Historic First: Women Agniveers Join IAF Band at Republic Day Parade

• Nine women Agniveers will march as part of the Indian Air Force band contingent at the 77th Republic Day Parade on Kartavya Path, a historic first.
• Flt Lt Akshita Dhankar will unfurl the national flag alongside President Droupadi Murmu during the ceremonial parade.
• The IAF contingent will feature 29 aircraft in a two-phase flypast, including a special spearhead formation for "Operation Sindoor."
• The 75-member IAF band includes 66 Agniveers, with nine women among them, marking their debut in the parade.
• Sqn Ldr Jagdesh Kumar, Sqn Ldr Nikita Choudhary, and Flt Lt Dinesh Murali expressed pride and challenges of practicing in Delhi's cold.

Why It Matters: Women Agniveers will make history by participating in the IAF band at the Republic Day Parade.