PM to dedicate National War Memorial by lighting eternal flame below obelisk

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate the memorial, spread over 40 acres in the India Gate complex here, 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.

The central part of the sprawling complex has been built in a sunken plot as the design had to respect the heritage look of the India Gate's Central Vista, officials said.

"The prime ...