Indian Army logo it’s ranks and types of Indian Army
Indian Army Ranks can be broadly classified into three categories: Commissioned Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks.
These ranks generally correspond with those of Western militaries, and in particular, reflect those of the British and Commonwealth armies. Traditional names for ranks are still used, as well as Western names.
History
Upon independence in 1947, India became a dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations, but the old rank insignia, incorporating the Tudor Crown and four-pointed Bath Star (‘pip’), was retained, as King George VI remained Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Until 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the Indian Army utilised the British-pattern rank badges of the British Indian Army. After 26 January 1950, when India became a republic, the President of India became Commander-in-Chief, and the Lion Capital of Ashoka (the State Emblem of India) replaced the crown, with a five-pointed star being substituted for the ‘pip’.[1]
Field Marshal
India has a field marshal rank, but it is mostly ceremonial. There are no field marshals in the army organizational structure at present and it has been conferred on only two officers in the past, the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and the late Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa.[2]
Field marshals hold their rank for life and are considered to be serving officers until their death. Unlike other officers, they do not draw a pension. A field marshal gets the full pay of a general equal to the Chief of the Army Staff. They wear full uniforms on all official occasions.[3]
Ranks and insignia
Current ranks
- Officers
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Field/senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Field marshal फ़ील्ड मार्शल |
General जनरल |
Lieutenant general लेफ्टिनेंट – जनरल |
Major general मेजर – जनरल |
Brigadier ब्रिगेडियर |
Colonel कर्नल |
Lieutenant colonel लेफ्टिनेंट – कर्नल |
Major मेजर |
Captain कप्तान |
Lieutenant लेफ्टिनेंट |
Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honorary/ War time rank |
Held by the Chief of Defence Staff (with different insignia) and/or the Chief of the Army Staff |
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- Enlisted ranks
| Rank group | Junior commissioned officers | Non commissioned officer | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Subedar Major / Risaldar Major | Subedar / Risaldar | Naib Subedar / Naib Risaldar | Havildar | Naik | Lance Naik | Sepoy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| सूबेदार मेजर / रिसालदार मेजर | सूबेदार / रिसालदार | नायब सूबेदार / नायब रिसालदार | हवलदार | नायक | लांस नायक | सिपाही | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- Risaldar Major in cavalry and armoured regiments
- Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments
- Naib Risaldar in cavalry and armoured regiments. Called Jemadar until 1965.
- Sowar in cavalry and armoured regiments
Ranks that are no longer in use
The rank of Second Lieutenant is no longer in use; all new officers are commissioned as Lieutenants.
The appointments of Regimental Quartermaster Havildar and Regimental Havildar Major are no longer used in the Indian Army and those duties are now performed by JCOs.[5][6][7]
| Officers | Non-commissioned officers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder Insignia |
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Arm |  |
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|
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
Regimental Havildar Major |
Regimental Quartermaster Havildar |
Company Havildar Major |
Company Quartermaster Havildar |
||
Notable holders include 2Lt. Arun Khetarpal, 2Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, CHM Piru Singh Shekhawat and CQMH Abdul Hamid.
Rank descriptions
- Indian Army Ranks can be classified into three categories.
- Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to All India Services & Group “A” Service officers.[8]
- Junior Commissioned Officers who are equivalent to Group B Gazetted officers.[9]
- Other Ranks comprising non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
Commissioned officers
Equivalent ranks of Indian Armed Forces (click to enlarge)
Commissioned officers are the leaders of the army and command anywhere from Platoon, Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division, Corps and the whole army.
At the time of joining, all Indian Army officers are inducted as officer cadets. The rank of officer cadet is denoted by an officer’s uniform with no insignia.
Indian Army officers are continually put through different courses and assessed on merit throughout their career, for promotions and appointments. Substantive promotions up to Lieutenant Colonel or equivalent (subject to clearance of Part B and Part D exam for Major and Lieutenant Colonel)[10][11] and are based on time in service whereas those for Colonel and above are based on selection, with promotion to Colonel also based on time served. Due to steep hierarchy and few vacancies, most of the officers retire at the rank of Colonel and only a few make it to the rank of Brigadier and above.[12][13][14] Civilian equivalents are in accordance with government policies on functional allocation of duties in staff billets, otherwise the rank structure of the armed forces is different from the civilian with regard to years of service and vacancies available.[citation needed]
Indian Army officers undergo various courses such as Young Officers Course, Junior Command Course, Defence Services Staff College course at DSSC Wellington, Management Development Programme: Senior Defence Management Course, Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management (Secunderabad), Higher Command Courses, NDC courses at various premier institutions of Armed Forces for promotions. The same is applicable to officers other two services namely Indian Navy and Indian Air Force
Dress insignia are in Gold/Black/Silver based on regiments of the officers commissioned
| Ranks | Description | Insignia | Collar Patch[15] | Notes[16][17] | Retirement age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Marshal | National emblem over a crossed baton and sabre in a lotus blossom wreath. |  |
Crimson patches with five golden stars and golden laurel wreath | Only two appointments have ever been made. | Not applicable. Life-Long |
| General | National emblem over a five-pointed star, all over a crossed baton and sabre. |  |
Crimson patches with four golden stars and golden laurel wreath | Held by the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army and Chief of Defence Staff, if from the army (but with slightly different insignia). Equivalent to Cabinet Secretary of IndiaPay Level 18, Rs. 250,000 | As CDS: 3 years as CDS or at age of 65, whichever is earlier.As COAS: 3 years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier. |
| Lieutenant General | National emblem over crossed baton and sabre. |  |
Crimson patches with three golden stars and golden laurel wreath (army and theatre commanders) Crimson patches with three golden stars (corps commanders, other positions) |
By selection.36 years of commissioned service required.
Lieutenant generals appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff/Army Commanders/Equivalent at Pay Level 17, Rs.225,000 HAG + Scale: Admissible to 1/3rd of total strength of Lt Generals Pay Level 16, Rs.205,400–224,400 HAG Scale: Pay Level 15, Rs. 182,200–224,100 |
60 |
| Major General | Five-pointed star over crossed baton and sabre. |  |
Crimson patches with two golden stars | By selection.28 years of commissioned service required.
Pay Level 14, Rs. 144,200–218,200 |
58 |
| Brigadier | National emblem over three five-pointed stars in a triangular formation. |  |
Crimson patches with one golden star | By selection.25 years of commissioned service required.
Pay Level 13A, Rs.139,600–2,17,600 |
56 |
| Colonel | National emblem over two five-pointed stars |  |
Crimson patches with golden braids | First selection-grade rank; highest rank which may be attained by officers on time-scale promotion if not promoted to colonel by selection. 15 years of commissioned service required for selection. 26 years of commissioned service required for time-scale promotion.Pay Level 13, Rs. 130,600–215,900 | 54 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | National emblem over five-pointed star. |  |
None | On completion of 13 years reckonable commissioned service subject to clearance of Part D exam.Pay Level 12A, Rs. 121,200–212,400 | NA |
| Major | National emblem. |  |
None | On completion of 6 years reckonable commissioned service subject to clearance of Part B exam.Pay Level 11, Rs. 69,400–207,200 | NA |
| Captain | Three five-pointed stars. |  |
None | On completion of 2 years reckonable commissioned service.Pay Level 10B, Rs. 61,300–193,900 | NA |
| Lieutenant | Two five-pointed stars. |  |
None | On commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer in Pay Level 10Rs. 56,100–177,500 | NA |
| Officer Cadet | Shoulder tags with training academy name | No insignia | Term and Company badges | On getting inducted in the Indian Army.Fixed stipend as applicable | NA |
In the Indian Army, officer cadets are known as Gentlemen Cadets or Lady Cadets. Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) join the Indian Military Academy (IMA)/Officer’s Training Academy (OTA) after going through the Service Selection Board (S.S.B.) interview. Gentlemen Cadets undergo a pre-commission training programme at IMA/OTA, which is equally divided into terms.
Junior commissioned officers
Junior commissioned officers are promoted from non-commissioned officers and are broadly equivalent to warrant officers in Western armies. Senior non-commissioned officers are promoted to JCO rank on the basis of merit and seniority, restricted by the number of vacancies. In between the Commissioned Officer and the NCOs lies the Junior Commissioned Officers. They are treated with great respect as they have a minimum of 28 yrs and over service and are referred to as Sahab by all ranks.[18]
The current living recipients of the Param Veer Chakra are all from JCO ranks namely Bana Singh Retd, Sanjay Kumar, and Yogendra Singh Yadav.[19]
JCOs are entrusted with supervisory roles and the three JCO ranks are Subedar Major, Subedar and Naib Subedar. JCOs are equivalent in status to Group B (Gazetted) of Government of India.[20]
Junior commissioned officers are treated as a separate class and hold many additional privileges. In the army, they have a separate mess (the JCO’s mess), get well-furnished family quarters, and are authorized to travel in AC II-tier on the railways.[21][22]
| Ranks | Description | Insignia | Retirement Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry and other arms | Cavalry and Armour | |||
| Subedar major | Risaldar major | Golden national emblem with stripe |  |
After 34 years service or at the age of 54, whichever is sooner.[23] |
| Subedar | Risaldar | Two golden stars with stripe |  |
After 30 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is sooner.[23] |
| Naib subedar | Naib risaldar | One golden star with stripe |  |
After 28 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is sooner.[23] |
JCOs are currently enrolled as jawans and few of them get promoted to officers over a period of time-based on their performance and on their ability to clear promotion examinations. A few JCOs are directly enrolled as religious teachers and in certain technical arms such as the Corps of Engineers. As of 2021, the Indian Army is discussing a proposal to directly enrol Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) in all arms of the service to address the shortage of commissioned officers. According to the proposal, the Indian Army will directly induct JCOs who have cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. The UPSC will conduct an entrance examination, which would be followed by an SSB interview and a medical examination. Selected candidates would then be trained for one and a half years before joining the units as JCOs. Subsequently, they would be promoted to officers up to the rank of Colonels based on their length of service and qualifications.[24]
Other ranks
Other ranks in the Indian Army include Non-Commissioned Officers (“NCOs”) and Soldiers (“sepoys” or “jawans”)
Non commissioned officers
Non-Commissioned Officers (“NCOs”) are soldiers promoted to positions of responsibility and are equivalent to junior non-commissioned officers (sergeants and corporals) in Western armies.
| Ranks | Description | Insignia | Retirement Age | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry and other arms | Cavalry and armour | |||
| Havildar | Daffadar | Three rank chevrons |  |
After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is sooner.[23] |
| Naik | Lance Daffadar | Two rank chevrons |  |
After 23 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is sooner.[23] |
| Lance Naik | Acting Lance Daffadar | Single rank chevron |  |
After 19 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is sooner.[23] |
Soldiers
| Ranks | Insignia | Retirement Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry and other arms | Cavalry and armour | ||
| Sepoy | Sowar | Plain shoulder badge only | After 15 years 56 Days service or at the age of 42, whichever is sooner.[23] |
Many arms have separate designation for sepoys–
- Regiment of Artillery – Gunner, abbreviated as Gnr.
- Rifle regiments – Rifleman, abbreviated as Rfn.
- Parachute Regiment – Paratrooper, abbreviated as Ptr.
- Grenadiers – Grenadier
- Brigade of the Guards – Guardsman
- Engineers – Sapper
- Corps of Signals – Signalman
Honorary ranks
Brevet
Honorary ranks and honour, also called brevet, are granted in the Indian Army, and its branches such as India Territorial Army (TA), for various reasons. These ranks may not entitle the rank holder to pay, pension, or perks (e.g. ranks given to celebrities).
Retiring Soldiers
Since the time of the British raj,[25] exemplary soldiers who are about to retire are given honorary ranks, usually a few days before their retirement, although these ranks can be granted at any time. Examples include the grant of the rank of Field Marshal, which is rarely granted. Most frequently, honorary ranks that are granted are those of junior commissioned officers, which are granted 1 or 2 weeks before retirement.
Prominent citizens as brand ambassadors
In order to inspire Indian youths to join the Indian Army, and to acknowledge contribution towards the nation, honorary ranks are awarded to the accomplished and eminent personalities who act as brand ambassadors for the defence forces. The following were awarded honorary titles:[26]
- Indian Army’s Territorial Army (TA)
- Kapil Dev, 2008, Lieutenant Colonel, TA, cricketer.[26]
- Mohanlal Viswanathan, 2009, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Madras Regiment), Malayalam actor and filmmaker.[26][27]
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Para), cricketer.[26]
- Abhinav Bindra, 2011, Lieutenant Colonel, TA (Sikh Regiment), sport shooter and politician.[26]
- Deepak Rao, 2011, Major, TA (Para), military trainer and author.[26]
Foreign trainees of India’s military academies[edit]
Trainees of foreign nations who are trained by the military academies of India, such as the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA), are sometimes awarded honorary ranks in the Indian Army. The trainees are usually from friendly armies, such as the Singapore Army.
Reciprocal awarding of honorary ranks to other nations
Nepal
Since 1950, when former Indian army chief General K. M. Cariappa visited Nepal, awarding the highest reciprocal honorary ranks to the newly appointed serving chiefs of each other’s armies is a practice followed by India and Nepal. For example, in 2009 the newly appointed Nepal Army Chief General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung was decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Indian army at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi by the President of India who is also the Supreme Commander of Indian Army. Similarly, in 2010 the newly appointed Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh was awarded the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army at Shital Niwas in Kathmandu by the President of Nepal who is also the Supreme Commander of Nepal Army.[28]
British Colonial era: Indian Army ranks to British Army
Some members of the ruling families of Princely states were given ceremonial honorary ranks during the colonial era.[25]
An 1832 journal reports that during the colonial British raj era, the Commander-in-Chief of British Army (ex officio role of the serving Monarch of Britain) promulgated an order directing that the Lieutenant colonel of H.M. (Royal British Army) can not be superseded by the East India Company’s Indian Army’s Lieutenant Colonel. Whenever an Indian Army’s Lieutenant colonel was promoted to Colonel, all the British Army’s Lieutenant Colonels who were deployed with the Indian Army and had the equal date and rank with the newly appointed Colonel of Indian Army were also mandatorily given the local Indian Army’s honorary rank of Colonel from the date of his Lieutenant Colonelcy with British Army. This unfair system preserved the fictional equivalency of British Army officers with Indian Army officers while denying the officers of the Indian Army their hard-earned honours and ranks within their peculiar service. This was not a reciprocal system, i.e. Lieutenant Colonel of East India Company (EIC) (Indian Army) were not promoted to Colonels rank when a British Army Lieutenant Colonel of equal date and rank was promoted to Colonel’s rank in Indian army. For example, when a ranked Lieutenant Colonel of Bengal Presidency’s Indian Army was promoted to Colonel he was ranked 34th on the general list, he superseded 33 other Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army, along with him all of the British Army’s Lieutenant Colonel serving with the Bengal Presidency were also given the honorary rank of Colonel of Bengal Presidency and they superseded 33 Lieutenant Colonels of Indian Army who were their seniors. The army officers of EIC appealed against this derogatory and non-reciprocal system in EIC’s Court of Directors. EIC directors had no authority to revoke or amend the order issued by the British monarch.[29]
Retired officers: form of addres
On 21 July 2014, the Indian Army issued a circular for retired personnel informing them that the correct form of addressing a retired officer is “Brigadier ABC (Retd) and not Brigadier (Retd) ABC”,the correct example is “Brigadier Sant Singh (Retd)”. The stated rationale of army was, “Rank never retires, it is an officer who retires.”This form of address applies to both living and deceased officers.
Branches
| Indian Armed Forces[18][97][19] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Reserve[98] | Governing Body | Area | |
|
1,237,117 | 960,000 | Ministry of Defence | |
 |
67,228 | 55,000 | Ministry of Defence | |
 |
139,576 | 140,000 | Ministry of Defence | |
 |
11,000 | Ministry of Defence | ||
 |
33,230 | Ministry of Defence | ||
| 1,488,151 | 1,155,000 | |||
| Paramilitary Forces[97] | ||||
| Active | Reserve | Governing Body | Area | |
 |
66,000 | Ministry of Home Affairs | ||
 |
10,000[98] | Ministry of Home Affairs | ||
| 76,000 | N.A. | |||
| Central Armed Police Forces and Others[97][99] | ||||
 |
257,363 | Ministry of Home Affairs | Indo-Pak Border, Indo-Bangladesh, others[100] | |
 |
144,418 | Ministry of Home Affairs | Industries, PSUs | |
 |
313,678 | Ministry of Home Affairs | ||
 |
89,432 | Ministry of Home Affairs | India-China Border[101] | |
 |
12,000[98] | Ministry of Home Affairs | ||
 |
76,337 | Ministry of Home Affairs | Indo-Nepal Border and Indo-Bhutan Border[102] | |
 |
70,000[98] | Ministry of Railways | Indian Railways | |
| National Disaster Response Force | 13,000 | Ministry of Home Affairs | Area prone to Disaster in India | |
 |
31,000[98] | |||
 |
3,000[98] | Cabinet Secretariat | Cabinet Secretariat | |
 |
450,000[98] | State Governments | Respective States | |
|
500,000[98] | |||
|
441,800[98] | |||
| 1,403,700 | 987,800 | |||
Recruitment and Training
The National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune. NDA serves as the joint services academy for the army, the navy and the air force.
The vast majority of soldiers in Indian Army are enlisted personnel, called by the Army as Soldier, general duty. These soldiers are recruited at different recruitment rallies across the country.[103] At these rallies, Army recruiters look at candidates from surrounding districts and examine their fitness for the Army. Candidates for Soldier, general duty must have Class 10 Leaving Certificate and in the range of 17 to 21 years.[104] The Army also does online applications to appear at recruitment rallies. Requirements for technical roles, like nurses, artillery, Missile Defense have more stringent educational requirements. The least restrictive job in Army is House Keeper and Cleaner, for which candidates only have to be 8th pass.
At the rally, prospective soldiers are evaluated for height, weight, vision and hearing, and physical fitness. Fitness tests include a 1.6 km Run, Pull Ups, jumping a 9 Feet ditch, and doing a zig zag balance test. After recruitment rally, accepted candidates go to Basic Training.[105]
The Indian Armed Forces have set up numerous military academies across India for training personnel. Military schools, Sainik Schools, and the Rashtriya Indian Military College were founded to broaden the recruitment base of the Defence Forces. The three branches of the Indian Armed Forces jointly operate several institutions such as: the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), the National Defence College (NDC) and the College of Defence Management (CDM) for training its officers. The Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) at Pune is responsible for providing the entire pool of medical staff to the Armed Forces by giving them in-service training.[104][106]
Officer recruitment is through many military-related academies. Besides the tri-service National Defence Academy, Pune, the three services have their own training institutes for this purpose. These include: the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, Officers Training Academy at Chennai and Gaya.[107][108] Other notable institutions are the Army War College, at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), at Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW), in Vairengte, Mizoram, and the College of Military Engineering (CME), in Pune. After being commissioned, officers are posted and deputed, and are at the helm of affairs not only inside India but also abroad. Officers are appointed and removed only by the President of India.[109]
Overseas bases and relations
Farkhor Air Base is a military air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of the capital Dushanbe. It is operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajikistan Air Force. Farkhor is India’s first and only military base outside its territory.[110] There was an unconfirmed report of India building some assets at Ayni Air Base in Tajikistan,[111] although the Tajik government has denied this.[112] However, India had deployed its Army and Border Roads Organisation personnel to upgrade Ayni airbase by extending its runway, constructing an air-traffic control tower and perimeter fencing around the base. India provided medium-lift choppers to Tajikistan and a dedicated hospital there as part of efforts to build on the strategic ties between the two countries against the backdrop of US-led troops pulling out from Afghanistan in 2014.[113] India is also helping with the development of Chah Bahar Seaport in southeastern Iran, which is speculated to be done to secure India’s Maritime assets and also as a gateway to Afghanistan & Central Asia. However, India and Israel also have a very strong defence relationship.[114]
Contingent from the Indian Armed Forces at the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 2015.
In the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship, India took on the obligation to actively assist Nepal in national defence and military preparedness, and both nations agreed not to tolerate threats to each other’s security.[115][116] In 1958, the then-Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Bhutan and reiterated India’s support for Bhutan’s independence and later declared in the Indian Parliament that any aggression against Bhutan would be seen as aggression against India.[117] India started the process to bring the island country Maldives into India’s security grid.[118] India is also one of three countries with whom Japan has a security pact, the others being Australia and the United States.[119] India and Russia maintain strong military co-operation. India has defence pacts with the US focusing on areas including security, joint training, joint development and manufacture of defence equipment and technology.[120] In 1951, India and Burma signed a Treaty of Friendship in New Delhi. Article II of the treaty stipulates that “There shall be everlasting peace and unalterable friendship between the two States who shall ever strive to strengthen and develop further the cordial relations existing between the peoples of the two countries.”[121] India had signed a pact to develop ports in Myanmar and various bilateral issues, including economic co-operation, connectivity, security and energy.[122] India has a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with UAE.[123] India has maritime security arrangements in place with Oman and Qatar.[124] In 2008, a landmark defence pact was signed, under which India committed its military assets to protect “Qatar from external threats”.[125] On 9 June 2012, the JIMEX 2012 naval exercise took place off the coast of Tamil Nadu in India to Tokyo in Japan. This was the first ever bilateral maritime exercise between the two nations in a long time, reflecting their similar interests, especially those involving spontaneous regional security against common external aggressors. The Indian Navy has berthing rights in Oman and Vietnam.
As part of its two-decade-old Look East policy, India has substantially stepped up military engagement with East Asian and ASEAN nations. Although never explicitly stated, ASEAN and East Asian nations want New Delhi to be a counterweight to increasing Chinese footprints in the region. Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and, particularly, Vietnam and Myanmar have time and again pressed India to help them both in terms of military training and weapons supply.[126] Myanmar’s Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Thura Thet Swe during his four-day visit to India in late July 2012 held wide-ranging consultations with top officials from the Indian Ministry of Defence. Apart from increasing the number of training slots of Myanmar officers in Indian military training establishments, India has agreed to build at least four Offshore Patrol Vehicles (OPV) in Indian Shipyards to be used by Myanmar’s navy. For more than a decade now, India has assisted Vietnam in beefing up its naval and air capabilities. For instance, India has repaired and upgraded more than 100 MiG 21 planes of the Vietnam People’s Air Force and supplied them with enhanced avionics and radar systems. Indian Air Force pilots have also been training their Vietnamese counterparts. In a first, India has offered a $100-million credit line to Vietnam to purchase military equipment. A bilateral agreement for the use of facilities in India by the Singapore Air Force and Army was signed in October 2007 and August 2008 respectively and has been extended up to 2017. Singapore is the only country to which India is offering such facilities.[127]
Indian Army
Indian Army’s Arjun Mark 1A tank.
The Indian Army is a voluntary service, the military draft having never been imposed in India. It is one of the largest standing armies (and the largest standing volunteer army) in the world, with 1,237,000 active troops and 800,000 reserve troops.[4] The force is headed by the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army, General Manoj Mukund Naravane. The highest rank in the Indian Army is Field Marshal, but it is a largely ceremonial rank and appointments are made by the President of India, on the advice of the Union Cabinet of Ministers, only in exceptional circumstances. (See Field Marshal (India)). Late Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Manekshaw and the late Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa are the only two officers who have attained this rank.
The army has rich combat experience in diverse terrains, due to India’s varied geography, and also has a distinguished history of serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations. 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 the north-east. The Indian Army has seen military action during the First Kashmir War, Operation Polo, the Sino-Indian War, the Second Kashmir War, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Sri Lankan Civil War and the Kargil War. It has dedicated one brigade of troops to the UN’s standby arrangements. Through its large, sustained troop commitments India has been praised for taking part in difficult operations for prolonged periods.[citation needed] The Indian Army has participated in several UN peacekeeping operations including those in: Cyprus, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, El Salvador, Liberia, Mozambique and Somalia. The army also provided a paramedical unit to facilitate the withdrawal of the sick and wounded in the Korean War.
Doctrine, corps, field force
Indian Army Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher.
The current combat doctrine of the Indian Army is based on effectively utilising holding formations and strike formations. In the case of an attack, the holding formations would contain the enemy, and strike formations would counter-attack to neutralise enemy forces.[128] In the case of an Indian attack, the holding formations would pin enemy forces down whilst the strike formations attack at a point of India’s choosing. The Indian Army is large enough to devote several corps to the strike role. The army is also looking at enhancing its special forces capabilities.[129] With the role of India increasing, and the need to protect India’s interests on far-off shores becoming important, the Indian Army and Indian Navy are jointly planning to set up a marine brigade.[130]
The Army’s field force comprises fifteen corps, three armoured divisions, four Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Divisions (RAPID), eighteen infantry divisions and ten mountain divisions, a number of independent brigades, and requisite combat support and service support formations and units. Among the fifteen, four are “strike” corps – Mathura (I Corps), Ambala (II Corps), Bhopal (XXI Corps) and Panagarh (XVII Corps). The main combat and combat support units are 68 armoured regiments, and over 350 infantry battalions and 300 artillery regiments (including two surface-to-surface missile (SSM) units). Amongst major armaments and equipment, there are nearly 4000 main battle tanks, 2000 armoured personnel carriers, 4300 artillery pieces and 200 light helicopters.[131]
Mountain Strike Corps
India has raised a new mountain strike corps to strengthen its defence along its disputed border with China in the high reaches of the Himalayas. However, the entire XVII Corps, with its headquarters at Panagarh in West Bengal, will only be fully raised with 90,274 troops at a cost of 646.7 Billion Indian Rupees by 2018–2019 (circa US$7.3 Billion at 2018 rates). With units spread across the 4,057 kilometres (2,521 mi) Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, the corps will have two high-altitude infantry divisions (59 Div at Panagarh and 72 Div at Pathankot) with their integral units, two independent infantry brigades, two armoured brigades and the like. It will include 30 new infantry battalions and two Para-Special Forces battalions. In other words, it will have “rapid reaction force” capability to launch a counter-offensive into Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in the event of any Chinese attack.[132]
Army Aviation Corps
Indian Army’s HAL Dhruv helicopter.
The Army Aviation Corps is another vital part of the Indian Army formed on 1 November 1986. The army aviation pilots are drawn from other combat arms, including artillery officers, to form a composite third dimensional force for an integrated battle. IAF operates and flies attack Helicopters like the Mil Mi-25/Mi-35 which are owned and administered by the Indian Air Force, but under the operational control of the Army and play a major role to support the armoured columns and infantry. Apart from the attack role, helicopters like the HAL Chetak, HAL Cheetah, and HAL Dhruv provide logistical support for the Indian Army in remote and inaccessible areas, especially the Siachen Glacier. To equip Army Aviation Corps, procurement process for 197 light utility helicopters (LUH) is ongoing, of which 64 will be inducted in the Army Aviation to replace the Cheetak and Cheetah Helicopters. HAL has obtained a firm order to deliver 114 HAL Light Combat Helicopters to the Indian Army.