BACTRIAN CAMELS, ZANSKAR PONIES & RAPTORS AT REPUBLIC DAY PARADE from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

BACTRIAN CAMELS, ZANSKAR PONIES & RAPTORS AT REPUBLIC DAY PARADE

• At the annual Republic Day Parade, the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) of the Indian Army is usually represented only by its Army dog squad.
• In 2026, for the first time, the RVC will present a specially curated animal contingent that includes Bactrian camels, Zanskar ponies, Army dogs, and raptors.
• This marks a historic moment in the 247-year history of the Corps.
• Adding to the significance, the contingent will be led by a woman officer, Captain Harshita Raghav, who is among the first women inducted into the RVC in 2023.

• The Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) is a specialised corps of the Indian Army.
• It is responsible for the:
  • Breeding, rearing, and training of Army animals
  • Veterinary care and health management of these animals
• Animals under the RVC include:
• • Horses
  • Mules
  • Army dogs
  • Other specialised animals used for logistics and operations
• The RVC ensures that Army animals remain combat-ready and operationally fit, especially in:
  • High-altitude regions
  • Difficult and inaccessible terrain
• The Corps also supports counter-terrorism operations, reconnaissance, and disaster response.

• The origins of the RVC trace back to 1779, with the establishment of the Stud Department in Bengal, making it one of the oldest branches of the Indian Army.
• Key milestones in its evolution include:
  • Renamed as the Army Veterinary Corps (India) in 1920
  • Became the Indian Remount and Veterinary Corps in 1950
  • Formally designated as the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) in 1960
• The Corps’ motto is “Pashu Seva Asmakam Dharma”, meaning “Service to animals is our duty.”

• The RVC has played a critical role in all major conflicts, both before and after Independence.
• It served with distinction during:
  • The First World War
  • The Second World War
  • Post-Independence military operations and wars
• In recognition of its meritorious service, the Corps was awarded the President’s Flag in 1989.
• The Corps headquarters is located in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

• Despite modern technology, Army animals continue to play an irreplaceable role.

• Mules remain one of the most reliable and cost-effective means of transporting supplies.
• They are essential in:
  • High-altitude areas
  • Narrow mountain paths
  • Regions where vehicles or helicopters cannot operate

• Army dogs are trained for specialised tasks such as:
  • Explosive and mine detection
  • Tracking terrorists
  • Guarding military installations
  • Search-and-rescue missions during disasters and avalanches
  • Direct combat roles

• Apart from battlefield duties, the RVC contributes to:
  • Military diplomacy, by providing trained animals to friendly foreign countries
  • National Cadet Corps (NCC) programmes through horse-riding training
  • Veterinary assistance in remote and border areas
  • Participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions

• The RVC contingent at the 2026 Republic Day Parade has been designed to highlight the Corps as a force multiplier in extreme terrains.
• The contingent symbolises the deep bond between soldiers and animals in defending the nation.

• Bactrian camels will lead the RVC contingent at the parade.
• These camels have been inducted by the Army for transport duties in Ladakh’s cold deserts.
• Key characteristics:
  • Adapted to extreme cold and altitudes above 15,000 feet
  • Can carry loads of up to 250 kilograms
  • Capable of negotiating:
    • Steep gradients
    • Sandy and rocky terrain
  • Operational role:
    • Logistics support
    • Mounted patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)

• The contingent will be followed by Zanskar ponies, an indigenous breed from Ladakh.
• These ponies are known for:
  • Exceptional endurance at high altitudes
  • Ability to function in sub-zero temperatures
• Despite their small size, they can:
  • Carry 40–60 kilograms
  • Travel long distances in rugged terrain
• They are deployed in:
  • High Himalayan regions
  • Forward posts
  • Siachen Glacier area

• Army dogs, the most familiar RVC participants, will march at the rear of the contingent.
• Between 2023 and 2025, the RVC expanded the use of indigenous Indian dog breeds, including:
  • Mudhol
  • Rampur Hound
  • Chippiparai
  • Kombai
  • Rajapalayam
• The Mudhol Hound became the first Indian breed formally inducted into the RVC in 2016.
• The contingent will also feature four raptors, highlighting specialised animal capabilities within the Army.

• Officers are inducted into the RVC as Short Service Commission (SSC) Officers.
• Eligibility requirements include:
  • A Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) degree
  • Completion of a compulsory internship
  • Age between 21 and 32 years

• Selection process involves:
  • Shortlisting based on academic marks
  • Services Selection Board (SSB) interview
  • Medical examination
• Selected candidates undergo training at Meerut and are commissioned as Captains.
• The first batch of women officers was inducted in 2023, with four women officers joining the Corps.
• Captain Harshita Raghav, leading the 2026 parade, belongs to this historic batch.

• The RVC has been actively involved in several operations, including:
  • Deployment in Sri Lanka as part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force
  • Support operations during the Kargil conflict, ensuring animal transport to remote posts
  • Disaster relief during:
    • Wayanad floods (August 2024)
    • Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand floods

• Many Army animals have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
• In 2024, Kent, a six-year-old Labrador, was killed while shielding her handler during a terrorist encounter.
• In another incident, Phantom, a K-9 dog of 9 Para SF, was killed in terrorist gunfire in Akhnoor, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Mansi and Axel are other canine martyrs from the Corps.
• Dogs such as Phantom and Kent have been awarded gallantry honours for their bravery and sacrifice.