According to sources it was deliberately not on display, this year as the Japanese PM was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The negotiations for cooperation with Japan on a civil nuclear deal are in progress. The display of the combat missile with nuclear warhead on this occasion may incite the opponents in Japan to lobby against the deal.

But the sources in the Defence Ministry say that there was no such motive behind this. It was not put on display as it was already displayed last year.

However, Abe had the chance of viewing other recently acquired state-of-the-art Defence platforms, the military prowess, the country’s rich and unique cultural diversities and the nation’s achievements in diverse fields that came alive at the historic Rajpath as the country celebrated its 65th Republic Day.

There was the display of India’s first indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Tejas is a 4+ generation, supersonic, highly manoeuvrable, multi-role, smallest and lightest in its class contemporary combat aircraft designed for the Indian Air Force and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It is considered a ‘game changer’ for India’s air defence preparedness.

The Main Battle Tank (MBT Arjun) MK-II, the first indigenously designed and developed tank and fondly called a Desert Ferrari for its excellent mobility was on display. The recently inducted transport aircraft into the Indian Air Force, C-130J Super Hercules which is optimized for undertaking special operations and the gigantic C-17 Globemaster which is a heavy lift, long-range aircraft added to the attractions.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) put on display the ‘Astra’ and ‘Helina’ Missiles and a tableau on unmanned systems comprising ‘DAKSH’ – a Remotely Operated Vehicle, models of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, mini UAV-‘NETRA’ Wheeled Surveillance Vehicle, Tracked Surveillance Vehicle Muntra S, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle- ‘NISHANT’, Mini Remotely Operated Vehicle, Confined Space Remotely Operated Vehicle and Gun Mounted Remotely Operated Vehicle.

The weaponry put on display by the Indian Army included tank T-90 ‘Bheeshma’, ICV BMP-2 (Sarath), TK-T-72 Full Width Mine Plough, PMS Bridging System, OSA-AK Weapon System, Smerch – Multi-launcher Rocket System, BrahMos Weapon System and Transportable Satellite Terminals (TST). The Army’s Mechanised Columns concluded with a flypast by the Advanced Light Helicopters ‘Dhruv’ of the Army Aviation Corps.

The Indian Air Force paraded its tableau with the theme ‘Transformation of Indian Air Force.’ representing the IAF multi-faceted transformation over the past eight decades and highlighting the full spectrum capability of the Air Force. The front trailer showed a Hawai Sepoy to the present day Air Warrior emphasising the IAF’s credo of People First Mission Always. The quantum leap in training aircraft was depicted from the early trainer Tiger Moth to the latest Pilatus PC-7 aircraft which is building the critical human potential of Indian Air Force today.

The second exhibit depicted the transformation in the fighter fleet from a Wapiti biplane to state-of-the-art, air dominance fighter Sukhoi-30 MKI that can undertake full spectrum operations. Similar transformation in the transport fleet of the IAF was shown from the Dakota DC-3 to the C-17 Globe Master that has enhanced IAF’s strategic reach.

The Indian Navy’s tableau depicted a scaled down model of a submarine, one of the most potent and deadly military platforms in the arsenal of the Navy. Over the years, the submarine operations have grown in scope and complexity and today the Indian Navy operates nuclear powered submarines which have greater punch and reach and can operate underwater for longer durations.

The Republic Day parade ceremony commenced at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath. An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of our Armed Forces personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldier’s helmet.

Thereafter the National Anthem was played. The parade then commenced and the President of India Pranab Mukherjee took the salute as the Chief Guest Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe watched the march past alongwith a galaxy of audience. The parade was commanded by Lt. General Subroto Mitra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area. Major General Rajbir Singh, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area was the parade Second-in-Command.

Param Vir Chakra winners Sub Maj and Hon. Capt Bana Singh (Retd), Subedar Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers and Havaldar Sanjay Kumar, 13 JAK RIF and Ashok Chakra Winners Maj Gen Cyrus Pithawalla, GoC, Andhra Sub Area, Lt Col Jas Ram Singh (retd), Major D Sreeram Kumar, Instructor, Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, Honorary Naib Subedar Chhering Mutup (retd), Shri Hukum Singh and Govind Singh of District Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh and Bhure Lal of District Guna also from Madhya Pradesh followed the Deputy Parade Commander on jeeps.

The marching contingents of Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Parachute Regiment, Punjab Regiment, Madras Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Mahar Regiment, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment, 9 Gorkha Rifles and 103 Infantry Battalion (TA) Sikh Light Infantry.

The marching contingents of Navy comprising 144 men was led by Surgeon Lieutenant Ambika Nautiyal and the Air Force contingent comprising 144 men was led by Squadron Leader Manvender Singh. The marching contingents of paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces included contingents from the Border Security Force (BSF), Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Railway Protection Force, Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme. The Camel-mounted band of the BSF and the Ex-Servicemen marching contingent was another major attraction.

Tableaux from 18 States and Central Ministries and Departments presented varied historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the country. They showcased country’s progress in different fields. Twenty of the 25 children selected for the National Bravery Award–2013 also participated in the parade. Five children have got the award posthumously. In the children’s pageant section, nearly 1,000 boys and girls drawn from Delhi's four schools and one from North-East Zonal Cultural Centre, Arunachal Pradesh performed dances and other performances.

‘Janbaz’, the motorcycle display by the Border Security Force was a major attraction of the parade. The ‘Janbaz’ team consisted of 162 riders on 30 motorcycles performing Border Men Salute, Side Riding, Ladder Double, Neck Riding, Harmony, Exercise, Janbaz, Yoga, Parallel Bar, Human Pyramid, Guldasta, Seema Prahari and Flag March formations.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by the IAF. The flypast commenced with ‘Chakra’ formation, comprising three Mi-35 helicopters in ‘Vic’ formation, followed by the ‘Vic’ formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Trailing them was a ‘Globe’ formation comprising one C-17 Globemaster, flanked by two Su-30s. Next in line was the fighters, while five Jaguars flied in Arrowhead Formation, another five Mig-29 Air Superiority Fighters called the “Tridents” flied in Fulcrum style. Then the breath-taking Trishul formation comprising three Su-30 MKI of No. 2 Squadron flied over the Rajpath and once in front of the saluting dais the Su-30 MKI aircraft split upwards, making a Trishul in the sky. The flypast concluded with another Su-30 MKI carrying out a Vertical Charlie manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

The ceremony will culminated with the National Anthem and release of balloons.