Indian capital Delhi was put under a massive ground-to-air security apparatus for the 60th Republic Day celebrations Monday.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the National Security Guards have been deployed at various locations while paramilitary and New Delhi Police commandos kept a tight vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade, the Press Trust of India reported.
Around 20,000 security personnel, including 5,500 from paramilitary forces, have been deployed across city.
A multi-layer security ring was put in place at Rajpath Street, where Indian President Pratibha Patil will take the salute of marching contingents.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev is the chief guest at the parade, which will also be attended by Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony and the country's top political and military brass.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not attend this year's celebrations because he is not recuperating after a heart surgery.
Police have stepped up security measures, saying they do not want to take "any chance" ahead of the national event, especially in the backdrop of the Mumbai carnage which claimed over 170 lives, the report said.
The Republic Day of India is a national holiday to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a republic on Jan. 26, 1950.