For the first time, nine women Agniveer will march as part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) band during the 77th Republic Day parade along Kartavya Path on January 26, marking a major milestone in the force’s ceremonial history, officials said.

The development was announced at an official briefing, where the IAF also said that Flight Lieutenant Akshita Dhankar will unfurl the national flag alongside President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremonial parade.

The IAF band, commanded by Sergeant Charles Antony Daniel, will accompany the 144-member IAF marching contingent led by Squadron Leader Jagdesh Kumar. Squadron Leader Nikita Choudhary, Flight Lieutenant Prakhar Chandrakar, and Flight Lieutenant Dinesh Murali will serve as supernumerary officers in the contingent.

The air force will also showcase its aerial prowess with a two-phase flypast involving 29 aircraft, 16 fighter jets, four transport aircraft and nine helicopters, arranged in eight formations, a senior IAF official said. Four formations will fly past during the parade, while the remaining four will follow after the ceremony, including a special spearhead formation to mark “the success of Operation Sindoor” conducted in May last year.

Air Commodore Imran H Zaidi from the Directorate of Ceremonial at Air Headquarters said the 75-member IAF band will include 66 Agniveer and a mix of air warriors. “The 66 Agniveer will include nine women Agniveer, and this will be the first time they will be part of the IAF band in the parade,” he said.

Calling the opportunity a matter of pride, Squadron Leader Kumar, 33, said, “It is my first time in a Republic Day Parade, and I feel extremely proud to represent my Service on the Kartavya Path..” A native of Tamil Nadu and the first in his family to join the armed forces, he spoke about the demanding schedule amid Delhi’s winter chill.

“We arrive at around 4 am for practice and then put in 7-8 hours to make sure we give our best and all members of the contingent are working in tandem,,” he said.

Squadron Leader Choudhary, one of the three supernumerary officers, said she was also participating in the parade for the first time. “I work in the fighter controller branch. And, if we have a critical role in a combat scenario, it is wonderful to be part of the IAF contingent,” she said.

Flight Lieutenant Murali echoed similar sentiments, noting the physical demands of rehearsals. “Cold is a challenge but it is a boost to know you have been chosen for this responsibility that carries so much honour,” he said.

The IAF band will play a repertoire of patriotic compositions, including ‘Nidar Yodha’ and ‘Sare Jahan Se Achha’, before reaching the Saluting Dias. It will perform ‘Sound Barrier’ in front of the dais, followed by ‘Ladakoo’ after marching past.

Among the women Agniveer is 19-year-old Surabhi Sharma from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, who plays the saxophone. "I also play the saxophone, and it is a singular honour for me to be part of this iconic parade that is the pride of India," she said.

The major theme of this year’s Republic Day parade is the sesquicentenary of ‘Vande Mataram’.