2025 Army Day Parade in Pune; Promo video launched at IFFI – The Indian Express

“Bollywood celebrities like R Madhavan and Rakul Preet Singh expressed their excitement in the video, lauding the dedication of soldiers and encouraging citizens to witness this grand occasion.” said a press statement issued through the Defence PRO, Pune on Sunday.

This will be the third occasion on which a city other than New Delhi will host Army Day Parade, keeping in line with the Union government’s decision of holding events of national importance outside the national capital, in order to give them wider visibility and participation of citizens. The Army Day parades of 2023 and 2024 were hosted by Bangalore and Lucknow respectively.

“Known for its military heritage, Pune has been a significant contributor in India’s defense landscape. It serves as the headquarters of the Southern Command of the Indian Army and houses prestigious institutions such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the College of Military Engineering (CME). This year’s parade will take place at the Bombay Engineering Group and Centre, featuring marching contingents, mechanized columns, and technological exhibits. Highlights will include demonstrations of cutting-edge defense technologies such as drones and robotics, along with captivating performances like combat demonstrations and martial arts displays.” the press statement read.

The main feature of the Army Day commemoration is a parade by contingents from various formations of the Army, which is reviewed by the Army Chief and a solemn event attended by key defence dignitaries.

Every year, January 15 is commemorated as “Army Day” to mark the occasion when General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, in 1949 and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India.