Indian Army | |
---|---|
![]() Ensign of the Indian Army | |
Founded | 26 January 1950 1 April 1895Indian Army) (as | (in current form)
Country | ![]() |
Type | Army |
Role | Land warfare |
Size |
|
Part of | ![]() |
Headquarters | Integrated Defence Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi |
Motto(s) | Sevā Paramo Dharmaḥ (ISO) transl. "Service Before Self" |
Colours | Gold, red and black |
March |
|
Anniversaries | Army Day: 15 January |
Engagements | |
Website | indianarmy.nic.in |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | ![]() |
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) | ![]() |
Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) | ![]() |
Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (DCOAS) | Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich |
Notable commanders | |
Insignia | |
Flag | ![]() |
Aircraft flown | |
Attack helicopter | HAL Rudra, HAL Prachand |
Utility helicopter | HAL 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]
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.
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.
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