A contingent of soldiers from France will participate in this year's Republic Day parade on Rajpath here, the first ever by any foreign country.
French President Francois Hollande will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade and celebrations.
"In a first-of-its-kind gesture, a French contingent will march along with Indian troops on January 26 on Rajpath," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told the media here on Thursday.
"There has been no occasion in the past when foreign troops participated in the march past during our Republic Day celebrations. However, you will recall that in 2009, the Indian troops participated in Bastille Day celebrations in France," he said.
It will be the fifth occasion when a French president is the chief guest at the celebrations. No other country has been given this kind of honour, Swarup added.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app