Pune, Maharashtra, will host the Indian Army’s ceremonial annual 2025 Army Day on 15 January 2025. This was announced during the launch of the parade's promotional video, which features Bollywood stars R. Madhavan and Rakul Preet Singh, at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.

Why is Army Day celebrated?

Army Day marks an important transition in the Indian Army, where the command was formally vested in an Indian. Even after independence on 15 August 1947, the Chief of the Army Staff was a British officer.

On 15 January 1949, an Indian General, K M Carriapa, took over as the Chief of the Army Staff from the British General Sir Roy Butcher.

To commemorate this momentous event in the Indian Army, 15 January is observed as Army Day in India every year. On this day, the officers and Jawans of the Indian Army conduct an impressive parade.

Theme of the Army Day 2025

The theme of the 2025 Army Day is Samarth Bharat, Saksham Sena’ (Capable India, Empowered Army), reflecting the Indian Army’s commitment to national strength and defense capabilities.

The Union Ministry of Defence has announced that it will celebrate 2025 as the “Year of Reform’.

Third Army Day Parade outside New Delhi

Traditionally, the Army Day Parade was held in New Delhi, where the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force headquarters are located. In 2022, the Narendra Modi government decided to hold the annual Army Day, Air Force Day, and Indian Navy Day Parades outside New Delhi in other parts of the country.

According to the government, the decision to hold the Armed Forces annual parade was made to involve the public in these celebrations, instill a sense of pride in the armed forces amongst the public, and promote national unity.

Rotation of the Army Day

The government has decided to rotate the annual Army Day parade among the Indian Army's six operational commands.

First time in 2023, the Army Day Parade was held outside New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Karnataka.
In 2024, it was held in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Command structure of the Indian Army

Following is the list of the Indian Army’s 6 operational commands and one Training command.

Command	Headquarters
Western Command	Chandimandir (Haryana)
Eastern Command	Kolkata (West Bengal)
Southern Command	Pune(Maharashtra)
Northern Command	Udhampur(Jammu )
Central Command	Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
South -Western Command	Jaipur (Rajasthan )
Army Training Command	Shimla(Himachal Pradesh)

Air Force Day

The Indian Air Force celebrates its foundation day, October 8, as Indian Air Force Day. On this day in 1932, the British established the Royal Indian Air Force, which, after independence, was renamed the Indian Air Force.

Till 2021, the Air Force Day has been celebrated at the Hindon Air Base, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
2022- Chandigarh Air Base.
2023- Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
2024 - Marina Beach Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Command Structure of the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force has 5 operational commands, one Training command and one Maintenance command.

Command	Headquarters
Western Air Command	Delhi
South-Western Air Command	Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
Central Air Command	Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh)
Eastern Air Command	Shillong (Meghalaya )
Southern Air Command	Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
Training Command	Bengaluru (Karnataka)
Maintenance Command	Nagpur (Maharashtra)

Navy Day

The Indian Navy celebrates Navy Day on 4 December to commemorate the successful conclusion of Operation Trident of the Indian Navy during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, which crippled the Karachi port of Pakistan.

2022 Indian Navy Day - Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
2023 Navy Day - Sindhudurg Fort off the Maharashtra coast. Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj built the Sindhudurg Fort in the 17th century.
2024 Indian Navy Day - Blue Flag Beach, Puri, Odisha,

Command Structure of the Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has three operational commands.

Command	Headquarters
Western Naval Command	Mumbai (Maharashtra)
Eastern Naval Command	Visakhapatnam(Andhra Pradesh)
Southern Naval Command	Kochi (Kerala)

Tri-Service Command

The headquarters of the Tri-Service command of the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, and Indian Army is in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar.