Lecturrete Topic 97 - Indian Army

INDIAN ARMY

The Indian Army does not need any introduction, we all have love, respect and appreciation for our soldiers and the Indian Army. Asking about the importance of the Indian Army in India is like asking the importance of the heart in the human body. It would not be wrong to say that there would be no India without the Indian Army, it is the backbone of our country .It is one of the few institutions left in the country that can be considered completely neutral and credible. If anything really goes wrong in the country, then we look to the army for solutions, be it riot control, counter terrorism, fight terrorism,

fight Naxalites and even medals in international sports events.

The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian armed forces are mainly divided into three parts – the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The Indian Army is a land-based unit, while the Indian Air Force works in air defense and the Indian Navy is a naval unit . The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. The current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is General Bipin Rawat (as of 2018). Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honor. The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British Indian Army, and the armies of the princely states, which were merged into the national army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in a number of battles and campaigns around the world, earning many battle and theatre honors before and after Independence.

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. The army has been involved in four wars with neighboring Pakistan and one with China. The 1962 war with China, 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan, and then the Kargil War of 1999. India's first war that was fought merely two months after independence in 1947 is a lesser-known fact. Other major operations undertaken by the army include Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, and Operation Cactus. The army has conducted large peace time exercises such as Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer, and it has also been an active participant in numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions, including those in Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, El

Salvador, Liberia, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Somalia. 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.

1.CENTRAL COMMAND

LOCATION: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

2. NORTHERN COMMAND

LOCATION: Udhampur, J&K

3. WESTERN COMMAND

LOCATION: Chandimandhir, Haryana

4. EASTERN COMMAND

LOCATION: Kolkata, West Bengal

5. SOUTHERN COMMAND

LOCATION: Pune, Maharastra

6. SOUTH-WESTERN COMMAND

LOCATION: Jaipur, Rajasthan

7. ARMY TRAINING COMMAND

LOCATION: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

The army is an all-volunteer force and comprises more than 80% of the country's active defense personnel. It is the largest standing army in the world, with 1,237,117 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops. At present, Manoj Mukund Naravane is an Indian Army Chief since 31 December 2019. Indian army is considered as the deadliest army on the planet earth. Indian Army was established in 1895 but it got its current structure after independence. There are 9 basic field divisions of the Indian army. Let me brief it one by one.

1) Command: The Indian Army has six operational commands and one training command. Every command has a general officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C), known as the army commander.

2) Corps: A command generally consists of two or more corps. There is a total of 14 Corps. Each corp is commanded by a general officer commanding (GOC), known as the corps commander, who holds the rank of lieutenant general. Also, each corps is formed of three or four divisions.

3) Division: Each division is headed by GOC (division commander) in the rank of major general. It usually consists of three to four Brigades. Currently, the Indian Army has 40 Divisions. 4) Brigade: A brigade generally consists of around 3,000 combat troops with supporting elements. An Infantry Brigade is composed of three infantry battalions.

5) Battalion: Composed of four rifle companies. A battalion commander who is a Colonel heads it.

6) Company: Composed of three platoons. Commanded by a company commander.

7) Battery: Comprising either 3 or 4 sections, in artillery and air defense units.

8) Platoon: Composed of three sections. Commanded by a platoon commander.

9) Section: Smallest military outfit, with a strength of 10 personnel. Indian Army is organized in two parts - Combat Arms and Services. Services: Apart from the Combat Arms, the remaining whole army is kept under the services. Their main task is to provide logistical (food) material to the army and administrated the army. 

The Combat Arms include the following departments:

1. Armoured Corps

2. Mechanized Infantry

3. Infantry

The Combat support Arms include the following departments:

1. Artillery

2. Corps of Engineers

3. Corps of Army Air Defence

4. Army Aviation Corps

5. Corps of Signals

The Services include the following departments:

1. Army Service Corps

2. Army Medical Corps

3. Army Dental Corps

4. Army Ordnance Corps

5. Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers

6. Remount and Veterinary Corps

7. Military Farms Service

8. Army Education Corps

9. Corps of Military Police

10. Pioneer Corps

11. Army Postal Service Corps

12. Territorial Army

13. Defense Security Corps

14. Intelligence Corps

15. Judge Advocate General's Department

16. Military Nursing Service

As it is a very large force it is divided into regiments. Some important regiments are Punjab Regiment, Madras Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Sikh Regiment etc. It also has its own intelligence unit, abbreviated as “military intelligence” or “MI”.. It has also produced many notable sports persons, who have brought it to our country. Some of them are Milkha Singh, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Vijay Kumar, and Major Dhyanchand etc. Soldiers can easily be considered one of the main assets of any country, as they make a country safe and sound so it can develop to many heights. Where would you find people who are ready to sacrifice their lives for the welfare of others or their nation? Where would you see people putting their lives on stake so the citizens can live peacefully? Their intelligence is what gives them an unmatched reputation and their love for their nation is what keeps us sleeping peacefully in our beds. After all, It is rightly said that there are no hard lives than that of a soldier.

JAI HIND!!

 

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