By: Lt Col JS Sodhi (Retd), Editor, GSDN
Every Indian Army officer has either done a course of instruction in Pune or has been posted in Pune during his/her Service. And almost, every Indian Army soldier has either been posted to Pune or has been on Temporary Duty to Pune.
Thus, the city of Pune, located just 149 kilometres from Mumbai, the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra occupies a special place in every Indian Army personnel’s heart. Hence, the decision of the Indian Army to hold its annual Army Day Parade in 2025 in Pune is apt and appropriate befitting the strong legacy and lineage that Pune has with the Indian Army.
With the Southern Command of the Indian Army located in Pune along with world class training institutions of the Indian Army like the National Defence Academy, College of Military Engineering, Bombay Engineer Group & Centre, Military Intelligence Training School, Military Institute of Technology, Foreign Training Node and some combat formations, Pune has immense military significance.
Next year’s Army Day Parade will be the third edition being held outside New Delhi, the capital of India. Till 2022, the annual Army Day Parades were always held in New Delhi commencing 1949.
It was correctly decided on September 20, 2022 that the Army Day Parades should be held in various parts of the country so that more citizens can witness and to have more army-citizen engagement, apart from showcasing the Indian Army’s prowess across the country.
The Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January to commemorate the assumption of command of the Indian Army in 1949 by General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa, OBE from General Sir Francis Robert Roy Bucher, KBE, CB, MC the last British Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
With the earlier editions of the Army Day Parade held in Bengaluru in 2023 and Lucknow in 2024, it will be a historic first for Maharashtra and Pune to host the 77th Army Day Parade on January 15, 2025.
The Southern Command of the Indian Army is the organising Command for the Army Day Parade 2025. The Southern Command is the biggest operational command of the Indian Army that has the onerous task of guarding the western borders of India and is being commanded by Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
The Bombay Engineer Group & Centre located in Khadki, Pune will be the venue for next year’s Army Day Parade. The parade will be commanded by a Major General ranked officer.
Brigadier Paramjit Singh Jyoti, VSM is the Commandant of the Bombay Engineer Group & Centre also known as the Bombay Sappers or BEG (K) which are a famed and famous regiment of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army having performed exceedingly well in wars, counter-insurgency operations, peace and aid to civil authorities. The Bombay Sappers have been awarded numerous awards and honours including the Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, the British Victoria Cross and the French Legion of Honour.
The Army Day Parade 2025 will be reviewed by General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, the 30th Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Indian Army in which the COAS will spell out the achievements of the organisation and the road-ahead.
The Army Day Parade is not a mere ceremonial function but a national celebration of courage, bravery, camaraderie, secularism, unity in diversity, professionalism and the technological prowess that the Indian Army is famous for, the world over.
The Army Day Parade 2025 scheduled to be held in Pune on January 15, 2025 is truly India’s pride and Maharashtra’s honour.
Noodlemagazine I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav
Thanks for info ..! My father served in DRDO , ordinance , CQAE posted in different cities during his service. I now based in Pune would like to witness the army day parade in Bombay Sappers..! How should I enrol for the same..?