(a) form of Salutation. – Civilians – both ladies and gentlemen – required to take a military parade or receive a Guard of Honour shall return the compliments as follows:-
(i) Gentlemen wearing Indian head-dress or none at all, by raising the right hand to the forehead (as in civilian salutation) and touching the right of the forehead with the fingers slightly inclined, the obverse of the palm facing the right eye, and the reverse outwards. When wearing European head-dress, by raising the hat with the right hand.
(ii) Ladies shall acknowledge the salute in the same manner as above or in any other suitable manner. The hand or hat should be lowered only after the troops have marched post or after each group has marched post, where are more than one.
(b) Position of AsDC, the Parade Commander and the Seniormost Service(s) officer (s).
The VIP alone stands on the dias. If he has AsDC attending on him, they may stand on the sides of the saluting dais, a little to the rear of the VIP. The Parade Commander after he has saluted and passed in front of the VIP at the head of the Parade may leave the column and take up a position next to the VIP below the dais, on the flank from which the Parade marches on.
Explanation 1. – At the ceremonial parades held on the Republic Day (26th January) and the Independence Day (15th August)the salute shall ordinarily be taken by the seniormost civil representative of Government, for example the Governor, Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Commissioner, Collector or Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be.
Expalantion 2. – At the Republic Day Parade in the Capital, the seniormost officers of the three services stand behind the President below the dais while the Services units are marching past. The Parade Commander marches off with his coloumn. In State Capitals where the local police also participate in the march past on the Republic Day, the seniormost Police official of the State may also stand behind the VIP along with the seniormost officers of the three Services present at the Station.