Amar Jawan Jyoti will now be merged with the National War Memorial’s torch at a programme ahead of Republic Day. The eternal flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti will be extinguished forever after burning for 50 years.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 3.30 pm, it will be presided over by the Integrated Defence Staff chief, Air Marshal Balabadhra Radha Krishna.
As per sources, the decision comes as the upkeep of two flames is becoming increasingly difficult.
Many also argue over a separate flame when there is a National War Memorial for the martyrs of the country.
The National War Memorial also has the names of the martyrs that are inscribed on India Gate.
The National War Memorial also has the names of all Indian defence personnel who lost their lives in various operations including from the 1947-48 war with Pakistan to the Galwan valley clash.
Besides, the names of troops who lost lives in the counter-terrorist operations are also included on the memorial walls.
National War Memorial
The National War Memorial was built over 40 acres at a cost of Rs 176 crore. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019.
The War Memorial has the eternal flame positioned just below the central 15.5 m obelisk.
And there are four concentric circles – the Amar Chakra, Veerta Chakra, Tyag Chakra and the Rakshak Chakra where the names of 25,942 soldiers are inscribed on granite tablets in golden letters.
The War memorial also includes six bronze murals; they depict the famous battles fought by the Indian Army, Air Force and the Navy in a covered gallery in the Veerta Chakra.
The British government had built India Gate in memory of the soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the First World War between 1914 and 1921.
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