 46 IAF aircraft.
- French President Emmanuel Macron, the Chief Guest for this year’s Republic Day parade, announced measures to facilitate Indian students wanting to study in France. He added that his country would make attempts to teach French in public schools and support the visa process for Indian students.
- ASI report on Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi claims a Hindu structure existed at the present mosque site, referring to material it unearthed, including carvings and inscriptions. Citing the report, Hindu Mahasabha President Swami Chakrapani has appealed to the Muslims to give back the rights to Hindus.
- Maratha leader Manoj Jarange has issued Saturday 11 am as the deadline for the state government to act on their quota demand, threatening to march to Mumbai’s Azad Maidan to hold a massive protest. He added that the protesters wouldn’t call back their agitation till the government fulfills their reservation demand.
- Speculators are rife that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar could return to the NDA fold. If he does, it would be his 4th such political maneuver in 10 years, proving he has been loyal to himself than to any political ally. However, Nitish’s overtures to the BJP can also be to demand more from the INDIA bloc.
- The Russian Embassy in India joined the 2024 Republic Day celebrations by releasing a special video that features its staff members, children, and professional Russian dancers grooving to the Bollywood song “Main Nikla Gaddi Leke” from the movie Gadar, ending with a message that reads, “Happy Republic Day, #India! From Russia with love.”
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