Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with National War Memorial Flame

Tags: National News

After burning for 50 years, the eternal flame of Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate lawns will be merged with the National War Memorial Flame forever. The decision was taken after it was found that the upkeep of two flames is becoming increasingly difficult.

• The torch was merged with the National War Memorial's torch at a programme on 21st January, 2022 days ahead of Republic Day.
• The ceremony was presided over by the Integrated Defence Staff chief, Air Marshal Balabhadra Radha Krishna.

National War Memorial

The National War Memorial was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2019.

• All military ceremonial events that took place at the India Gate were shifted there after the inauguration.
• The National War Memorial also has the names of all the Indian defence personnel who have lost their lives in different operations from the 1947-48 war with Pakistan to the clash with Chinese troops at Galwan valley.
• The eternal flame is positioned below the central 15.5 m obelisk.
• 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 memorial also includes six bronze murals depicting the famous battles fought by the Indian Army, Air Force and the Navy in a covered gallery in the Veerta Chakra.

India Gate

The India Gate was built by the British government in the memory of the soldiers of the British Indian Army who died in the First World War between 1914 and 1921. In 1972, the Amar Jawan Jyoti was lit in memory of the Indian soldiers who died in the 1971 war with Pakistan.