Indian Army

This article is about the Indian Army (since 1947). For the pre 1947 force, see British Indian Army. For others, see Military history of India.

Indian Army
Ensign of the Indian Army
Founded26 January 1950; 74 years ago (1950-01-26) (in current form)

1 April 1895; 129 years ago (1895-04-01) (as British Indian Army)

Country India
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size
Part of Indian Armed Forces
HeadquartersIntegrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi
Motto(s)Sevā Paramo Dharmaḥ (ISO)
transl. "Service Before Self"
ColoursGold, red and black
     
March
AnniversariesArmy Day: 15 January
Engagements
See list:
Websiteindianarmy.nic.in
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefIndia President Droupadi Murmu
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi
Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) Lieutenant General N. S. Raja Subramani
Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS)Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich
Notable
commanders
Insignia
Flag
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterHAL Rudra, HAL Prachand
Utility helicopterHAL Dhruv, HAL Chetak, HAL Cheetah

The Indian Army is the land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army,[3] and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The Indian Army was established on 1 April 1895 alongside the long established presidency armies of the East India Company, which too were absorbed into it in 1903. Some princely states maintained their own armies which formed the Imperial Service Troops which, along with the Indian Army formed the land component of the Armed Forces of the Crown of India, responsible for the defence of the Indian Empire.[4][5] The Imperial Service Troops were merged into the Indian Army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in several battles and campaigns around the world, earning many battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.[6]

The primary mission of the Indian Army is to ensure national security and national unity, to defend the nation from external aggression and internal threats, and to maintain peace and security within its borders. It conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other disturbances, such as Operation Surya Hope, and can also be requisitioned by the government to cope with internal threats. It is a major component of national power, alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.[7] The independent Indian army has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with China. Other major operations undertaken by the army include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, and Operation Cactus. The army has conducted large peacetime exercises such as Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer, and it has also been an active participant in numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions. The Indian Army was a major force in the First and Second World Wars, particularly in the Western Front and the Middle Eastern theatre during World War I, and the South-East Asian Theatre and the East African and North African campaigns during World War II.

The Indian Army is operationally and geographically divided into seven commands, with the basic field formation being a division. Below the division level are permanent regiments that are responsible for their own recruiting and training. The army is an all-volunteer force and comprises more than 80% of the country's active defence personnel. It is the largest standing army in the world,[8] with 1,237,117[9][10] active troops and 960,000 reserve troops.[11][12] The army has embarked on an infantry modernisation program known as Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS), and is also upgrading and acquiring new assets for its armoured, artillery, and aviation branches.[13][14][15]

  1. ^ Singh Rana, Uday (27 December 2017). "20% Sailor Shortage in Navy, 15% Officer Posts Vacant In Army, Nirmala Sitharaman Tells Parliament". News18. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. ^ The Military Balance 2017. Routledge. 2017. ISBN 978-1-85743-900-7.
  3. ^ "About – The President of India". Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  4. ^ Bhargava, R. P. The Chamber of Prince. p. 206. Liability with regard to Defence
    This point was examined at length and it was put forward that with due regard to the obligations undertaken by the Crown to protect the States against internal commotion and external aggression, the States could not be asked to contribute the cost of the armed forces of the Crown of India. In the case of several States the price of protection was settled by the Crown and paid by the States.
  5. ^ Sikhs Across Borders. p. 37. In 1914, the Indian Army consisted of 39 cavalry regiments, 118 battalions of Indian infantry, and 20 battalions of Gurkha Rifles. The army contained 159,134 Indian soldiers, and 2,333 British officers (plus reserves). Together with the 70,000 troops of the British garrison of India these forces made up the "Army in India." This army had three principal functions: first, the maintenance of internal security; second, the defence of the Indian Empire's frontiers; and third (if necessary) the provision of a force for imperial purposes outside India.
  6. ^ Singh, Sarbans (1993). Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757–1971. New Delhi: Vision Books. ISBN 978-8170941156.
  7. ^ "Indian Army Doctrine". Headquarters Army Training Command. October 2004. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  8. ^ "Indian Army now world's largest ground force as China halves strength on modernisation push". ThePrint. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  9. ^ "20% Sailor Shortage in Navy, 15% Officer Posts Vacant In Army, Nirmala Sitharaman Tells Parliament". News18. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Armed forces facing shortage of nearly 60,000 personnel: Government". The Economic Times. 27 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  11. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (3 February 2014). The Military Balance 2014. London: Routledge. pp. 241–246. ISBN 978-1-85743-722-5.
  12. ^ The Military Balance 2017. Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. 14 February 2017. ISBN 978-1-85743-900-7.
  13. ^ The Military Balance 2010. Oxfordshire: Routledge. 2010. pp. 351, 359–364. ISBN 978-1-85743-557-3.
  14. ^ "Indian Army Modernisation Needs a Major Push". India Strategic. February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  15. ^ "India's Military Modernisation Up To 2027 Gets Approval". Defence Now. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.