India's 77th Republic Day in photos

NEW DELHI (AP) — Rows of soldiers advance in lockstep, automatic rifles braced against their bodies. Behind them roll armoured columns, followed by mobile missile systems, radars, tanks and military command units. Overhead, fighter jets tear through the sky.

India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday with a colorful parade displaying its military might on a boulevard in the country’s capital, New Delhi. Thousands of people lined the road to watch the long parade marking the anniversary of the official adoption of India’s Constitution on Jan. 26, 1950, nearly three years after independence from British colonial rule.

The parade took place on Kartavya Path boulevard, which is lined with expansive lawns, canals and rows of trees.

Visiting European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the event as chief guests and were flanked by India’s president and prime minister.

Soldiers from India’s military and paramilitary forces, along with their bands, marched as the country’s leaders and other guests looked on. The parade showcased India’s domestically produced military hardware, with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, mobile radar systems and missile platforms rolling past in formation. Stunt performers on motorbikes also participated.

The parade also showcased India's culture. Troupes in vivid dress whirled through folk dances and various floats displayed India’s cultural diversity.

The parade ended with a flypast by air force fighters, including Rafale jets and transport planes.

Across India, state capitals and major cities also staged Republic Day parades amid heightened security measures.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Schoolgirls walk with portraits of Indian freedom fighters and eminent personalities during a Republic Day ceremonial parade, in Kolkata, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

An Indian army commando leads a parading contingent during the Republic Day ceremonial parade, in Kolkata, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

An Indian soldier and a policeman guard as a woman walks near the venue of India's Republic Day parade in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

Indian soldier guard outside the venue of India's Republic Day parade in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

A cadet of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) shouts as she salute during the India's Republic Day parade in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

A tableaux depicting the Indian state of Maharashtra drives past during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian para-military force soldiers march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Army soldiers display Unified rocket launcher systems and Brahmos missiles during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

An Indian army soldier along with sniffer dog marches during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian army soldiers with Bacterian camels and Zanskar ponies march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Army soldiers on light strike vehicles drive past during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Border Security Force soldiers march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Soldiers from Indian para-military force display their skills on motorcycles during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Para-military force soldiers march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

European Council President Antonio Costa, center left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen greet officials upon their arrival at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian army commandos march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian military soldiers march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Indian Para-military force soldiers march during the Republic Day parade celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Judges at the International Criminal Court ruled on Monday that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about the octogenarian’s health.

Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in dozens of killings as part of his so-called war on drugs when in office, first as the mayor of a southern city and later as president.

Lawyers for the 80-year old had argued Duterte was in frail health and his condition was deteriorating in the court’s detention unit.

Duterte was arrested in March and was set to appear in court in The Hague in September. That hearing was delayed after a pretrial panel of judges granted “limited postponement” to give the court time to determine “whether Mr Duterte is fit to follow and participate” in the proceedings.

Following an assessment by a panel of medical experts, judges found that Duterte “is able effectively to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings.”

The panel included experts in geriatric neurology and psychiatry. According to court filings, Duterte underwent cognitive testing, as well as mental and physical examinations.

Rights groups and families of victims hailed Duterte’s arrest in March. Two organizations supporting the families of suspects killed in Duterte’s crackdown hailed the court’s decision as “a resounding victory for justice and accountability.”

In a joint statement, SENTRO and the CATW-AP said, “The ICC’s ruling reaffirms a simple but powerful truth: No one, not even a former head of state, is above the law.”

According to a filing last month, ICC prosecutors claim Duterte instructed and authorized “violent acts including murder to be committed against alleged criminals, including alleged drug dealers and users.”

Prosecutors announced in February 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the so-called war on drugs overseen by Duterte when he served as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president.

In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at escaping accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.

Judges rejected a request from Duterte's legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because the Philippines had withdrawn from the court. Countries can’t “abuse” their right to withdraw from the Rome Statute “by shielding persons from justice in relation to alleged crimes that are already under consideration,” the September decision says.

Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported to up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

FILE - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the troops during the 82nd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines on Dec. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)