Drawing inspiration from the ‘Chakravyuh’ formation, the iconic National War Memorial was Monday unveiled boasts of four thematic concentric circles with a tall ceremonial obelisk at its centre that will bear the eternal flame.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the memorial, spread over 40 acres in the India Gate complex in New Delhi, by lighting the flame positioned at the bottom of the stone-made obelisk.

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen P S Rajeshwar, during a briefing here, also said the Amar Jawan Jyoti built in 1972 underneath the India Gate arch to commemorate soldiers martyred in the Indo-Pak War of 1971, will continue to be there.

A senior defence official said the project has been executed at a cost of Rs 176 crore and its design was selected through a global competition.

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6:40 pm IST Delhi: Visuals from the National War Memorial Delhi: Visuals from the National War Memorial. Delhi: Visuals from the #NationalWarMemorial pic.twitter.com/baIGzpHT4M — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019





6:24 pm IST A multi faith prayer held at the inauguration of the National War Memorial A multi faith prayer held at the inauguration of the National War Memorial in Delhi. A multi faith prayer held at the inauguration of the #NationalWarMemorial in Delhi pic.twitter.com/0wO8yki5oq — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019





6:19 pm IST PM Modi inaugurates National War Memorial in New Delhi PM Modi inaugurates National War Memorial, pays homage to soldiers who have sacrificed their lives. Delhi: Visuals from the #NationalWarMemorial pic.twitter.com/43ChNMTc34 — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019





6:08 pm IST PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the National War Memorial Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the National War Memorial. Delhi: PM Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the #NationalWarMemorial pic.twitter.com/BBYlxhB5HN — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019





5:54 pm IST Armed forces and national security suffered due to criminal negligence before we came to power: PM Modi Armed forces and national security suffered due to criminal negligence before we came to power. Decisions which were pending for decades were cleared on priority to strengthen the armed forces, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:50 pm IST About two and a half decades ago the file of this memorial started moving: PM Modi About two and a half decades ago the file of this memorial started moving, for a brief period during Atal ji’s regime, the process was expedited but after him, situation was back to square one, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:47 pm IST Army had demanded bulletproof jackets, 5 years have passed the jackets were not bought: PM Modi In the year 2009, the army had demanded 1 lakh 86 thousand bulletproof jackets. Five years passed from 2009 to 2014, but the bulletproof jackets were not bought for the army, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:45 pm IST From Bofors to Helicopter deal, all the investigations are pointing to one family: PM Modi From Bofors to Helicopter deal, all the investigations are pointing to one family, it says a lot, now these people are putting all the efforts to make sure that Rafale aircraft don’t arrive in the country. India first or family first?, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:45 pm IST Soldiers on LoC areas if injured or killed in natural calamities like avalanche will be eligible for pensions: PM Modi Soldiers on LoC areas if injured or killed in natural calamities like avalanche will be eligible for pensions, says PM Narendrs Modi.





5:41 pm IST Contribution from all parts of society is necessary in security of the nation: PM Modi Contribution from all parts of society is necessary in security of the nation. Because of this ideology, for the 1st time women are getting the opportunity to become fighter pilots. Decisions are being taken to strengthen the participation of daughters in the forces, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:40 pm IST We are continuously working towards making the Army self-reliant: PM Modi We are continuously working towards making the Army self-reliant, the decisions which were thought to be impossible earlier have now been made possible, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:37 pm IST Due to sacrifice of many soldiers, we are among the strongest army in the world: PM Modi Due to the sacrifice of many soldiers, we are among the strongest army in the world, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:36 pm IST Due to OROP, the pensions of veterans were increased up to 40%: PM Modi Due to OROP, the pensions of veterans were increased up to 40%. We are also working on building 3 super specialty hospitals, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:35 pm IST Demand for a National War Memorial has been there for many decades: PM Modi The demand for a National War Memorial has been there for many decades, in the last decade there were one or two attempts but nothing concrete could happen, with the help of your blessing we started the process in 2014, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:34 pm IST New India is now moving forwards with new virtues: PM Modi New India is now moving forwards with new virtues, and it is because of your dedication. When Lata di had sung Mere Watan Ke Logon here, it made all of us emotional, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:32 pm IST Wait for the national war memorial is over: PM Modi Whether the problems have come due to enemies or nature, the soldiers have always been at the forefront to protect the country and answered as well. The wait for the national war memorial is over and it is being dedicated to nation at the right time, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:30 pm IST Rashtriya Samar Smaarak will be dedicated to the nation: PM Modi Rashtriya Samar Smaarak will be dedicated to the nation. Thousands of martyrs names are etched and will continue to inspire future generations, says PM Modi





5:28 pm IST I pay my respect to the soldiers killed in Pulwama attack: PM Modi I pay my respect to the soldiers killed in Pulwama attack, says PM Narendra Modi.





5:25 pm IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses inauguration ceremony of National War Memorial in Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inauguration ceremony of National War Memorial in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the inauguration ceremony of National War Memorial in Delhi pic.twitter.com/7Rblj0iYHB — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019





5:19 pm IST This war memorial will keep reminding us of the valour of the soldiers: Nirmala Sitharaman When you go home, tell them of us... and say, for your tomorrow, we gave today... The last words of our heroes always reverberate in our hearts...This war memorial will keep reminding us, in years to come, of the valour of the soldiers and their dedicated service, says Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.





4:45 pm IST Busts of 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees will also be a part of the memorial Designed in four concentric circles, the memorial will be spread over 40 acres, with a 15-metre-high obelisk at its centre. The busts of 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees (India’s highest war-time gallantry award) will also be a part of the memorial.





4:29 pm IST The memorial will pay homage to over 26,000 soldiers who have sacrificed their lives since 1947 Promised in the National Democratic Alliance’s 2014 election manifesto, the country’s first war memorial near the India Gate complex will pay homage to over 26,000 soldiers who have sacrificed their lives since 1947.



