INDIAN ARMY

Indian Army, the largest constituent of the Indian Armed Forces, is the land-based branch of the forces and a major component of national power, alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force.

The President of India is the supreme commander of the Indian Army, while Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general, is its professional head. Two officers have been conferred with the rank of field marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour.

The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British Indian Army, and the armies of the princely states, which were merged into the national army after independence. The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and have participated in a number of battles and campaigns around the world, earning many battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.

The primary mission of the Indian Army is to protect the country from external aggression and internal threats besides maintaining peace and security within its borders.

The units and regiments of the Indian Army have participated in several battles and campaigns around the world before and after Independence.

Besides ensuring national security, the Army also 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.

Since Independence in 1947, India Army and Pakistan military have engaged in four wars. Indian Army also fought one war 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, including those in Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, El Salvador, Liberia, Mozambique, South Sudan, and Somalia.

The Indian Army is operationally and geographically divided into seven commands, with the basic field formation being a division. It is an all-volunteer force and comprises more than 80 per cent of the country's active defence personnel. It is the largest standing army in the world, with 1,237,117active troops and 960,000 reserve troops.

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