It's raining in Delhi, where US President Barack Obama will be chief guest this morning at the Republic Day parade. The overcast skies had caused some worry initially that the armed forces flypast, a highlight of the Republic Day parade, might have to be cancelled. But the Indian Air Force has clarified that the flypast will take place.
Here are 10 developments in this story:
The US president is expected to join President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajpath, the wide avenue in the heart of Delhi where the parade will take place, at 10 am.
There is unprecedented security in the capital. A seven-layer security ring with 50,000 security personnel, including 500 US Secret Service Agents, are part of the security detail for President Obama.
The Delhi Police, said sources, has been asked to check people wearing black caps and mufflers, after intelligence that Maoists might try to stage protests.
At Rajpath, there are 500 police officials trained in detecting suspicious movements in the public and among participants. They have been specifically trained to profile potential terrorists.
The highlight of this year's parade will be the indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash medium range missiles and weapon locating radar. The long-range advanced MiG-29K fighter will be seen for the first time.
Three all-women marching contingents of the Army, Navy and the Air Force represent the theme of the parade, "Nari Shakti (woman power)". Also, a display on the PM's Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the daughter and educate her) campaign will lead the Republic Day floats.
In the afternoon, the US President is expected to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he is said to share a special rapport. He will later attend President Pranab Mukherjee's "At-home."
At 5.30 pm, the US President will attend the India-US CEO Forum meeting at the hotel Taj Palace. Another meeting with business delegations from the two countries -- India-US Business Summit - will take place later in the evening.
Mr Obama, the first US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, arrived with his wife Michelle on a three-day visit yesterday. PM Modi broke protocol and received President Obama at the airport, greeting him with a hug.
A day of bonhomie between President Obama and PM Modi produced the most significant outcome of the visit; an agreement on the nuclear deal, which had been stalled for over six years.
