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from external aggression and threats, and
maintaining peace and security within its borders. It also
conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities
and other disturbances.
(original url:
http://indianarmy.nic.in/indianarmydoctrine_1.doc). ==History==
[[File:Maurya Dynasty in 265 BCE.jpg||thumb|The Maurya Empire at
its largest extent under Ashoka the Great.]] {{Main|Military
history of India}} Please note that the Official Indian Army Site
has grave errors. It was Skandagupta not Chandragupta Maurya (who
was much earlier) who defeated the Huns. Also A portrait of
Maharaja Gulab singh has been referred to as Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
See: http://indianarmy.nic.in/Index.aspx?flag=LfcULYFlbeQ= Under
Chandragupta Maurya (3rd Century B.C.) the Indian Empire was large
and included Afghanistan and Eastern Iran. Chandragupta defeated
Seleucus Nicator and seized these territories. ===British Indian
Army=== {{Main|British Indian Army}} {{See|List of regiments of the
Indian Army (1903)}} A Military Department was created in the
Supreme Government of the [[East India Company]] at [[Kolkata]] in
the year 1776, having the main function to sift and record orders
relating to the Army issued by various Departments of the Govt of
East India Co.http://mod.nic.in/aboutus/welcome.html With the
Charter Act of 1833, the Secretariat of the Government of East
India Company was reorganised into four Departments, including a
Military Department. The Army in the Presidencies of [[Bengal
Presidency|Bengal]], [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]] & [[Madras
Presidency|Madras]] functioned as respective Presidency Army till
April 1895, when the Presidency Armies were unified into a single
[[British Indian Army|Indian Army]]. For administrative
convenience, it was divided into four Commands viz. Punjab
(including the North West Frontier), Bengal, Madras (including
Burma) and Bombay (including Sind, Quetta and Aden). The British
Indian Army was a critical force in the primacy of the [[British
Empire]] in both India, as well as across the world. Besides
maintaining the internal security of the [[British Raj]], the army
fought in theaters around the world - [[Anglo-Burmese Wars]],
[[Anglo-Sikh Wars]], [[Anglo-Afghan Wars]], [[Opium Wars]] in
[[China]], [[Abyssinia (battle honour)|Abyssinia]], [[Boxer
Rebellion]] in [[China]]. It is no coincidence that the decline of
the British Empire started with the [[Independence of India]].
===First and Second World Wars===
[[Image:IndianArmyMGCrewFlanders1914-15.jpg|right|thumb|[[2nd
Rajput Light Infantry]] in action in Flanders, during the winter of
1914–15]] {{Main|Indian Army during World War I}} {{See|List of
regiments of the Indian Army (1922)}} In the 20th century, the
British Indian Army was a crucial adjunct to the British forces in
both the [[World Wars]]. 1.3 Million Indian soldiers served in
[[World War I]] (1914-1918) for the [[Allies of World War
I|Allies]] after the [[United Kingdom|Britain]] made vague promises
of self-governance to the [[Indian National Congress]] for its
support. Britain reneged on its promises after the war, following
which the Indian Independence movement gained strength. 74,187
Indian troops were killed or missing in action in the war.{{cite
book |title=Wars and Population |last=Urlanis |first=Boris
|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1971 |publisher= |location=Moscow
|isbn= |page=85 }} In [[World War II]] (1939-1945), 2.582 Million
Indian soldiers fought for the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]],
again after British promises of independence. 87,000 Indian
soldiers died in the war. ===Inception=== Upon [[Independence of
India|independence]] and the subsequent [[Partition of India]] in
1947, the [[British Indian Army]] was divided between the newly
created nations of [[Republic of India]] and [[Islamic Republic of
Pakistan]]. Four [[Gurkha]] regiments were transferred to the
British Army, while the rest were incorporated into the Indian
Army. ==Conflicts and Operations== === First Kashmir War (1947) ===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1947}} Almost immediately after
independence, tensions between India and Pakistan began to boil
over, and the first of three full-scale wars between the two
nations broke out over the then [[princely state]] of [[Kashmir]].
Upon the Maharaja of Kashmir's reluctance to accede to either India
or Pakistan, 'tribal' invasion of parts of Kashmir.{{cite
journal|first=Tom Cooper|date=October 29, 2003|title=Indo-Pakistani
War,
1947-1949|publisher=ACIG|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_321.shtml}}
The men included Pakistan army regulars. Soon after, Pakistan sent
in more of its troops to annex the State. The Maharaja, Hari Singh,
appealed to India, and to [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten
of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]], the Governor General, for
help. He signed the Instrument of Accession and Kashmir acceded to
India (a decision ratified by [[UK|Britain]]). Immediately after,
Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar and repelled the invaders.
This contingent included [[General Thimayya]] who distinguished
himself in the operation and in years that followed, became a Chief
of the Indian Army. An intense war was waged across the state and
former comrades found themselves fighting each other. Both sides
made some territorial gains and also suffered significant losses.
An uneasy [[UN]] sponsored peace returned by the end of 1948 with
Indian and Pakistani soldiers facing each other directly on the
[[Line of Control]], which has since divided Indian-held Kashmir
from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Tensions between India and
Pakistan, largely over Kashmir, have never since been entirely
eliminated. ===Inclusion of Hyderabad (1948)=== {{Main|Operation
Polo}} After the partition of [[India]], the [[Hyderabad
State|State of Hyderabad]], a princely-state under the rule of a
[[Nizam]], chose to remain independent. The [[Nizam of
Hyderabad|Nizam]], refused to accede his state to the Union of
India. The following stand-off between the [[Government of India]]
and the Nizam ended on [[12 September]] [[1948]] when India's then
deputy-[[Prime Minister]] [[Sardar Vallabhai Patel]] ordered Indian
troops to secure the [[Hyderabad State|state]]. With 5 days of
low-intensity fighting, the Indian Army, backed by a squadron of
Hawker Tempest aircraft of the [[Indian Air Force]], routed the
Hyderabad State forces. Five infantry battalions and one armored
squadron of the Indian Army were engaged in the operation. The
following day, the [[Hyderabad State|State of Hyderabad]] was
proclaimed as a part of the [[Union of India]]. Major General
[[Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri]], who led the [[Operation Polo]] was
appointed the Military Governor of Hyderabad (1948-1949) to restore
law and order. ===Liberation of Goa, Daman and Diu (1961)===
{{Main|Portuguese-Indian War}} Even though the [[United
Kingdom|British]] and [[France|French]] vacated all their colonial
possessions in the [[Indian subcontinent]], [[Portugal]] refused to
relinquish control of its Indian colonies of [[Goa]], [[Daman and
Diu]]. After repeated attempts by India to negotiate with
[[Portugal]] for the return of its territory were spurned by
Portuguese prime minister and dictator, [[Antonio de Oliveira
Salazar]], India launched [[Operation Vijay (1961)|Operation
Vijay]] on 12 December, 1961 to evict the Portuguese. A small
contingent of its troops entered Goa, Daman and Diu to liberate and
secure the territory. After a brief conflict, in which 31
Portuguese soldiers were killed, the [[Portuguese Navy]] frigate
[[NRP Afonso de Albuquerque]] destroyed, and over 3000 Portuguese
captured, Portuguese General [[Manuel António Vassalo e Silva]]
surrendered to the Indian Army, after twenty-six hours and Goa,
Daman and Diu joined the Indian Union. ===Sino-Indian Conflict
(1962)=== {{Main|Sino-Indian War}} The cause of the war was a
dispute over the sovereignty of the widely-separated Aksai Chin and
Arunachal Pradesh border regions. Aksai Chin, claimed by India to
belong to Kashmir and by China to be part of Xinjiang, contains an
important road link that connects the Chinese regions of Tibet and
Xinjiang. China's construction of this road was one of the triggers
of the conflict. Small-scale clashes between the Indian and Chinese
forces broke out as India insisted on the disputed [[McMahon Line]]
being regarded as the international border between the two
countries. Despite sustaining losses, Chinese troops claim to have
not retaliated to the cross-border firing by Indian troops.Bruce
Bueno de Mesquita & David Lalman. ''War and Reason: Domestic
and International Imperatives''. Yale University Press (1994),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=jhVyb7m_m8MC&pg=PA200&dq=india+china+war+maxwell&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=u2WJSb3POIH4lQTkve2RAg&client=firefox-a#PPA201,M1
p. 201]. ISBN 9780300059229. China's suspicion of India's
involvement in [[Tibet]] created more rifts between the two
countries.Alastair I. Johnston & Robert S. Ross. ''New
Directions in the Study of China's Foreign Policy''. Stanford
University Press (2006),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=DCihrQEdPzAC&pg=PA86&dq=india+china+war+maxwell&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=u2WJSb3POIH4lQTkve2RAg&client=firefox-a#PPA99,M1
p. 99]. ISBN 9780804753630. In 1962, the Indian Army was ordered to
move to the Thag La ridge located near the border between
[[Bhutan]] and [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and about three miles
(5 km) north of the disputed McMahon Line. Meanwhile, Chinese
troops too had made incursions into Indian-held territory and
tensions between the two reached a new high when Indian forces
discovered a road constructed by China in [[Aksai Chin]]. After a
series of failed negotiations, [[People's Liberation Army]]
attacked Indian Army positions at the Thag La ridge. This move by
China caught India by surprise and by October 12, Nehru gave orders
for the Chinese to be expelled from Aksai Chin. However, poor
coordination among various divisions of the Indian Army and the
late decision to mobilize the Indian Air Force in vast numbers gave
China a crucial tactical and strategic advantage over India. On
October 20, Chinese soldiers attacked India in both the North-West
and North-Eastern parts of the border and captured vast portions of
Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. As the fighting moved beyond
disputed territories, China called on the Indian government to
negotiate, however India remained determined to regain lost
territory. With no peaceful agreement in sight, China unilaterally
withdrew its forces from Arunachal Pradesh. The reasons for the
withdrawal are disputed with India claiming various logistical
problems for China and diplomatic support to it from the United
States, while China stated that it still held territory that it had
staked diplomatic claim upon. The dividing line between the Indian
and Chinese forces was christened the [[Line of Actual Control]].
The poor decisions made by India's military commanders, and,
indeed, its political leadership, raised several questions. The
[[Henderson-Brooks Report|Henderson-Brooks & Bhagat committee]]
was soon set up by the Government of India to determine the causes
of the poor performance of the Indian Army. The report of China
even after hostilities began and also criticized the decision to
not allow the Indian Air Force to target Chinese transport lines
out of fear of Chinese aerial counter-attack on Indian civilian
areas. Much of the blame was also targeted at the incompetence of
then Defense Minister, [[Krishna Menon]] who resigned from his post
soon after the war ended. Despite frequent calls for its release,
the Henderson-Brooks report still remains classified.Claude Arpi.
''India and her neighbourhood: a French observer's views''.
Har-Anand Publications (2005),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=RtLS3TPoan4C&pg=PA186 p.
186]. ISBN 9788124110973.[[Neville Maxwell]] has written an account
of the
war.CenturyChina,www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/1962war.htm
===Indo-Pakistani War of 1965=== {{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of
1965}} [[File:18Cav on move.jpg|thumb|Tanks of 18th Cavalry of the
Indian Army take charge at Pakistani positions during the 1965
war.]] A second confrontation with Pakistan took place in 1965,
largely over [[Kashmir]]. Pakistani President [[Ayub Khan]]
launched ''[[Operation Gibraltar]]'' in August 1965 during which
several Pakistani paramilitary troops infiltrated into
Indian-administered Kashmir and tried to spark an anti-India
rebellion. Pakistani leaders believed that India, which was still
recovering from the disastrous Sino-Indian War, would be unable to
deal with a military thrust and rebellion. However, the operation
was a major failure since the Kashmiri people showed little support
for such a rebellion and India quickly moved forces to drive the
infiltrators out. Within a fortnight of the launch of the Indian
counter-attack, most of the infiltrators had retreated back to
Pakistan. Battered by the failure of Operation Gibraltar and
expecting a major invasion by Indian forces across the border,
Pakistan launched [[Operation Grand Slam]] on September 1, invading
India's Chamb-Jaurian sector. In retaliation, the India's Army
launched major offensive throughout its border with Pakistan, with
[[Lahore]] as its prime target.Roger D. Long. "Kashmir dispute". In
''Encyclopedia of the Developing World'' (Thomas M. Leonard,
editor). Routledge (2006),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=3mE04D9PMpAC&pg=PA898 p.
898]. ISBN 9781579583880. Initially, the Indian Army met with
considerable success in the northern sector. After launching
prolonged artillery barrages against Pakistan, India was able to
capture three important mountain positions in Kashmir. By September
9, the Indian Army had made considerable in-roads into Pakistan. .
Six Pakistani Armoured Regiments took part in the battle against
twelve Indian Armoured Regiments with superior tanks. By the time
the battle had ended, the 4th Indian Division had captured about 17
Pakistani tanks in either destroyed, or damaged, or in intact
condition. This included 2 Patton tanks and 15 Chafees and
Shermans. 12 of the 17 tanks, including 8 Pattons, were in running
condition.[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Galleries/Wars/PattonNagar/1965/
"1965 Indo-Pak War"]. Bharat-rakshak.com.{{Verify
credibility|date=March 2009}} In comparison, the Indians lost 32
tanks at Khemkaran-Bhikkiwind. About thirty-six of them were
captured by the Pakistan Army, mostly Sherman tanks. India's
overwhelming victory at the decisive battle of Assal Uttar hastened
the end of the conflict.R.D. Pradhan & Yashwantrao Balwantrao
Chavan. ''1965 War, the Inside Story: Defence Minister Y.B.
Chavan's Diary of India-Pakistan War''. Atlantic Publishers &
Distributors (2007),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=ymYCJQjEGBUC&pg=PA47 p. 47].
ISBN 9788126907625. At the time of ceasefire declaration, India
reported casualties of about 2,000 were killed. On the other hand,
it was estimated that about 800 Pakistani soldiers were killed in
the battle, 900 were wounded and about 60 were taken as prisoners
of war.Sumit Ganguly. "Pakistan". In
[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html ''India: A Country
Study''] (James Heitzman and Robert L. Worden, editors). [[Library
of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (September
1995).[http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781531179/indo-pakistan_wars.html
"Indo-Pakistan Wars"]. [[Microsoft Encarta]] 2008.
[http://www.webcitation.org/5kwrG0An8 Archived] 2009-10-31. About
80 Pakistani tanks were either destroyed or captured by India and
an additional 50 were permanently put out of service. India lost a
total of 190 tanks during the conflict and about 100 more had to
undergo repair. In all, India lost about double as many tanks as
Pakistan lost during the war.Spencer Tucker. ''Tanks: An
Illustrated History of Their Impact''. ABC-CLIO (2004),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=N481TmqiSiUC&pg=PA172 p.
172]. ISBN 9781576079959. It was widely believed that India's
decision to accept the ceasefire was due to military factors, and
not political, since it was facing considerable pressure from the
United States and the UN.Sumit Ganguly. ''Conflict unending:
India-Pakistan tensions since 1947''. Columbia University Press
(2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=xn_QVYLy6ocC&pg=PA45
p. 45]. ISBN 9780231123693. === Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 ===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}} {{See also|Battle of
Longewala|Battle of Hilli|Battle of Basantar}} An independence
movement broke out in [[East Pakistan]] which was [[Operation
Searchlight|brutally crushed]] by Pakistani forces. Due to
large-scale [[1971 Bangladesh atrocities|atrocities]] against them,
thousands of [[Bengali people|Bengalis]] took refuge in neighboring
India causing a major refugee crisis there. In early 1971, India
declared its full-support for the Bengali rebels, known as [[Mukti
Bahini]], and Indian agents were extensively involved in covert
operations to aid them. On November 20, 1971, Indian Army moved the
14 Punjab Battalion and [[45 Cavalry]] into Garibpur, a
strategically important town near India's border with East
Pakistan, and successfully [[Battle of Garibpur|captured it]]. The
following day, more [[Battle of Atgram|clashes]] took place between
Indian and Pakistani forces. Wary of India's growing involvement in
the Bengali rebellion, the [[Pakistan Air Force]] (PAF) launched a
[[Operation Chengiz Khan|pre-emptive strike]] on Indian military
positions near its border with East Pakistan on December 3. The
aerial operation, however, failed to accomplish its stated
objectives and caused India to declare a full-scale war against
Pakistan the same day. By midnight, the Indian Army, accompanied by
Indian Air Force, launched major military thrust into East
Pakistan. The Indian Army won several battles on the eastern front
including the decisive of [[battle of Hilli]], which was the only
front where the Pakistani Army was able to buildup considerable
resistance.Owen Bennett Jones. ''Pakistan: Eye of the Storm''. Yale
University Press (2003),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=ONZpltd6UZ8C&pg=RA1-PA177 p.
177]. ISBN 9780300101478. India's massive early gains was largely
attributed to the speed and flexibility with which Indian armored
divisions moved across East Pakistan.Eric H. Arnett. ''Military
capacity and the risk of war: China, India, Pakistan, and Iran''.
Oxford University Press (1997),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=eOgj3HHDnJkC&pg=PA134 p.
134]. ISBN 9780198292814. [[File:Basantar2.jpg|thumb|Indian Army
personnel celebrate Indian victory at the end [[Battle of
Basantar]] on top of a knocked out Pakistani Patton tank.]]
Pakistan launched a counter-attack against India on the western
front. On December 4, 1971, the A company of the 23rd Battalion of
India's [[Punjab Regiment]] detected and intercepted the movement
of the 51st Infantry Division of the Pakistani Army near [[Ramgarh,
Rajasthan]]. The [[battle of Longewala]] ensued during which the A
company, though being outnumbered, thwarted the Pakistani advance
until the Indian Air Force directed its fighters to engage the
Pakistani tanks. By the time the battle had ended, 34 Pakistani
tanks and 50 armored vehicles were either destroyed or abandoned.
About 200 Pakistani troops were killed in action during the battle
while only 2 Indian soldiers lost their lives. Pakistan suffered
another major defeat on the western front during the [[battle of
Basantar]] which was fought from December 4 to 16th. By the end of
the battle, about 66 Pakistani tanks were destroyed and 40 more
were captured. In return, Pakistani forces were able to destroy
only 11 Indian tanks. None of the numerous Pakistani offensives on
the Western front materialized.S. Paul Kapur. ''Dangerous
deterrent: nuclear weapons proliferation and conflict in South
Asia''. Stanford University Press (2007),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=6Qbovlt-eZ4C&pg=PA17 p. 17].
ISBN 9780804755504. By December 16, Pakistan had lost sizable
territory on both eastern and western fronts. Under the command of
[[Jagjit Singh Arora|Lt. General J.S Arora]], the three corps of
the Indian Army, which had invaded East Pakistan, entered [[Dhaka]]
and forced Pakistani forces to surrender on 16 December, 1971, one
day after the conclusion of the battle of Basantar. After
Pakistan's Lt. General [[Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi|A.A.K. Niazi]]
signed the Instrument of Surrender, India took more than 90,000
Pakistani [[prisoners of war]]. At the time of the signing of the
Instrument of Surrender, 9,000 Pakistani soldiers were
killed-in-action while India suffered only 2,500 battle-related
deaths. In addition, Pakistan lost 200 tanks during the battle
compared to India's 80.Encyclopedia of the Developing World,
[http://books.google.com/books?id=3mE04D9PMpAC&pg=PA806 p.
806]. In 1972, the [[Simla Agreement]] was signed between the two
countries and tensions simmered. However, there were occasional
spurts in diplomatic tensions which culminated into increased
military vigilance on both sides. ===Siachen conflict (1984)===
{{Main|Siachen conflict}}
The [[Siachen Glacier]], though a part of the Kashmir region, was
not officially demarcated in maps prepared and exchanged between
the two sides in 1947. As a consequence, prior to the 1980s,
neither India nor Pakistan maintained any permanent military
presence in the region. However, Pakistan began conducting and
allowing a series of mountaineering expeditions to the glacier
beginning in the 1950s. By early 1980s, the government of Pakistan
was granting special expedition permits to mountaineers and United
States Army maps deliberately showed Siachen as a part of Pakistan.
This practice gave rise to the contemporary meaning of the term
''[[oropolitics]]''. India, possibly irked by these developments,
launched [[Operation Meghdoot]] in April 1984. The entire Kumaon
Regiment of the Indian Army was airlifted to the glacier. Pakistani
forces responded quickly and clashes between the two followed.
Indian Army secured the strategic [[Sia La]] and [[Bilafond La]]
mountain passes and by 1985, more than 1000 sq. miles of territory,
'claimed' by Pakistan, was under Indian control.Edward W. Desmond.
[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958254-2,00.html
"The Himalayas War at the Top Of the World"]. ''[[Time
(magazine)|Time]]'' (July 31, 1989). The Indian Army continues to
control more than 2/3rd of the
glacier.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/siachen.htm
"Siachen Glacier / Operation Meghdoot"]. [[GlobalSecurity.org]].
Pakistan made several unsuccessful attempts to regain control over
Siachen. In late 1987, Pakistan mobilized about 8,000 troops and
garrisoned them near Khapalu, aiming to capture Bilafond La.Vivek
Chadha. ''Low Intensity Conflicts in India: An Analysis''. SAGE
(2005), [http://books.google.com/books?id=ApzUuLiO0jYC&pg=PA105
p. 105]. ISBN 9780761933250. However, they were repulsed by Indian
Army personnel guarding Bilafond. During the battle, about 23
Indian soldiers lost their lives while more than 150 Pakistani
troops perished.Pradeep Barua. ''The State at War in South Asia''.
University of Nebraska Press (2005),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=FIIQhuAOGaIC&pg=PA256 p.
256]. ISBN 9780803213449. Further unsuccessful attempts to reclaim
positions were launched by Pakistan in 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1999,
most notably in Kargil that year. India continues to maintain a
strong military presence in the region despite extremely
inhospitable conditions. The conflict over Siachen is regularly
cited as an example of [[mountain warfare]].Tim McGirk with Aravind
Adiga. [http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050711/story.html
"War at the Top of the World"]. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (May
4, 2005). The highest peak in the Siachen glacier region,
Siakangri, is strategically important for India because its immense
altitude and proximity to the [[Karakoram Highway]] enables the
Indian forces to keep check on any Pakistani or Chinese movement in
the region.Sanjay Dutt. ''War and Peace in Kargil Sector''. APH
Publishing (2000),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=XlHplc3pr1IC&pg=PA389 p.
389-90]. ISBN 9788176481519. Maintaining control over Siachen poses
several logistical challenges for the Indian Army. Several
infrastructure projects were constructed in the region, including a
helipad 21,000 feet (6,400 m) above the sea level.Nick Easen.
[http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/south/05/20/siachen.kashmir/
Siachen: The world's highest cold war]. [[CNN]] (September 17,
2003). In 2004, Indian Army was spending an estimated US$2 million
a day to support its personnel stationed in the region.Arun
Bhattacharjee.
[http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FI23Df04.html "On Kashmir,
hot air and trial balloons"]. ''[[Asia Times]]'' (September 23,
2004). ===Counter-insurgency activities=== [[File:Mi-8 Indian
Army.jpg|thumb|Indian Army personnel during a counter-insurgency
training operation.]] The Indian Army has played a crucial role in
the past, fighting [[Insurgency|insurgent]]s and
[[terrorism|terrorists]] within the nation. The army launched
[[Operation Bluestar]] and [[Operation Woodrose]] in the 1980s to
combat [[Sikh]] insurgents. The army, along with [[Paramilitary
forces of India|some paramilitary forces]], has the prime
responsibility of maintaining [[law and order (politics)|law and
order]] in the troubled [[Jammu and Kashmir]] region. The Indian
Army also sent a contingent to [[Sri Lanka]] in 1987 as a part of
the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]]. ===Kargil conflict (1999)===
{{Main|Kargil War}} In 1998, India carried out [[Pokhran-II|nuclear
tests]] and a few days later, Pakistan responded by more
[[Chagai-I|nuclear tests]] giving both countries [[nuclear
deterrence]] capability. Diplomatic tensions eased after the
[[Lahore Summit]] was held in 1999. The sense of optimism was
short-lived, however, since in mid-1999 Pakistani paramilitary
forces and Kashmiri insurgents captured deserted, but strategic,
Himalayan heights in the [[Kargil district]] of India. These had
been vacated by the Indian army during the onset of the
inhospitable winter and were supposed to reoccupied in spring. The
regular Pakistani troops who took control of these areas received
important support, both in the form of arms and supplies, from
Pakistan. Some of the heights under their control, which also
included the ''Tiger Hill'', overlooked the vital
[[Srinagar]]-[[Leh]] Highway (NH 1A), [[Batalik]] and [[Dras]].
[[File:IndianArmyKargil.jpg|thumb|Indian Army near [[Jammu]] trucks
carry supplies for Indian troops fighting in Kargil in summer
1999.]] Once the scale of the Pakistani incursion was realized, the
Indian Army quickly mobilized about 200,000 troops and [[Operation
Vijay (1999)|Operation Vijay]] was launched. However, since the
heights were under Pakistani control, India was in a clear
strategic disadvantage. From their [[observation post]]s, the
Pakistani forces had a clear line-of-sight to lay down [[indirect
fire|indirect artillery fire]] on NH 1A, inflicting heavy
casualties on the
Indians.[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_5-5-2003_pg7_14
Indian general praises Pakistani valour at Kargil] [[May 5]]
[[2003]] Daily Times, Pakistan This was a serious problem for the
Indian Army as the highway was its main logistical and supply
route.Kashmir in the Shadow of War By Robert Wirsing Published by
M.E. Sharpe, 2003 ISBN 0765610906 pp36 Thus, the Indian Army's
first priority was to recapture peaks that were in the immediate
vicinity of NH1a. This resulted in Indian troops first targeting
the Tiger Hill and Tololing complex in Dras.Managing Armed
Conflicts in the 21st Century By Adekeye Adebajo, Chandra Lekha
Sriram Published by Routledge pp192,193 This was soon followed by
more attacks on the Batalik-Turtok sub-sector which provided access
to Siachen Glacier. Point 4590, which had the nearest view of the
NH1a, was successfully recaptured by Indian forces on June 14.The
State at War in South Asia By Pradeep Barua Published by U of
Nebraska Press Page 261 Though most of the posts in the vicinity of
the highway were cleared by mid-June, some parts of the highway
near Drass witnessed sporadic shelling until the end of the war.
Once NH1a area was cleared, the Indian Army turned to driving the
invading force back across the Line of Control. The [[Battle of
Tololing]], among other assaults, slowly tilted the combat in
India's favor. Nevertheless, some of the posts put up a stiff
resistance, including Tiger Hill (Point 5140) that fell only later
in the war. As the operation was fully underway, about 250
artillery guns were brought in to clear the infiltrators in the
posts that were in the [[line-of-sight]]. In many vital points,
neither artillery nor air power could dislodge the outposts manned
by the Pakistan soldiers, who were out of visible range. The Indian
Army mounted some direct frontal ground assaults which were slow
and took a heavy toll given the steep ascent that had to be made on
peaks as high as 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Two months into the
conflict, Indian troops had slowly retaken most of the ridges they
had lost; [http://www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n08/ali_01_.html ''Bitter Chill
of Winter''] - [[Tariq Ali]], [[London Review of Books]]{{cite book
| author=Colonel Ravi Nanda | title=Kargil : A Wake Up Call |
publisher=Vedams Books | year=1999 | isbn=81-7095-074-0}}
[https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no14953.htm Online summary of the
Book] according to official count, an estimated 75%–80% of the
intruded area and nearly all high ground was back under Indian
control. Following the Washington accord on [[July 4]], where
Sharif agreed to withdraw Pakistani troops, most of the fighting
came to a gradual halt, but some Pakistani forces remained in
positions on the Indian side of the LOC. In addition, the [[United
Jihad Council]] (an umbrella for all [[extremist]] groups) rejected
Pakistan's plan for a climb-down, instead deciding to fight
on.Alastair Lawson.
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/386537.stm "Pakistan
and the Kashmir militants"]. [[BBC News]] (July 5, 1999). The
Indian Army launched its final attacks in the last week of July; as
soon as the Drass subsector had been cleared of Pakistani forces,
the fighting ceased on [[July 26]]. The day has since been marked
as ''Kargil Vijay Diwas'' (Kargil Victory Day) in India. By the end
of the war, India had resumed control of all territory south and
east of the Line of Control, as was established in July 1972 per
the Shimla Accord. By the time all hostilities had ended, the
number of Indian soldiers killed during the conflict stood at
527.A.K. Chakraborty.
[http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2000/fjul2000/f210720001.html
"Kargil War brings into sharp focus India's commitment to peace"].
Government of India Press Information Bureau (July 2000). while
more than 700 regular members of the Pakistani army were
killed.Michael Edward Brown. ''Offense, defense, and war''. MIT
Press (2004),
[http://books.google.com/books?id=e7bx2eNsc7wC&pg=PA393 p.
393]. The number of Islamist fighters, also known as
''Mujahideen'', killed by Indian Armed Forces during the conflict
stood at about
3,000.[http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?151668
"Ill-conceived planning by Musharraf led to second major military
defeat in Kargil: PML-N"]. [[PakTribune]] (August 06, 2006).
===United Nations Peacekeeping Missions===
[[File:IndiansoldiersKorea1953.jpg|thumb|right|Indian Army soldiers
arrive in Korea in September 1953 for peacekeeping along the
neutral buffer zone]] The Indian Army has undertaken numerous [[UN
peacekeeping
missions]]:http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/pastops.shtml *
[[Angola]], [[UNAVEM I]], 1988-1991 * [[Angola]], [[UNAVEM II]],
1991-1995 * [[Angola]], [[UNAVEM III]], 1995-1997 * [[Angola]],
[[MONUA]], 1997-1999 * [[Bosnia & Herzegovina]], [[UNMIBH]],
1995-2002 * [[Cambodia]], [[UNAMIC]], 1991-1992 * [[Cambodia]],
[[UNTAC]], 1992-1993 * [[Central America]], [[ONUCA]], 1989-1992 *
[[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congo]], [[ONUC]], 1960-1964 *
[[El Salvador]], [[ONUSAL]], 1991-1995 * [[Ethiopia]] &
[[Eritrea]], [[UNMEE]], 2000-2008 [[File:UN forces in
Somalia.JPEG|thumb|right|Indian Army's [[T-72]] with UN markings at
the Belgian compound in Kismayo, Somalia, in support of Operation
''Continue Hope'' as a part of [[UNOSOM]].]] * [[Haiti]],
[[UNMIH]], 1993-1996 * [[Haiti]], [[UNSMIH]], 1996-1997 *
[[Haiti]], [[UNTMIH]], 1997 * [[Haiti]], [[MIPONUH]], 1997-2000 *
[[Iran]] & [[Iraq]], [[UNIIMOG]], 1988-1991 * [[Iraq]] &
[[Kuwait]], [[UNIKOM]], 1991-2003 * [[Israel]], [[UNDOF]] *
[[Liberia]], [[UNOMIL]], 1993-1997 * [[Lebanon]],
[[UNOGL]],[[UNIFIL]], 1958 * [[Middle East]], [[UNEF I]], 1956-1967
* [[Mozambique]], [[ONUMOZ]], 1992-1994 * [[Namibia]], [[UNTAG]],
1989-1990 * [[Rwanda]], [[UNAMIR]], 1993-1996 * [[Sierra Leone]],
[[UNOMSIL]], 1998-1999 * [[Sierra Leone]], [[UNAMSIL]], 1999-2005 *
[[Somalia]], [[UNOSOM]], 1993-1995 * [[Yemen]], [[UNYOM]],
1963-1964 The Indian army also provided paramedical units to
facilitate the withdrawal of the sick and wounded in the [[Korean
War]]. ===Major Exercises=== [[File:IA T-90 in
action.jpg|thumb|Indian Army [[T-90]] tanks take part during an
exercise in the Thar Desert.]] ====Operation Brasstacks====
[[Operation Brasstacks]] was launched by the Indian Army in
November 1986 to simulate a full-scale war on the western border.
The exercise was the largest ever conducted in India and comprised
nine infantry, three mechanised, three armoured and one air assault
division, and included three armoured brigades. Amphibious assault
exercises were also conducted with the [[Indian Navy]]. Brasstacks
also allegedly incorporated nuclear attack drills. It led to
tensions with Pakistan and a subsequent rapprochement in mid-1987.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/brass-tacks.htm
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1811/18110990.htm ====Operation
Parakram==== {{Main|2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff}} After the
[[December 13]] [[2001]] attack on the [[Indian Parliament]],
Operation Parakram was launched in which tens of thousands of
Indian troops were deployed along the Indo-Pakistan border. India
blamed Pakistan for backing the attack. The operation was the
largest military exercise carried out by any Asian country. Its
prime objective is still unclear but appears to have been to
prepare the army for any future [[nuclear conflict]] with Pakistan,
which seemed increasingly possible after the December attack on the
Indian parliament. ====Operation Sanghe Shakti==== It has since
been stated that the main goal of this exercise was to validate
mobilisation strategies of the [[Ambala]]-based ''II Strike''
Corps. Air support was a part of this exercise, and an entire
battalion of paratroops was paradropped during the conduct of the
war games, with allied equipment. Some 20,000 soldiers took part in
the exercise. ====Exercise Ashwamedha==== Indian Army tested its
network centric warfare capabilities in the exercise Ashwamedha.
The exercise was held in the Thar desert, in which over 300,000
troops participated.[http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3115
Indian Army tests network centric warfare capability in Ashwamedh
war games]. Asymmetric warfare capability was also tested by the
Indian Army during the
exercise.[http://www.dailyindia.com/show/138168.php/Ashwamedha-reinforces-importance-of-foot-soldiers
'Ashwamedha' reinforces importance of foot soldiers] ==Structure of
the Indian Army== Initially, the army's main objective was to
defend the nation's frontiers. However, over the years, the army
has also taken up the responsibility of providing internal
security, especially in insurgent-hit [[Kashmir]] and
[[Assam|north-east]]. The army has a strength of about a million
troops and fields 34 divisions. Its headquarters is located in the
Indian capital [[New Delhi]] and it is under the overall command of
the [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army|Chief of Army Staff]]
(COAS), currently General [[Deepak Kapoor]], PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM,
ADC ===Commands=== The army operates 6 tactical commands . Each
command is headed by General Officer Commanding-in-Chief with the
rank of [[Lieutenant General]]. Each command is directly affiliated
to the Army HQ in [[New Delhi]]. These commands are given below in
their correct order of raising, location (city) and their
commanders. There is also one training command known as ARTRAC.The
staff in each Command HQ is headed by Chief Of Staff (COS) who is
also an officer of [[Lieutenant General]] rank. ===Corps=== A
[[Corps]] is an army field formation responsible for a zone within
a Command theatre. There are 3 types of Corps in the Indian Army:
Strike, Holding & Mixed. A Command generally consists of 2 or
more Corps. A corps has Army Divisions under its command. The Corps
HQ is the highest field formation in the army. {{MultiCol}}
[[Image:Indian Army HQ.jpg|25px]] '''Headquarters, Indian Army''',
[[New Delhi]] * [[Image:IA Central Command.jpg|25px]] '''Central
Command''', headquartered at [[Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] **
'''[[I Corps (India)|I Corps]]''' — Corrently assigned to South
Western Command * [[Image:IA Eastern Command.jpg|25px]] '''Eastern
Command''', headquartered at [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]] **
'''[[III Corps (India)|III Corps]]''', headquartered at
[[Dimapur]], [[Nagaland]] ***'''23rd Infantry
Division''' headquartered at [[Ranchi]] ***'''57th
Mountain Division''' headquartered at [[Leimakhong]] ** '''[[IV
Corps (India)|IV Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]]
***'''2nd Mountain Division''' headquartered at
[[Dibrugarh]] ***'''5th Mountain Division'''
headquartered at [[Bomdila]] ***'''21st Mountain
Division''' headquartered at [[Rangia]] ** '''[[XXXIII Corps
(India)|XXXIII Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Siliguri]], [[West
Bengal]] ***'''17th Mountain Division''' headquartered
at [[Gangtok]] ***'''20th Mountain Division'''
headquartered at [[Binnaguri]] ***'''27th Mountain
Division''' headquartered at [[Kalimpong]] ***'''Artillery
brigade''' * [[Image:IA Northern Command.jpg|25px]] '''Northern
Command''', headquartered at [[Udhampur]], [[Jammu and Kashmir]] **
'''[[XIV Corps (India)|XIV Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Leh]],
[[Jammu and Kashmir]] ***'''3rd Infantry Division'''
headquartered at [[Leh]] ***'''8th Mountain Division'''
headquartered at [[Dras]] ***''' Artillery brigade''' ** '''[[XV
Corps (India)|XV Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu
and Kashmir]] ***'''19th Infantry Division'''
headquartered at [[Baramulla]], ***'''28th Infantry
Division''' headquartered at [[Gurez]] ***'''Artillery brigade'''
** '''[[XVI Corps (India)|XVI Corps]]''', headquartered at
[[Nagrota]], [[Jammu and Kashmir]] ***'''10th Infantry
Division''' headquartered at [[Akhnoor]] ***'''25th
Infantry Division''' headquartered at [[Rajauri]]
***'''39th Infantry Division''' headquartered at Yol
***'''Artillery brigade''' ***'''Armored brigade''' * [[Image:IA
Southern Command.jpg|25px]] '''Southern Command''', headquartered
at [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]] ** '''[[XII Corps (India)|XII
Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]]
***'''4th Armored brigade''' ***'''340th
Mechanized brigade''' ***'''11th Infantry Division'''
headquartered at [[Ahmedabad]] ***'''12th Infantry
Division''' headquartered at [[Jodhpur]] {{ColBreak}} ** '''[[XXI
Corps (India)|XXI Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Bhopal]], [[Madhya
Pradesh]] ***'''31st Armored Division''' headquartered
at [[Jhansi]] ***'''36th RAPID [[Sagar]]
***'''54th Infantry Division''' headquartered at
[[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]/[[Secunderabad]] ***'''Artillery
brigade''' ***'''Air defence brigade''' ***'''475th
Engineering Brigade''' * [[Image:IA South Western
Command.jpg|25px]] '''South Western Command''', headquartered at
[[Jaipur]], [[Rajasthan]] ** '''[[I Corps (India)|I Corps]]''',
headquartered at [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]], [[Uttar
Pradesh]] ***'''4th Infantry Division''' headquartered
at [[Allahabad]] ***'''6th Mountain Division'''
headquartered at [[Bareilly]] ***'''33rd Armored
Division''' headquartered at [[Hisar, Haryana|Hisar]]
***'''Engineering Brigade''' ** '''[[X Corps (India)|X Corps]]''',
headquartered at [[Bhatinda]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]
***'''16th Infantry Division''' headquartered at [[Sri
Ganganagar]] ***'''18th RAPID''' [[Kota,
Rajasthan|Kota]] ***'''24th RAPID''' [[Bikaner]]
***'''6th Independent Armored brigade''' ***'''
615th Independent Air defence brigade'''
***'''471st Engineering Brigade''' * [[Image:IA Western
Command.jpg|25px]] '''Western Command''', headquartered at
[[Chandimandir]] ** '''[[II Corps (India)|II Corps]]''',
headquartered at [[Ambala]], [[Haryana]] ***'''1st
Armored Division''' headquartered at [[Patiala]]
***'''14th RAPID [[Dehradun]] ***'''22th
Infantry Division''' headquartered at [[Meerut]]
***'''474th Engineering Brigade'''
***'''612th Mechanised Independent Air defence
brigade''' ** '''[[IX Corps (India)|IX Corps]]''', headquartered at
[[Yol, India|Yol]], [[Himachal Pradesh]] ***'''26th
Infantry Division''' headquartered at [[Jammu]]
***'''29th Infantry Division''' headquartered at
[[Pathankot]] ***'''2nd Independent Armored brigade'''
***'''3rd Independent Armored brigade'''
***'''16th Independent Armored brigade''' ** '''[[XI
Corps (India)|XI Corps]]''', headquartered at [[Jalandhar]],
[[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] ***'''7th Infantry Division'''
headquartered at [[Firozpur]] ***'''9th Infantry
Division''' headquartered at [[Meerut]] ***'''15th
Infantry Division''' headquartered at [[Amritsar]]
***'''23rd Armored brigade''' ***'''55th
Mechanised brigade''' * [[Image:IA Training Command.jpg|25px]]
'''Training Command''', headquartered at [[Shimla]], [[Himachal
Pradesh]] {{EndMultiCol}} ====Regimental Organisation==== In
addition to this (not to be confused with the Field Corps mentioned
above) are the Regiments or Corps or departments of the Indian
Army. The corps mentioned below are the functional divisions
entrusted with specific pan-Army tasks. {| align="left"
cellpadding="10" | style="font-size: 100%;" |'''Arms''' #Indian
Infantry Regiments #[[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]]
Regiments - The Armoured Corps School and Centre is at
[[Ahmednagar]]. #[[Regiment of Artillery]] - The School of
Artillery is at [[Devlali]] near [[Nasik]]. #Corps of Signals
#[[Indian Army Corps of Engineers|Corps of Engineers]] - The
College of Military Engineering is at Dapodi, [[Pune]]. The Centers
are located as follows- [[Madras Engineer Group]] at [[Bangalore]],
[[Bengal Engineer Group]] at [[Roorkee]] and [[Bombay Engineer
Group]] at Khadki, [[Pune]]. #Corps of Army Air Defence-Center at
[[Gopalpur]] in [[Orissa]] State. #Mechanised Infantry - Regimental
Center at [[Ahmednagar]]. #[[Army Aviation Corps (India)|Army
Aviation Corps(India)]] '''Services''' #Army Dental Corps #Army
Education Corps - Center at [[Pachmarhi]]. #[[Army Medical Corps]]
- Center at [[Lucknow]]. #Army Ordnance Corps - Centers at
[[Jabalpur]] and [[Secunderabad]] (HQ). #Army Postal Service Corps
- Centre at Kamptee near Nagpur. #Army Service Corps - Center at
[[Bangalore]] #Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers-
Centers at Bhopal and [[Secunderabad]] . #[[Corps of Military
Police]]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Corps_of_Military_Police] -
Center at Bangalore #Intelligence Corps - Center at [[Pune]].
#Judge Advocate General's Deptt. - Institute of Military Law
[[kamptee]],[[Nagpur]]. #Military Farms Service #[[Military Nursing
Service (India)|Military Nursing Service]] #Remount and Veterinary
Corps #Pioneer Corps |} {{Indian Army Arms and Services}} ===Other
Field Formations=== [[File:IA men.jpg|thumb|A section of the Indian
Army takes charge during a military exercise.]] :*[[Division
(Military)|Division]]: An Army Division is an intermediate between
a Corps and a Brigade. It is the largest striking force in the
army. Each Division is headed by [General Officer Commanding] (GOC)
in the rank of [[Major General]]. It usually consists of 15,000
combat troops and 8,000 support elements. Currently, the Indian
Army has 34 Divisions including 4 RAPID (Re-organised Army Plains
Infantry Divisions) Action Divisions, 18 Infantry Divisions, 10
Mountain Divisions, 3 Armoured Divisions and 2 Artillery Divisions.
Each Division composes of several [[Brigades]]. :*[[Brigade]]: A
Brigade generally consists of around 3,000 combat troops with
supporting elements. An Infantry Brigade usually has 3 Infantry
Battalions along with various Support Arms & Services. It is
headed by a [[Brigadier]], equivalent to a [[Brigadier General]] in
some armies. In addition to the Brigades in various Army Divisions,
the Indian Army also has 5 Independent Armoured Brigades, 15
Independent Artillery Brigades, 7 Independent Infantry Brigades, 1
Independent Parachute Brigade,3 Independent Air Defence Brigades, 2
Independent Air Defence Groups and 4 Independent Engineer Brigades.
These Independent Brigades operate directly under the Corps
Commander (GOC Corps). :*[[Battalion]]: A Battalion is commanded by
a [[Colonel]] and is the Infantry's main fighting unit. It consists
of more than 900 combat personnel. :*[[Company (military
unit)|Company]]: Headed by the [[Major]], a Company comprises 120
soldiers. :*[[Platoon]]: An intermediate between a Company and
Section, a Platoon is headed by a [[Lieutenant]] or depending on
the availability of Commissioned Officers, a Junior Commissioned
Officer, with the rank of [[JCO|Subedar]] or [[JCO|Naib-Subedar]].
It has a total strength of about 32 troops. :*[[Section (military
unit)|Section]]: Smallest military outfit with a strength of 10
personnel. Commanded by a Non-commissioned officer of the rank of
[[Havildar Major]] or [[Sergeant Major]]. ==Regiments== {{Main|List
of regiments of the Indian Army}} [[File:Indian Army-Rajput
regiment.jpeg|right|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Rajput Regiment]].]]
[[File:Indian Army-Sikh Light Infantry
regiment.jpeg|right|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Sikh Light
Infantry]].]] [[File:Indian Army-Madras
regiment.jpeg|right|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Madras Regiment]].]]
[[File:Republic.JPG|right|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Assam
Regiment]].]] ===Infantry Regiments=== There are several battalions
or units associated together in an infantry regiment. The infantry
regiment in the Indian Army is a military organisation and not a
field formation. All the battalions of a regiment do not fight
together as one formation, but are dispersed over various
formations, viz. brigades, divisions and corps. An infantry
battalions serves for a period of time under a formation and then
moves to another, usually in another sector or terrain when its
tenure is over. Occasionally, battalions of the same regiment may
serve together for a tenure. Most of the infantry regiments of the
Indian Army originate from the old British Indian Army and recruit
troops from a region or of specific ethnicities. The list of
infantry regiments of the Indian Army are: * [[Brigade of the
Guards]] * [[Parachute Regiment (India)|The Parachute Regiment]] *
[[Mechanised Infantry Regiment]] * [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab
Regiment]] * [[Madras Regiment]] * [[The Grenadiers]] * [[Maratha
Light Infantry]] * [[Rajputana Rifles]] * [[Rajput Regiment]] *
[[Jat Regiment]] * [[Sikh Regiment]] * [[Sikh Light Infantry]] *
[[Dogra Regiment]] * [[Garhwal Rifles]] * [[Kumaon Regiment]] *
[[Assam Regiment]] * [[Bihar Regiment]] * [[Mahar Regiment]] *
[[Jammu & Kashmir Rifles]] * [[Jammu and Kashmir Light
Infantry|Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry]] * [[Naga Regiment]] *
[[1 Gorkha Rifles|1 Gorkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)]] * [[3
Gorkha Rifles]] * [[4 Gorkha Rifles]] * [[5 Gorkha Rifles|5 Gorkha
Rifles (Frontier Force)]] * [[8 Gorkha Rifles]] * [[9 Gorkha
Rifles]] * [[11 Gorkha Rifles]] * [[Ladakh Scouts]] ===Artillery
Regiments=== [[File:Artillery Insignia.gif|thumb|Artillery
Insignia]] The [[Regiment of Artillery]] constitutes a formidable
operational arm of Indian Army. Historically it takes its lineage
from Moghul Emperor Babur who is popularly credited with
introduction of Artillery in India, in the Battle of Panipat in
1526. However evidence of earlier use of gun by [[Bahamani
Sultanate|Bahmani Kings]] in the Battle of Adoni in 1368 and King
Mohammed Shah of Gujrat in fifteenth century have been recorded.
===Armoured Regiments=== There are 97 armoured regiments in the
Indian Army ==Indian Army Staff and Equipment== ===Strength===
[[File:Honour guard, India 20060302-9 d-0108-2-515h.jpg|thumb|The
mounted [[President's Bodyguard (India)|President's Bodyguard]]
during a state visit by a foreign dignitary.]]
{| border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse;" | bgcolor="#ff2222
align="center" colspan="2" | '''Indian Army statistics''' |- |
[[Active duty|Active Troops]] |1,414,000 |- | [[Military
reserves|Reserve Troops]] |1,800,000 |- | [[Indian Territorial
Army]] | 787,000** |- | [[Main battle tank]]s |5,000 |- |
[[Artillery]] |3,200 |- | [[Ballistic missiles]] |~100
([[Agni-I]],[[Agni-II]],[[Agni-III]]) |- | [[Ballistic missiles]]
|~1,000 [[Prithvi missile]] series |- | [[Cruise missiles]] |~1,000
[[BrahMos]] |- | [[Aircraft]] |~1,500 |- | [[Surface-to-air
missiles]] |100,000 {{close table}} ** includes 387,000 1st
line troops and 400,000 2nd line troops
, Kanpur, Jabalpur and Tiruchirapalli. Indian
National Small Arms System (INSAS) rifle,
which is successfully inducted by Indian Army since 1997 is a
product of Rifle Factory,
Ishapore. While ammunition is manufactured at Khadki and possibly
at Bolangir.| Aircraft | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | |||||
| Type | |||||
| Versions | |||||
| In service | |||||
| Notes | |||||
| HAL Dhruv | utility helicopter | HAL Dhruv | 379+ | To acquire 205+ more Dhruv in next 1 year. | |
| Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III | utility helicopter | SA 316B Chetak | 201+ | to be replaced by new LUH, competition to start soon. | |
| Aérospatiale SA 315 Lama | utility helicopter | SA 315B Cheetah | 200+ | to be replaced by new LUH, competition to start soon. | |
| DRDO Nishant | reconnaissance UAV | 232 | Delivered 232 UAV's in 2008. | ||
| IAI Searcher II | reconnaissance UAV | 267+ | |||
| IAI Heron II | reconnaissance UAV | 232+ | The Indian army had projected a requirement for a helicopter that can carry loads of up to 75 kg heights of on the Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. Flying at these heights poses unique challenges due to the rarefied atmosphere. The Indian Army chose the Eurocopter AS 550 for a $550 million contract for 197 light helicopters to replace its ageing fleet of Chetaks and Cheetahs, some of which were inducted more than three decades ago.The deal has however been scrapped amidst allegations of corruption during the bidding process. Uniforms Comparative showing Indian Army
soldier wearing the Jungle camouflage and two US Army soldiers
wearing the ACU.The Indian Army Jungle camouflage which features a Jungle camouflage pattern and is designed for use in woodland and urban environments.The Indian Army Desert camouflage which features a desert camouflage pattern and is designed for use in desert. Indian Army Jungle camouflage sets features Jacket, pants,cap.Soldiers model made of course cotton material.Jackets are button up with 2 upper and 2 lower pockets.Pants have 2 front pockets,2 cargo pockets,1 back pocket. Indian Army Desert camouflage sets features Jacket,pants,cap.Used by artillery and infantry posted in Rajasthan  - a semi-desert area.I understand armour based
there is also authorized to use it.Also currently being worn by
Indian peacekeepers serving in Angola.Jackets are button up with 2
upper and 2 lower pockets.Pants have 2 front pockets,2 cargo
pockets,1 back pocket.Available in sizes from 32" to 44" waist, and
from a 42" to 52" chest.The forces of the East India Company in India were forced by casualties to dye their white summer tunics to neutral tones, initially a tan called khaki (from the Hindi-Urdu word for "dusty"). This was a temporary measure. It became standard in Indian service in the 1880s, but not until the Second Boer War, in 1902, did the entire British Army standardise on dun for Service Dress.Indian Army Jungle camouflage standardize on dun for khaki. Recipients of the Param Vir ChakraListed below are the most notable people to have received the Param Vir Chakra, the highest military decoration of the Indian Army.Future developments The TATA Groups contribution to
F-INSAS.
See also
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