NEW DELHI, 27 January 2022, (TON): Lumbering tanks and the deafening roar of fighter planes echoed through New Delhi as military and police battalions marched down a boulevard past Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the country's Republic Day.

This year, however, the parade was held without the customary foreign dignitary guests of honour, as India battles a resurgence of Covid-19 infections.

The annual January 26 event marks the adoption of India's constitution with missile launchers, jet flyovers, motorcycle stunts and the brass band of the camel-mounted Border Security Force.

Audience numbers along the usually crowded sidelines of the procession were capped at 4,000 people and eminent spectators sat spaced far apart, with authorities announcing overnight that India had surpassed 40 million coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.

Wednesday's ceremony also featured mobile parade floats highlighting the country's history and cultural diversity alongside traditional dancers.

India is preparing to commemorate 75 years since the end of British colonial rule and several of the displays dramatised events from the nation's long independence struggle in the first half of the 20th century.