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109-521: The Army Aviation Corps (AAC) is the youngest arm of the Indian Army , being formally designated on 1 November 1986. The Army Aviation Corps units are designated as Squadrons . Each squadron generally consists of two Flights . Reconnaissance (Recce) and Observation (R & O) flights might be part of squadrons or operate independently. The latter do not have a parent squadron and are designated by an (I) in their name. The earliest use of aircraft by

218-460: A System ( F-INSAS ), and is also upgrading and acquiring new assets for its armoured, artillery, and aviation branches. Until the independence of India , the "Indian Army" was a British-commanded force defined as "the force recruited locally and permanently based in India, together with its expatriate British officers"; the "British Army in India" referred to British Army units posted to India for

327-657: A compelling presentation to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in November 1985. This finally bore fruit and an Army Aviation Cell was created at Army headquarters under then Brigadier Atma Singh. On 16 July 1986, the Government decided that the Army would have its own communication and utility helicopters, which would wholly man, maintain and control it. All the Air OP Squadrons and Flights would be transferred to

436-531: A crucial tactical and strategic advantage over India. On 20 October, Chinese soldiers attacked India from both the northwest and northeast; and captured large 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 agreement in sight, China unilaterally withdrew its forces from Arunachal Pradesh. The reasons for

545-734: A hydrogen bomb, which Pakistan lacked. Diplomatic tensions eased after the Lahore Summit was held in 1999. However, the sense of optimism was short-lived. In mid-1999, Pakistani paramilitary forces and Kashmiri insurgents captured the 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 to be reoccupied in spring. The troops that took control of these areas received important support, of both arms and supplies, from Pakistan. Some of

654-569: A large number of ageing aircraft like the Cheetah and Chetak, which need replacement by modern helicopters. The predominant role of the corps continues to remain reconnaissance and observation. The absence of medium and heavy lift helicopters, which continues to remain with the Air Force, results in a deficiency of the tactical lift capability in the operational scenario. The delay in acquiring true attack helicopter units, which are integral to battle

763-664: A major component of national power, alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force . 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

872-667: A major refugee crisis there. In early 1971, India declared its full support for the Bengali freedom fighters, known as Mukti Bahini , and Indian agents were extensively involved in covert operations to aid them. On 20 November 1971, the Indian Army moved 14 Punjab Battalion of the 45th Cavalry regiment, into Garibpur, a strategically important town in East Pakistan, near India's border, and successfully captured it . The following day, more clashes took place between Indian and Pakistani forces. Wary of India's growing involvement in

981-435: A month-long skirmish, both Indian Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan agreed on a peace offer on 22 March 2019 ending hostilities and vowed to fight against terrorism together. India has been the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping missions since its inception. So far, India has taken part in 43 Peacekeeping missions, with a total contribution exceeding 160,000 troops and

1090-533: A permanent military presence in the region. However, beginning in the 1950s, Pakistan began sending mountaineering expeditions to the glacier. By the early 1980s, the Government of Pakistan was granting special expedition permits to mountaineers and United States Army maps showed Siachen as a part of Pakistan. This practice gave rise to the term oropolitics . India, possibly irked by these developments, launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984. An entire battalion of

1199-589: A princely state under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad , chose to remain independent. The ensuing stand-off between the Government of India and the Nizam ended on 12 September 1948, when India's then Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ordered Indian troops to secure Hyderabad State. During five days of fighting, the Indian Army, backed by an Indian Air Force squadron of Hawker Tempest aircraft, routed

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1308-628: A series of failed negotiations, the People's Liberation Army attacked Indian Army positions on the Thag La ridge. This move by China caught India by surprise, and on 12 October 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 mobilise the Indian Air Force in vast numbers, gave China

1417-437: A significant number of police personnel having been deployed. In 2014, India was the third largest troop contributor (TCC), with 7,860 personnel deployed, of which 995 were police personnel, including the first UN Female Formed Police Unit , serving with ten UN peacekeeping missions. As of 30 June 2014 , 157 Indians have been killed during such missions. The Indian army has also provided paramedical units to facilitate

1526-689: A total of 150-190 tanks during the conflict. The decision to return to pre-war positions, following the Tashkent Declaration , caused an outcry in New Delhi. It was widely believed that India's decision to accept the ceasefire was due to political factors, not military, since it was facing considerable pressure from the United States and the United Nations to cease hostilities. The 1967 Sino-Indian skirmish, also known as

1635-733: A tour of duty. The "Army of India" meant the combined Indian Army and the British Army in India. In 1776, a Military Department was created within the government of the East India Company at Calcutta . Its main function was to record orders that were issued to the army by various departments of the East India Company for the territories under its control. With the Charter Act of 1833, the Secretariat of

1744-591: Is a major concern. Lack of fixed wing aircraft, when the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and paramilitary forces have them affects functions like command and control, staff transport, logistics, casualty evacuation and communication. The Army Aviation Corps has several squadrons. In addition, there are several Reconnaissance and Observation (R&O) flights that operate independently and are not attached to any squadrons. The full list can be accessed here – List of squadrons and flights . The Corps presently includes

1853-653: Is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Lieutenant General K. M. Cariappa 's taking over as the first "Indian" Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army from General Sir Roy Bucher , on 15 January 1949. With effect from 26 January 1950, the date India became a republic, all active-duty Indian Army officers formerly holding the King's Commission were recommissioned and confirmed in their substantive ranks. Immediately after independence, tensions between India and Pakistan erupted into

1962-633: 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, 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

2071-839: The Cho La incident , was a military conflict between Indian troops and members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army who, on 1 October 1967, invaded Sikkim , which was then a protectorate of India. On 10 October, both sides clashed again. Defence minister Sardar Swaran Singh assured the Indian people that the government was taking care of developments along the border. Indian losses were 88 killed, and 163 wounded, while Chinese casualties were 300 killed and 450 wounded in Nathula , and 40 in Chola. The Chinese Army left Sikkim after this defeat. Under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi , during

2180-756: 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. 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. The primary mission of

2289-515: The Indian Air Force . Since the air force would only accept ten Army pilots per year, training of adequate numbers of pilots for the Air OP was a problem. Hence, No. 660 Air OP Squadron which was located at Patiala with five flights under its command, was given this additional responsibility of training. The late 1960s saw an intense debate between the army and the air force. The army wanted to equip each division with at least one Air OP flight, which

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2398-712: The Indian Military Academy can join the corps directly, if they have cleared the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT). They have a two-year attachment with a fall back arm after getting commissioned. Officers may revert to their parent corps or fall back arm, if they are grounded for any reason. The Army Aviation Corps perform combat search and rescue (CSAR), artillery lift, combat transportation, logistics relief, military prisoner transportation and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) in wartime and during natural disasters. The director general of

2507-662: The Indian National Army , which was allied with the Empire of Japan . It was raised by a former colonel of the Indian Army, General Mohan Singh, but was later led by Subhas Chandra Bose and Rash Bihari Bose . With the fall of Singapore in 1942, about 40,000 Indian soldiers were captured. When given the choice, over 30,000 joined the Indian National Army. Those who refused became POWs and were mostly shipped to New Guinea. After initial success, this army

2616-697: The Indian National Congress in return for its support but reneged on them after the war, following which the Indian Independence movement gained strength. The " Indianisation " of the Indian Army began with the formation of the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College at Dehradun, in March 1912, to provide education to the scions of aristocratic and well-to-do Indian families and to prepare selected Indian boys for admission into

2725-830: The Kumaon Regiment was airlifted to the glacier. Pakistani forces responded quickly, and clashes between the two followed. The Indian Army secured the strategic Sia La and Bilafond La mountain passes, and by 1985 more than 2,600 km (1,000 sq mi) of territory claimed by Pakistan was under Indian control. The Indian Army continues to control all of the Siachen Glacier and its tributary glaciers. Pakistan has made several unsuccessful attempts to regain control over Siachen. In late 1987, Pakistan mobilised about 8,000 troops and garrisoned them near Khapalu , aiming to capture Bilafond La . However, they were repulsed by Indian Army personnel guarding Bilafond. During

2834-471: The Make in India program. Of these 135 are earmarked for the Indian Army. However the deal was later dead by 2021. The Army was looking at the indigenous HAL Light Utility Helicopter and later placed order for it under limited series production. Other planned acquisitions are: Indian Army 1 April 1895 ; 129 years ago  ( 1895-04-01 ) ( as British Indian Army ) The Indian Army

2943-553: The Royal Indian Air Force was formed the next day. The aircraft ( Auster Mark IVs ) and ground equipment were retrieved by Captains HS Butalia, Govind Singh and Man Singh from Lahore and moved to Amritsar , and finally to Jalandhar . The second unit, No.2 Air OP Flight was raised in October 1947 with five Auster Mark Vs. During these early years, officers were trained at School of Artillery, Deolali , and also at

3052-522: The Royal Military College, Sandhurst . Cadets were given a King's commission, after passing out, and were posted to one of the eight units selected for Indianisation. Because of the slow pace of Indianisation, with just 69 officers being commissioned between 1918 and 1932, political pressure was applied, leading to the formation of the Indian Military Academy in 1932 and greater numbers of officers of Indian origin being commissioned. On

3161-531: The United Jihad Council (an umbrella group for all extremists) rejected Pakistan's plan for a draw-down, deciding instead to fight on. The Indian Army launched its final attacks in the last week of July. As soon as the Dras sub-sector had been cleared of Pakistani forces, the fighting ceased on 26 July, which has since been celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil Victory Day) in India. By the end of

3270-465: The line-of-sight . At many vital points, neither artillery nor air power could dislodge 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 ascents that had to be made on peaks as high as 5,500 m (18,000 ft). Two months into the conflict, Indian troops had slowly retaken most of

3379-530: The president's rule in 1971, the Indian Army and the Indian police launched Operation Steeplechase , a gigantic "counter-insurgency" operation against the Naxalites , which resulted in the death of hundreds of Naxalites and the imprisonment of more than 20,000 suspects and cadres, including senior leaders. The army was also assisted by a brigade of para commandos and the Indian paramilitary . The operation

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3488-427: The Air Force finding that difficult, 659 Air OP Squadron took up the responsibility of training at that time. These helicopter pilots proved their mettle in the frigid high altitudes of Siachen Glacier , the world's highest battlefield, where they supported the troops, flying in supplies, flying out the injured and directing artillery fire; braving both the weather and enemy fire. The proposals were first put forward to

3597-573: The Air OP pilots performed a commendable job during the war. Following the war, the Pushpaks were given back to the Flying Clubs. They were replaced with HAL HAOP-27 Krishaks , which was a larger version of the Pushpak and was primarily designed as an agricultural aircraft . The aircraft continued to be operated by the Army, but training and maintenance of aircraft were the responsibility of

3706-597: The Army Aviation Corps is Lieutenant General A.K. Suri. The Indian Air Force flies attack helicopters such as the Mil Mi-24/Mi-35 and HAL Rudra , which are under the operational control of the army. Helicopters such as the HAL Chetak , HAL Cheetah and HAL Dhruv provide logistical support for the Indian Army in remote and inaccessible areas. The Corps of Army Aviation still consists of

3815-544: The Army's 3rd Infantry and 8th Mountain Divisions. It directed intense artillery fire, which turned out to be a turning point in the war, helped induction of special forces and evacuating 900 casualties from temporary and makeshift helipads. For their role, 663 and 666 R&O Squadrons were given COAS unit citations. In October 2001, the nomenclature of R&O Squadrons / Flights was changed to Army Aviation Squadrons (R&O) or Army Aviation Flights (R&O). The same year,

3924-543: The Army, but all attack helicopter units and medium and heavy-lift helicopters would remain with the Air Force. The attack helicopters would be placed under command and control of the Army. An Additional Directorate General of Army Aviation was sanctioned on 29 October 1986 and placed under the Director General Mechanised Forces. The Corps of Army Aviation thus came into being on 1 November 1986, with Brigadier (later Major General) Atma Singh as

4033-507: The Artillery, were moved to the Army Aviation Corps. This bought all aviation assets of the Army under one roof. Before independence, officers were sent to Britain for training in the No. 43 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Larkhill . After July 1948, the training had shifted to No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School of the Indian Air Force at Jodhpur. The gunnery leg of the Air OP conversion

4142-483: The Bengali rebellion, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) launched a preemptive strike on 10 Indian air bases—at Srinagar , Jammu , Pathankot , Amritsar , Agra , Adampur , Jodhpur , Jaisalmer , Uttarlai , and Sirsa —at 17:45 hours on 3 December. However, this aerial offensive failed to accomplish its objectives and gave India an excuse to declare a full-scale war against Pakistan the same day. By midnight,

4251-647: The British Army to a new century. In the 20th century, the Indian Army was a crucial adjunct to the forces of the British Empire in both world wars . 1.3 million Indian soldiers served in World War I (1914–1918) with the Allies , in which 74,187 Indian troops were killed or missing in action. In 1915 there was a mutiny by Indian soldiers in Singapore. The United Kingdom made promises of self-governance to

4360-508: The Government in April 1968 for an independent Corps of Army Aviation, which would be part of an integrated command and control along with tanks, guns and infantry. These were renewed in February 1977. The Air Force raised concerns about duplication of aircraft, ground facilities and manpower. The efforts were renewed in 1981, when a Study Group continued to press for a formal decision. The Chief of Army Staff, General Krishnaswamy Sundarji made

4469-487: The Hyderabad State forces. Five Indian Army infantry battalions and one armoured squadron were engaged in the operation. The following day, Hyderabad was proclaimed part of India. Major General Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri , who led the operation, and accepted the surrender of the Nizam's forces on 18 September 1948, was appointed the military governor of Hyderabad, to restore law and order, and served until 1949. During

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4578-401: 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

4687-609: 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 9 September, the Indian Army had made considerable inroads into Pakistan. India had its largest haul of Pakistani tanks when an offensive by Pakistan's 1st Armoured Division was blunted at the Battle of Asal Uttar , which took place on 10 September near Khemkaran. The biggest tank battle of

4796-435: The Indian Army was spending an estimated US$ 2 million a month to support its personnel stationed in the region. The Indian Army has played a crucial role in fighting insurgents and terrorists within the nation. The army launched Operation Blue Star and Operation Woodrose in the 1980s to combat Sikh insurgents. The army, along with some paramilitary forces , has the prime responsibility of maintaining law and order in

4905-417: The Indian Army, accompanied by the Indian Air Force , launched a major three-pronged assault into East Pakistan. The Indian Army won several battles on the eastern front including the decisive Battle of Hilli . The operation also included a battalion-level airborne operation on Tangail, which resulted in the capitulation of all resistance within five days. India's massive early gains were attributed largely to

5014-472: The Indian Army. Goa, Daman, and Diu became a part of the Republic of India. The cause of this war was a dispute over the sovereignty of the widely separated Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh border regions. Aksai Chin, claimed by India as part of Kashmir, and by China as part of Xinjiang, contains an important road link that connects the Chinese regions of Tibet and Xinjiang. China's construction of this road

5123-605: The Indo-Bangladesh allied force and forced Pakistani forces to surrender, one day after the conclusion of the Battle of Basantar . After Pakistan's Lt General A. A. K. Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender , India, as a part of the allied forces, took more than 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war . By the time of the signing, 11,000 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in action, while India suffered 3,500 battle-related deaths. In addition, Pakistan lost 220 tanks during

5232-566: The Jaffna peninsula. 664 R&O Squadron eventually moved to Trincomallee in December 1987. The last flight withdrew from the island in March 1990. Cheetahs mounted with two 7.62mm machine guns (called Ranjits ) provided useful fire support to the field units. During Operation Vijay, the corps with its Cheetahs of Nos. 663 and 666 R&O Squadrons and a number of Independent Flights carried out 3100 air sorties of operational flying in support of

5341-768: The Korean War, although deciding against sending combat forces, India sent its 60th Parachute Field Ambulance unit to aid the UN troops fighting against the North Korean invasion of South Korea, as part of the 1st Commonwealth Division . In the aftermath of the war, an Indian infantry brigade formed the Custodian Force of India, some of whose soldiers were also part of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission , which assisted in

5450-732: The Middle East. Some 87,000 Indian soldiers died in the war. By the end of the war, it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945. In the African and Middle East campaigns , captured Indian troops were given a choice to join the German Army , to eventually "liberate" India from Britain, instead of being sent to POW camps . These men, along with Indian students who were in Germany when

5559-467: The North West Frontier), Bengal, Madras (including Burma), and Bombay (including Sind, Quetta and Aden). The Indian Army was a critical force for maintaining the primacy of the British Empire , both in India and throughout the world. Besides maintaining internal security, the Army fought in many other theatres: Third Anglo-Afghan war; the Boxer Rebellion in China; in Abyssinia and in the First and Second World Wars . The Kitchener Reforms brought

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5668-439: The Pakistani advance until the Indian Air Force directed its fighters to engage the Pakistani tanks. By the time the battle had ended, 38 Pakistani tanks and 100 armoured vehicles were either destroyed or abandoned. About 200 Pakistani troops were killed in action, while only two Indian soldiers died. Pakistan suffered another major defeat on the western front at the Battle of Basantar , which was fought from 4 to 16 December. During

5777-399: The Pakistani forces had a clear line-of-sight to lay down indirect artillery fire on NH 1A, inflicting heavy casualties on the Indians. This was a serious problem for the Indian Army as the highway was its main supply route. Thus, the Indian Army's priority was to recapture peaks near NH 1A. This resulted in Indian troops first targeting the Tiger Hill and Tololing complex in Dras. This

5886-409: The Portuguese colonies, which was accomplished by small contingents of Indian troops. After a brief conflict that lasted twenty-six hours—during which 31 Portuguese soldiers were killed, the Portuguese Navy frigate NRP Afonso de Albuquerque was destroyed, and over 3,000 Portuguese were captured—Portuguese General Manuel António Vassalo e Silva surrendered to Major General Kunhiraman Palat Kandoth of

5995-414: The Royal Air Force Central Flying School at Little Rissington in the United Kingdom. The Austers of No.1 (I) Air OP Flight deployed in Jammu and Kashmir were employed in reconnaissance, direction of artillery fire and casualty evacuation from exposed advanced landing grounds, which it performed gallantly. During the fourteen months of operations, the Austers flew from Jammu and Srinagar airfields and

6104-444: The Siachen Glacier region, Saltoro Kangri , could be viewed as strategically important for India because of its height, which would enable Indian forces to monitor Pakistani or Chinese movements in the area. Maintaining control over Siachen poses several logistical challenges for the Indian Army. Several infrastructure projects were constructed in the region, including a helipad at an elevation of 6,400 m (21,000 ft). In 2004,

6213-435: The advance landing grounds (ALGs) at Naoshera , Jhangar , Rajouri , Mendhar and Chhamb . No. 2 Air OP Flight took part in Operation Polo and was attached with the 1st Armoured Division in September 1948. Following the operations, they moved to Begumpet Airport . No.3 Air OP Flight, which was raised in 1958 with the new Auster Mark IX aircraft took part in the capture of Goa during Operation Vijay in 1961. In 1963,

6322-425: The army can be traced to the air observation posts (Air OP), where aeroplanes were used during the World War I to help artillery spotters ( Forward Observation Officers ) to locate and direct artillery fire to targets on the ground. This role was improved upon and further refined in the World War II . The Army Aviation wing of the Royal Air Force was established in India in 1942. No. 656 Air OP Squadron (RAF) ,

6431-454: The army led to its use in diverse roles in addition to Air OP – transport, casualty evacuation, communications, liaison, light utility and light attack roles. A better equipped Air OP under the Eastern Command took part in Operation Cactus Lily. In addition to its traditional role of directing artillery fire, it flew communication sorties along with photo and reconnaissance missions. No. 11 AOP Flight dropped numerous surrender leaflets and then

6540-401: The attack was claimed by a Pakistan -based militant group, Jaish-e-Mohammed . India blamed Pakistan for the attack and promised a robust response, while the latter condemned the attack and denied having any connection to it. Twelve days later, in the early morning of 26 February 2019, India carried out a cross-border airstrike near Balakot , Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , Pakistan. After over

6649-437: The battle compared to India's 69. In 1972, the Simla Agreement was signed between the two countries, although subsequent incidences of heightened tensions have resulted in continued military vigilance on both sides. The Siachen Glacier , although a part of the Kashmir region, was not demarcated on maps prepared and exchanged between the two sides in 1947. In consequence, before the 1980s neither India nor Pakistan maintained

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6758-462: The battle, about 23 Indian soldiers lost their lives, while more than 150 Pakistani troops perished. Further unsuccessful attempts to reclaim positions were launched by Pakistan in 1990, 1995, 1996, and 1999, most notably in Kargil in the latter year. India continues to maintain a strong military presence in the region, despite inhospitable conditions. The conflict over Siachen is regularly cited as an example of mountain warfare . The highest peak in

6867-399: The battle, about 66 Pakistani tanks were destroyed and 40 more were captured. Pakistani forces destroyed only 11 Indian tanks. By 16 December, Pakistan had lost sizeable territory on both the eastern and western fronts. On 16 December 1971, under the command of Lt. General J. S. Arora , elements of the three corps of the Indian Army that had invaded East Pakistan entered Dhaka as a part of

6976-474: The casualty figures variously from 35 to 70 killed. Partial footage of the strikes was released to the Indian media on 27 June 2018 as proof of the strike. The incident triggered the 2016–2018 India-Pakistan border conflict , which ended on 16 June 2018 with both India and Pakistan agreeing on a ceasefire. Following the 14 February 2019 Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir , which killed 40 Indian Central Reserve Police Force personnel. Responsibility for

7085-518: The conflict stood at about 3,000. On 18 September 2016, a fedayeen attack was made by four armed militants on an army base near the town of Uri . Nineteen Indian Army soldiers were killed. India accused Jaish-e-Muhammad , a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation. On 29 September 2016, the India Army announced that it conducted " surgical strikes " against militant launch pads across the Line of Control , in Pakistani-administered Kashmir , and inflicted "significant casualties". Indian media reported

7194-422: 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 , with 1,237,117 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops. The army has embarked on an infantry modernisation program known as Futuristic Infantry Soldier As

7303-422: The eve of World War II , the officer corps consisted of roughly 500 Indians holding regular commissions against approximately 3,000 British officers. In World War II Indian soldiers fought alongside the Allies . In 1939, British officials had no plan for expansion and training of Indian forces, which comprised about 130,000 men (in addition there were 44,000 men in British units in India in 1939), whose mission

7412-476: The exchange of prisoners of war and was headed by Lieutenant General K. S. Thimayya . Even though the British and French vacated all their colonial possessions in the Indian subcontinent , Portugal refused to relinquish control of its colonies of Goa , Daman, and Diu . After repeated attempts by India to negotiate were spurned by Portuguese prime minister and dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar , on 12 December 1961 India launched Operation Vijay to capture

7521-420: The first Additional Director General. The Chetak and Cheetah helicopters were transferred to the Army, but the Air Force continued to provide logistic and maintenance support till 31 October 1989. The nomenclature Air OP was changed to Reconnaissance and Observation (R&O) . During the Indian Peace Keeping Force ’s deployment in Sri Lanka, Nos. 10, 26 and 31 R&O Flights supported 54 Infantry Division in

7630-467: The first Air OP unit reached the Indian subcontinent in 1943 to assist the operations in the Burma campaign. Following the war, 659 Squadron of the Royal Air Force , which had played an important role as an air observation post unit and worked closely with Army units in artillery spotting and liaison was despatched to India. On 14 August 1947, No.659 (Air OP) Squadron was disbanded and partitioned between India and Pakistan. No.1 (Independent) Air OP Flight of

7739-469: The first Indo-Pak War of 1947–49 (and the future third COAS), was first an acting major-general and then an acting lieutenant-general during the conflict while holding the substantive rank of major, and only received a substantive promotion to lieutenant-colonel in August 1949. Gopal Gurunath Bewoor , the future ninth COAS, was an acting colonel at his promotion to substantive major from substantive captain in 1949, while future Lieutenant General K. P. Candeth

7848-574: The first batch of three Apache helicopters are to delivered by December 2024 followed by the next 3 within another few months. Total 95 Prachand are planned. In 2012, the army was evaluating helicopters from Kamov , Eurocopter and AgustaWestland for its light-helicopter contract for supplying troops stationed at high altitudes. The $ 750 million contract for the 197 helicopters intended to replace its 1970s Chetak and Cheetah helicopters for high-altitude surveillance and logistics. The successful bidder would provide 60 helicopters in operating condition;

7957-418: The first of three full-scale wars between the two nations over the then princely state of Kashmir . The Maharaja of Kashmir wanted to have a standstill position. Since Kashmir was a Muslim majority state, Pakistan wanted to make Kashmir a Pakistani territory. As a result, Pakistan invaded Kashmir on 22 October 1947, causing Maharaja Hari Singh to look to India, specifically to Lord Mountbatten of Burma ,

8066-509: The first squadron with HAL Dhruv utility helicopters was raised. (No.201 Army Aviation Squadron) The President of India Mr Ram Nath Kovind , who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, presented colours to the Army Aviation Corps on 10 Oct 2019 in a ceremonial parade, which was held at Army Aviation Base, Nasik Road. In August 2021, all Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the Indian Army, many of which were earlier with

8175-533: The following squadrons: In March 2021, a new Army Aviation Brigade with three squadrons was established at Missamari in Assam. The equipment profile of this brigade includes armed Advanced Light Helicopters, Cheetah helicopters and Heron unarmed aerial vehicles. As of 2023, there are three Army Aviation Brigades, with one based in Leh , Missamari and Jodhpur each. On 1 June 2022, an attack squadron composed of HAL Prachand

8284-406: The government of the East India Company was reorganised into four departments, including a Military Department. The army in the presidencies of Bengal , Bombay and Madras functioned as respective Presidency Armies until 1 April 1895, when they were unified into a single force known as the Indian Army . For administrative convenience, it was divided into four commands, namely Punjab (including

8393-485: The governor-general, for help. He signed the Instrument of Accession to India on 26 October 1947. Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar from dawn on 27 October. This contingent included General Thimayya who distinguished himself in the operation and in the 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. Pakistan suffered significant losses. Its forces were stopped on

8502-549: The heights under their control, which also included the Tiger Hill , overlooked the vital Srinagar – Leh Highway ( NH 1A ), Batalik , and Dras . Once the scale of the Pakistani incursion was realised, the Indian Army quickly mobilised about 200,000 troops, and Operation Vijay was launched. However, since the heights were under Pakistani control, India was at a clear strategic disadvantage. From their observation posts ,

8611-632: The line formed which is now called the Line of Control (LOC). An uneasy peace, sponsored by the UN, returned by the end of 1948, with Indian and Pakistani soldiers facing each other across the Line of Control, which has since divided Indian-held Kashmir from that part held by Pakistan. Several UN Security Council resolutions were passed, with Resolution 47 calling for a plebiscite to be held in Kashmir to determine accession to India or Pakistan, only after Pakistan withdrew its army from Kashmir. A precondition to

8720-487: The partition period, was disbanded. Headquarters Delhi and the East Punjab Command were formed to administer the area. The departure of virtually all senior British officers following independence, and their replacement by Indian officers, meant many of the latter held acting ranks several ranks above their substantive ones. For instance, S. M. Shrinagesh , the ground-forces commander of Indian forces during

8829-635: The remaining 137 aircraft would be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The successful bidder was required to invest at least 30 percent of the contract in India. In December 2014, the Kamov Ka-226T was selected as a light utility helicopter to replace the Chetak and Cheetah while the HAL Light Utility Helicopter was developed. Kamov would build a production plant in India, and 197 helicopters would be purchased under

8938-434: The resolution was for Pakistan and India to return to a state of "as was" before the conflict . Pakistan would withdraw all tribesmen and Pakistani nationals brought in to fight in Kashmir. Pakistan refused to pull back, and there could be no further dialogue on fulfilling the UN resolution. Tensions between India and Pakistan, largely over Kashmir, have never been eliminated. After the partition of India, Hyderabad State ,

9047-521: The ridges they had lost. According to official accounts, an estimated 75%–80% of the enemy-occupied area, and nearly all the high ground, was back under Indian control. Following the Washington Accord of 4 July, 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,

9156-404: The speed and flexibility with which Indian armoured divisions moved across East Pakistan. Pakistan launched a counterattack against India on the western front. On 4 December 1971, A Company of the 23rd Battalion of India's Punjab Regiment intercepted the Pakistani 51st Infantry Brigade near Ramgarh, Rajasthan. The Battle of Longewala ensued, during which A Company, though outnumbered, thwarted

9265-485: The then Army Chief General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri took up the case for raising of a separate air wing for the army, which would increase the firepower and mobility of the army and would comprise light, medium and heavy as well as armed helicopters. No.1 (I) Air OP Flight saw action against regular armoured forces, supported by artillery and mechanised infantry during the Rann of Kutch operations in April 1965. The Austers of

9374-581: The troubled Jammu and Kashmir region, under Northern Command. The Indian Army sent a contingent to Sri Lanka in 1987 as a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force . The Indian Army also successfully conducted Operation Golden Bird in 1995, as a counter-insurgency operation in northeast India. In 1998, India carried out nuclear tests ; and a few days later, Pakistan responded with nuclear tests of its own, giving both countries nuclear deterrence capability, although India had tested

9483-543: The two countries. 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 5 kilometres (3 miles) north of the disputed McMahon Line. Meanwhile, Chinese troops had also made incursions into Indian-held territory, and tensions between the two reached a new high when Indian forces discovered the road constructed by China in Aksai Chin. After

9592-475: The unit acted in support of the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade and proved useful during the heavy artillery duels. The most noteworthy event was the use of Austers to direct fire of 71 Medium Regiment leading to the direct hits on an ammunition dump at Biar Bet in the Rann. Following the ceasefire, the Army understood the need for more adequate Air OP cover and the limitations of the ageing Austers. This problem

9701-653: The war broke out, made up what was called the Free India Legion . They were originally intended as pathfinders for German forces in Asia but were soon sent to help guard the Atlantic Wall . Few who were part of the Free India Legion ever saw any combat, and very few were ever stationed outside Europe. At its height, the Free India Legion had over 3,000 troops in its ranks. Indian POWs also joined

9810-755: The war ended. Despite frequent calls for its release, the Henderson-Brooks report remains classified. Neville Maxwell has written an account of the war. A second confrontation with Pakistan took place in 1965. Although the war is described as inconclusive, India had the better of the war and was the clear winner in tactical and strategic terms. Pakistani president Ayub Khan launched Operation Gibraltar in August 1965, during which Pakistani paramilitary troops infiltrated into Indian-administered Kashmir and attempted to ignite anti-India agitation in Jammu and Kashmir . Pakistani leaders believed that India, which

9919-456: The war was the Battle of Chawinda , the largest tank battle in history after World War II . Pakistan's defeat at the Battle of Asal Uttar hastened the end of the conflict. At the time of the ceasefire declaration, India reported casualties of about 3,000. On the other hand, it was estimated that more than 3,800 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the conflict. About 200–300 Pakistani tanks were either destroyed or captured by India. India lost

10028-611: The war, India had resumed control of all the 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, while more than 700 regular members of the Pakistani Army had been killed. The number of Islamist fighters, also known as Mujahideen, killed by Indian armed forces during

10137-523: The withdrawal are disputed, with India claiming various logistical problems for China and diplomatic support from the United States, while China stated that it still held territory it had staked a claim on. The dividing line between the Indian and Chinese forces was named the Line of Actual Control . The poor decisions made by India's military commanders, and the political leadership, raised several questions. The Henderson-Brooks and Bhagat committee

10246-463: The withdrawal of the sick and wounded. HAL Krishak Two prototypes were built, with the first flying in November 1959 and the second in November 1960. With no interest from buyers, the project was shelved until the Indian Army issued a requirement in the early 1960s for an aircraft to replace the Auster AOP.6 and AOP.9s then serving in the observation role. The original Krishak design

10355-713: 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

10464-399: Was an acting brigadier (substantive captain) at the same time. In April 1948, the former Viceroy's Commissioned Officers (VCO) were re-designated Junior Commissioned Officers, while the former King's Commissioned Indian Officers (KCIO) and Indian Commissioned Officers (ICO), along with the former Indian Other Ranks (IOR), were respectively re-designated as Officers and Other Ranks. Army Day

10573-434: Was cleared, the Indian Army turned to drive the invading force back across the Line of Control. The Battle of Tololing , among others, slowly tilted the war in India's favour. Nevertheless, some Pakistani posts put up a stiff resistance, including Tiger Hill (Point 5140), which fell only later in the war. As the operation was fully underway, about 250 artillery guns were brought in to clear the infiltrators in posts that were in

10682-602: Was defeated, along with the Japanese; but it had a huge impact on the Indian independence movement. Upon the Partition of India and Indian independence in 1947, four of the ten Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army. The rest of the Indian Army was divided between the newly created Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan . The Punjab Boundary Force , which had been formed to help police Punjab during

10791-669: Was instrumental in guiding the Mil Mi-4 transport helicopters during the daring crossing of the Meghna River by 4 Corps . Major Menezes landed an Army HAL Krishak at Tejgaon Airport at Dhaka, the first Indian fixed wing aircraft to do so. Meanwhile, in the western sector, the Air OP units took part in the following sectors- Following the 1971 war, the Air OP retired all their fixed wing aircraft and moved on completely to helicopters. New squadrons and flights were raised. With an increasing number of pilots needing to be trained, and

10900-501: Was internal security and defence against a possible Soviet threat through Afghanistan. As the war progressed, the size and role of the Indian Army expanded dramatically, and troops were sent to battlefronts as soon as possible. The most serious problem was the lack of equipment. Indian units served in Burma, wherein 1944–45, five Indian divisions were engaged along with one British and three African divisions. Even larger numbers operated in

11009-612: Was not agreeable to the air force. The army also wanted the fixed wing aircraft to be replaced with the more manoeuvrable helicopters. This was finally agreed upon and the army pilots underwent training and conversion in 1968. The plans were to introduce HAL Chetaks ( Aérospatiale Alouette III ) for operations in the plains and the HAL Cheetah ( Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama ) for the mountains. Both these helicopters were manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under license from Aérospatiale of France. The introduction of helicopters in

11118-474: Was one of the triggers of the conflict. Small-scale clashes between Indian and Chinese forces broke out as India insisted on the disputed McMahon Line being regarded as the international border between the two countries. Chinese troops claimed not to have retaliated to the cross-border firing by Indian troops, despite sustaining losses. China's suspicion of India's involvement in Tibet created more rifts between

11227-625: Was organised in October 1969, and Lieutenant General J.F.R. Jacob was told by Govind Narain , the Home Secretary , that "there should be no publicity and no records". Jacob's request to be presented with written orders was also refused by the then Army Chief Sam Manekshaw . An independence movement broke out in East Pakistan which was crushed by Pakistani forces. Due to large-scale atrocities committed against them, thousands of Bengalis took refuge in neighbouring India causing

11336-491: Was raised. A total of seven squadrons of Prachand are planned with ten helicopters in each one On 15 March 2024, an attack squadron was raised at Jodhpur , which will be equipped with Boeing AH-64 Apache . The first batch of three Apache will be inducted in May 2024 and the rest will be inducted by July 2024. As of August 2024, no Apaches were delivered to the Army. Citing delays due to supply chain issues, as of late September 2024,

11445-515: 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 NH 1A, was successfully recaptured by Indian forces on 14 June. Though most of the posts in the vicinity of the highway were cleared of the enemy by mid-June, some posts near Dras endured sporadic shelling until the end of the war. Once the NH 1A area

11554-400: Was soon set up by the government of India to determine the causes of the poor performance of the Indian Army. Its report criticised the decision not to allow the Indian Air Force to target Chinese transport lines, out of fear of a Chinese aerial counterattack on Indian civilian areas. Much of the blame was placed on the then–defence minister, Krishna Menon , who resigned from his post soon after

11663-505: Was still recovering from the Sino-Indian War , would be unable to deal with a military thrust and a Kashmiri rebellion. India reacted swiftly and launched a counter-offensive against Pakistan. In reply, on 1 September Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam , invading India's Chamb-Jaurian sector. In retaliation, the Indian Army launched a major offensive all along its border with Pakistan, with Lahore as its prime target. Initially,

11772-716: Was to be completed at Deolali. The Combat Army Aviation Training School (CATS) was established in Nashik Road on 1 September 2003. The training was previously conducted at the School of Artillery in Deolali . A Cheetah helicopter simulator was installed at CATS to reduce training costs and pilot risk in 2006. The simulator exposes trainees to snow, rain, varied terrain, night flying, emergencies, and tactical manoeuvres. Army Aviation Corps pilots are drawn from other combat arms, including artillery officers. Officers passing out from

11881-562: Was well understood by Brigadier FSB Mehta, the then Brigadier (Artillery) in the Western Command , who incidentally was the first Indian Artillery officer to wear the wings of the Air OP in 1944. He got on loan Pushpak light training aircraft from Flying Clubs to raise Nos. 6, 7 and 8 Flights, which were made available to the frontline Army Divisions on the Western Front. Though lacking in aircraft, both in numbers and quality,

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