Security personnel stand guard in front of the India Gate in New Delhi. (AP File Photo)
Chief Guest for the Republic Day Parade, US President Barack Obama, will take the salute at New Delhi's Rajpath at 10 am today. The first US president to visit India twice during office, Mr Obama is also the first US president to be the chief guest on this occasion. The entire Rajpath area has been placed under an unprecedented security blanket.
Here are the top 10 developments in this story:
Rajpath has been divided into 13 zones, each of which will be manned by a police team headed by a deputy commissioner. Two hundred security personnel will guard the main stage, where President Obama and other guests will sit.
Extra caution has been taken in preparing security passes, as there are warnings that terrorists may try infiltrate the area using fake identities. Each security personnel will have to be identified by his team members to get a pass.The 3 km stretch has been covered with 160 CCTV cameras.
The highlight of this year's parade will be the indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash medium range missiles and weapon locating radar.
There will also be the long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft P-8I, and the long-range advanced MiG-29K, which will be seen for the first time.
In a first, three all-women marching contingents of the Army, Navy and the Air Force will take part in the parade, signifying women's growing role in defence.
After the parade, in the afternoon, the US President has several engagements - a meeting with the leaders of the Congress party and the "At-home" hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
At 5.30 pm, the US President will attend the India-US CEO Forum meeting at the hotel Taj Palace. Another meeting with business delegations from the two countries -- India-US Business Summit - will take place later in the evening.
The US President and the First Lady had arrived on Sunday morning to a warm welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had broken protocol to receive them at the airport. Their bonhomie had grown over various engagements through the day.
The two leaders also achieved a breakthrough in the civil nuclear cooperation that had been stalled for six years over various issues.
At night, during the banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee, President Obama raised a glass, saying, "To the great partnership between our two nations, the dosti (friendship) between our two people."
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