Border 2 has already taken flight at the box office, opening with a thunderous Rs 30 crore net on day one

When the original Border roared onto screens in 1997, young Diljit Dosanjh could only watch from the sidelines. In a recent, candid social‑media clip, he recalled, “I remember when the first Border came, so many people around me went to watch it, but I couldn’t because I didn’t have the money for it. My family also didn’t give me any money for it, but even they didn’t have much, so how could they spare it? Little did I know that I would get the chance to be in the film one day.”

That bittersweet memory now frames his role as Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the real‑life hero whose bravery in the 1971 Indo‑Pak war earned him the Param Vir Chakra. Diljit’s heartfelt plea—“If you have never read about him, you should definitely read and understand his life.”

Border 2 has already taken flight at the box office, opening with a thunderous Rs 30 crore net on day one and soaring past Rs 70 crore in just two days, making it one of 2026’s biggest Hindi openers

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The ensemble—Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty and Diljit—has turned the war drama into a crowd‑pleaser, with audiences flocking to theaters for both nostalgia and fresh heroics.

“An honest tribute!,” reacted @tseriesfilms on Instagram. Another individual commented, “All time blockbuster movie.”

India will display its development journey, cultural diversity and military might, including newly-raised units and mock-ups of major weapon systems deployed during Operation Sindoor, at the 77th Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be the chief guests at the event in the national capital.

The overarching theme of the event at the Kartavya Path will be 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. President Droupadi Murmu will lead the ceremony that will commence at 1030 hours and will last for approximately 90 minutes.

It will start with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the National War Memorial, where he will lead the nation in paying solemn tributes to the fallen heroes by laying a wreath.

Murmu and the chief guests are expected to arrive at the venue in a ‘traditional buggy’ that will be escorted by the President’s Bodyguard.

Around 100 cultural artistes will be heralding the parade, on the theme ‘Vividata Mein Ekta (Unity in Diversity) which is set to be a grand presentation of musical instruments, demonstrating the nation’s unity and rich cultural diversity.

Showering of flower petals will be carried out by four Mi-17 1V helicopters of the 129 helicopter unit in the Dhwaj formation.

The parade will then begin with President Murmu taking the salute. The parade will be led by Parade Commander Lt General Bhavnish Kumar, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, a second-generation officer.

The proud winners of the highest gallantry awards will follow and the team will comprise Param Vir Chakra winners — Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd) and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar.

Ashok Chakra winners Maj Gen CA Pithawalia (Retd) and Colonel D Sreeram Kumar will also be part of the team.

A small military contingent of the European Union (EU) will also feature in the parade.

For the first time, the parade will showcase a phased ‘Battle Array Format’ of the Indian Army that will include an aerial component. It will feature a high mobility reconnaissance vehicle and India’s first indigenously designed armoured light specialist vehicle.

Providing aerial support would be the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter and its armed version, Rudra, in Prahar formation, demonstrating battlefield shaping, officials said.

The combat elements will then follow with T-90 Bhisma and Main Battle Tank Arjun rolling past the saluting dais with aerial support from Apache AH-64E and Prachand light combat helicopters.

Other mechanised columns will include BMP-II Infantry Combat Vehicle, along with Nag missile system (Tracked) Mk-2.

A tri-services tableau showcasing replicas of major weapon systems deployed by the Indian military during Operation Sindoor in early May is expected to be a major attraction.

The tableau will represent India’s resolve to respond decisively to national security challenges.

A glass-cased integrated operational centre, depicting the conduct of Operation Sindoor in brief, will also roll down Kartavya Path. While the Brahmos missile struck deadly blows to the enemy during the operation, the Akash missile systems and S-400 provided a protective shield.

The Indian Navy contingent will comprise 144 young personnel, led by Lt Karan Nagyal as contingent commander, and Lt Pawan Kumar Gandi, Lt Priti Kumari and Lt Varun Dreveriya as platoon commanders.

It will be followed by the Naval tableau that will present a vivid depiction of the theme ‘Strong Navy for a Strong Nation’. The tableau depicts a stitched ship from the fifth century CE, now christened as INSV Kaundinya, Gurab class ships of the Maratha Navy, and frontline indigenous platforms, including the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri.

The tableau will also feature a depiction of the circumnavigation route followed by INSV Tarini as part of the Navika Sagar Parikrama-II expedition.

In addition to naval personnel, young cadets from the Sea Cadets Corps, a non-governmental organisation that imparts basic nautical skills to youth in Mumbai, will march alongside the tableau.

The Indian Air Force contingent will comprise four officers and 144 airmen.  The contingent commander will be Squadron Leader Jagdesh Kumar with Squadron Leader Nikita Choudhery, Flt Lt Prakhar Chandrakar and Flt Lt Dinesh as supernumerary officers.

Syncing with the marching contingent would be a thrilling fly-past by two Rafale jets, two MiG-29s, two Su-30s and one Jaguar aircraft in ‘Spearhead’ formation, symbolising the “Sindoor Formation”, officials said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase its hypersonic glide missile LR-AShM. It is capable of engaging static and moving targets and is designed to carry various payloads.

A total of 30 tableaux — 17 of states and Union Territories and 13 of various ministries and departments — will roll down the Kartavya Path.

The tableaux will showcase a unique mix of 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram and the nation’s rapid progress.

This year, around 2,500 cultural artists drawn from every state and Union Territory will perform on Kartavya Path.

A joint ‘Dare Devils’ team of motorcycle riders drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will enthrall the audience.

The aerial fly-past, which is one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the parade, will witness the participation of a total of 29 aircraft, including 16 fighter jets, four transport aircraft and nine helicopters.

These include Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar aircraft, complemented by strategic assets – C-130 and C-295, as well as the Indian Navy’s P-8i aircraft. The formations include Arjan, Vajraang, Varuna and Vijay.

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Among the most highly decorated regiments in the Indian Army, its history goes back to August 1846

As many as seven battalions of the Sikh Regiment were conferred unit awards on Army Day for their outstanding performance and operational effectiveness during the preceding year.

Among them, two battalions received the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Unit Citation, one battalion was awarded the COAS Unit Appreciation and four battalions were conferred the Army Commander’s Unit Appreciation.

“Receiving such a large number of honours at a single time is a rare and prestigious achievement,” a defence spokesperson said on Tuesday. “These achievements reinforce the Sikh Regiment’s legacy of valour and professional excellence,” he added.

Earlier, a similar occasion arose in January 2015, when six battalions of the Sikh Regiment were recognised for their exemplary service. The Regiment comprises 20 regular battalions and three Territorial Army battalions.

Among the most highly decorated regiments in the Indian Army, its history goes back to August 1846, when the first battalion was officially raised just before the partial annexation of the Sikh Empire by the British East India Company, which then started recruiting Sikh soldiers into its Bengal Army.

The Regiment evolved consistently over the years and participated in numerous campaigns across the world, including the North West Frontier Province, Middle East, Africa, Europe and China. Post-Independence, the regiment has fought in all major wars and operations undertaken by the Indian Army.

Its large tally of pre and post-Independence gallantry awards include 14 Victoria Cross, two Param Vir Chakra, four Askok Chakra, 75 Battle Honours and 38 Theatre Honours.

The Sikh Regiment draws its manpower for its rank and file from Punjab and predominantly recruits from the Jat Sikh community, though officers, like for all other regiments, are assigned from all over India at the time of their commissioning.

“The true strength of the Regiment lies in the youth of Punjab, who proudly carry forward the warrior traditions passed down through generations. Despite certain manpower-related challenges, the Sikh Regiment continues to demonstrate high standards of performance and consistently meets the Indian Army’s elevated expectations,” the spokesperson said.

The Regiment has appealed to the youth of Punjab to step forward, join the Sikh Regiment, and become a source of pride for their parents and families. Serving in such a renowned and prestigious regiment is a matter of great honour and privilege.

An uprooted tree on Madhya Marg at Sector 9 in Chandigarh after continuous rain on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

A tree uprooted amid heavy rain in Chandigarh’s Sector 36. Tribune photo: Pardeep Tewari

Uprooted trees and fallen poles, entangled with broken live electricity wires, blocked roads and internal passages at numerous locations. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

The roof of a house that collapsed at Govindpura, Mani Majra in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

Cars damaged after trees that were uprooted due to heavy rain and high velocity winds at Sector 29 in Chandigarh on Friday. Tribune photo: Ravi Kumar

A view of the snow-covered Kedarnath Temple amid snowfall, in Kedarnath, Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Friday. PTI photo

PATALA HEAVY RAINS

An excavator clears mud and silt following cloudbursts and heavy rain, in Dehradun on September 17, 2025. PTI

Subhas Chandra Bose’s ashes are kept at the Renkō-ji Temple in Suginami, Tokyo

The government on Friday organised ‘Parakram Diwas–2026’ to commemorate the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, even as his daughter Anita Bose Pfaff renewed the push for bringing back the mortal remains of the freedom fighter from Japan to India.

In a statement, she said Netaji, who spent much of his life in forced exile while fighting for India’s freedom, would have been deeply distressed that his remains are still kept outside his motherland more than 80 years after his death and 78 years after India became free.

“As Netaji’s daughter, I invite the Indians of today who still revere him to support his posthumous return from exile; to support the transfer of his mortal remains to India for a final and fitting disposal,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture is organising ‘Parakram Diwas–2026’ from January 23 to 25 at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands along with celebrations at 13 other iconic locations across the country associated with the life and legacy of India’s most revered freedom fighter.

“The event marks the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and aims to honour his unparalleled contribution to India’s freedom struggle and his enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice and patriotism,” it said in a press release.

The celebrations will feature a grand cultural programme, including a spectacular drone show and performances by eminent artistes such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Papon, Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash, Raghu Dixit, among others.

Recalling Netaji’s life and struggle, Pfaff noted in her message that he had devoted decades to the freedom movement, and later took the dramatic step of leaving India to continue the freedom struggle when imprisonment made his work impossible.

Pfaff recounted that following Japan’s surrender in August 1945, Netaji set out from Singapore for Tokyo but met with a fatal air crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945. Though he survived the initial crash with severe burns, he succumbed to his injuries later that day. He was cremated in Taipei, and his ashes were later taken to Tokyo.

Netaji’s ashes were then kept in safe custody by the chief priest of the Renkoji Temple in Japan, where they lie even today.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also took potshots at the Narendra Modi government for “suppressing” the contribution of Netaji in resolving the controversy surrounding the later verses of Bande Mataram in 1937.

In a series of posts on X, he said, “Today on January 23, 2026, the nation celebrates the 129th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had played a key role in resolving the controversy surrounding the later verses of Bande Mataram in 1937 which the PM deliberately suppressed.

“Further, Sugata Bose, the eminent historian and his grand-nephew, has written that Netaji had inaugurated the Free India Centre in Berlin on November 2, 1942, and chosen Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem… it was on October 2, 1943, in Singapore that Netaji chose Jai Hind as the rallying cry of the Azad Hind Govt — a cry that is never given voice to by the PM and his party.

“And of course it was Netaji who, in a radio broadcast from Singapore on July 6, 1944, first called Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation — whose memory and legacy the PM is systematically demolishing, with the latest instance being the repeal of MGNREGA,” he said.

Ramesh added, “The PM is India’s greatest distorian. That is what entire political science is all about.”

Unseasonal rain and overcast skies failed to disrupt full-dress rehearsal ahead of Republic Day, with parade and cultural performances being held as scheduled along the Kartavya Path here on Friday. However, Indian Air Force (IAF) flypast was rescheduled due to dense cloud cover.

Early morning rain in several parts of Delhi led to a noticeable dip in temperature, with light to moderate showers continuing intermittently through the day. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), an active western disturbance brought cloudy conditions, prompting a yellow alert for Delhi and adjoining areas, with the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by rain. Parade contingents, cultural troupes, security personnel and spectators braved the wet conditions. While most of the spectators were seen wearing raincoats and shawls, some others used plastic sheets to shield themselves from the cold and drizzle. IAF officials said the flypast, which could not be conducted due to heavy cloud cover, has been rescheduled for Saturday, subject to favourable weather conditions.

The rehearsal followed the same route as that of the parade on Republic Day. This year’s celebrations will feature 30 tableaux – 17 from states and union territories and 13 from various ministries, departments and services. The chill persisted in the city as the minimum temperature was recorded at 13.7°C, while the maximum was 16°C. As per the weather department, Palam was the coldest in the city with a minimum temperature of 13°C.

The temperature is against expected to drop, with IMD forecasting a minimum temperature of 7°C and maximum of 17°C on Saturday. Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 282 at 4 pm on Friday, placing it in the ‘poor’ category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board.

Metro to start services at 3 am

Delhi Metro will begin services at 3 am on all lines on January 26 to facilitate the movement of people heading to Kartavya Path for the Republic Day celebrations, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said on Friday.

According to the DMRC, trains will operate at a frequency of 15 minutes on all lines from 3 am to 6 am. After 6 am, metro services will run as per the regular schedule for the rest of the day.

Special arrangement has been made to ensure smooth and convenient travel for spectators and staff attending the Republic Day celebrations. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys in advance and make use of the early services to avoid last-minute inconvenience.

The DMRC also announced that parking facilities at Metro stations across the network will remain fully operational on Republic Day, offering added convenience to those travelling by private vehicles before boarding the Metro.

Terming desertion to be a serious offence in the defence services, the tribunal has held that such acts need to dealt with firmly and swiftly to ensure discipline in the rank and file

Terming desertion to be a serious offence in the defence services, the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has held that such acts need to dealt with firmly and swiftly to ensure discipline in the rank and file.

Observing that a soldier deserted from his unit to avoid serving in counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, the tribunal’s Chandigarh bench has upheld his dismissal from service by a summary court martial conducted in 2015.

“Such indiscipline deserves to be punished immediately to convey the correct message to the environment. Other soldiers of the battalion had to be conveyed that indiscipline of the nature of desertion for avoidance of operational duty would be promptly punished,” the tribunal’s bench comprising Justice Sudhir Mittal and Lt Gen (Dr) Ranbir Singh, said in their order of January 15.

The soldier was serving in 152 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army), the main body of which was located in Srinagar. Being in low medical category, he was left in the rear at Ludhiana. In July 2014, he had sought leave to get his mother treated, which was refused and instead he was directed to proceed to the location of the main body.

Instead of moving to Srinagar, the soldier went home. After a lapse of a period of 30 days, a Court of Inquiry was conducted and he was declared a deserter. Accordingly, an apprehension roll was issued.

He was apprehended by the civil police from Hisar in January.2015, and handed over to a local Army unit from where he was collected by an escort party from his unit that took him to the battalion headquarters, which had by then moved to Sonamarg.

The bench observed that the soldier had claimed that he sought leave because his mother was unwell. The leave application was dated July 4, whereas the certificate relied upon by him shows that she was admitted to a local civil hospital on July 7, which showed that leave was sought on a false basis as he could not have had a premonition three days earlier that his mother was going to be unwell.

The bench also did not accept the soldier’s contention that he had no intention to desert and had voluntarily surrendered before the police. The bench rejected a certificate purportedly signed by the officer-in-charge of the police station concerned saying that he had surrendered, on the grounds that it did not bear any date and was partially filled. The signature of the officer-in-charge had been forged as was evident by comparing the same with the signature on certificate stating that he had been apprehended.

At the core of the tableau is the strike narrative — rapid response, controlled escalation and precision. A loitering munition neutralises an enemy air defence radar, followed by a Rafale fighter launching SCALP missiles against terror infrastructure. The sequence intensifies as a Sukhoi-30 MKI fires a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to destroy hardened aircraft shelters.

The finale features the S-400 air defence system executing a long-range engagement at 350 km to neutralise an enemy airborne early-warning platform — underscoring India’s doctrine: detect first, decide first and destroy first, the Ministry of Defence said.

For the Indian Air Force, a special attraction will be a composite flypast formation named ‘Sindoor’, comprising Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar fighters. A helicopter will carry the Operation Sindoor flag.

The Ministry of Defence will also showcase the new Suryastra rocket system with a range of nearly 250 km, bringing multiple terror camps across the border within strike range.

DRDO will display its under-development Long-Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Glide Missile (LR-AShM), designed for naval coastal defence. The missile follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory, achieving speeds up to Mach 10 and sustaining an average Mach 5.