Structure and Commands of Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Army is the world's fourth-largest army, divided into seven commands. Manoj
Mukund Naravane has been the Indian Army Chief since December 31, 2019. The Indian army
is widely regarded as the deadliest on the planet. The Indian Army was founded in 1895, but
it was not until after independence that it received its current structure. We will give you
information about the structure & various commands of the Indian Army in this article, which
will be very useful for students studying for various examinations.

Commands of Indian Army:

Six operational commands and one training command are used by the Indian army. The
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of each command is a Lieutenant General. Each
command directly reports to the Army Headquarters in New Delhi. Another option is the
Army Training Command, abbreviated as ARTRAC. Officers in the Army can also command tri-
service commands such as the Strategic Forces Command and the Andaman & Nicobar
Command, and also institutions such as the Integrated Defence Staff.

S. No. Command Headquarters

1. Western Command Chandimandir
2. Eastern Command Kolkata
3. Northern Command Udhampur
4. Southern Command Pune
5. Central Command Lucknow
6. South-Western Command Jaipur
7. Army Training Command Shimla

1. Western Command (Headquarter: Chandigarh)

Presently, 9 divisions, 3 cores and 6 brigades of the Western Command are working.

 40th Artillery Division: Ambala

 1st Armoured Division: Patiala
  26th Infantry Division: Jammu
 7th Infantry Division: Firozpur
 14th RAPID: Dehradun
 29th Infantry Division: Pathankot
 9th Infantry Division: Meerut
 22nd Infantry Division: Meerut
 15th Infantry Division: Amritsar
 2nd Independent Armoured Brigade
 3rd Independent Armoured Brigade
 23rd Armoured Brigade
 612th Mechanised Independent Air Defence Brigade
 474th Engineering Brigade
 55th Mechanised Brigade
 II Corps: Ambala
 IX Corps: Yol
 XI Corps: Jalandhar

2. Eastern Command (Headquarter: Kolkata)

Presently, in this Command 12 divisions & 4 cores are working.

 23rd Infantry Division: Ranchi

 2nd Mountain Division: Dibrugarh
 5th Mountain Division: Bomdila
 17th Mountain Division: Gangtok
 56th Mountain Division: Zakhama
 21st Mountain Division: Rangia
 20th Mountain Division: Binnaguri
 57th Mountain Division: Leimakhong
 71st Mountain Division: Missamari
  27th Mountain Division: Kalimpong
 59th Infantry Division: Panagarh
 72 Infantry Division: Pathankot (Recently being raised)
 III Corps: Dimapur, Nagaland
 IV Corps: Tezpur, Assam
 XXXIII Corps: Siliguri, West Bengal
 XVII Corps: Panagarh, West Bengal

3. Northern Command (Headquarter: Udhampur)

Currently, 7 divisions, 3 cores and 1 brigade of the Northern Command are working.

 3rd Infantry Division: Leh

 19th Infantry Division: Baramulla
 10th Infantry Division: Akhnoor
 8th Mountain Division: Dras
 28th Mountain Division: Gurez
 25th Infantry Division: Rajauri
 39th Infantry Division: Yol
 XIV Corps: Leh
 XV Corps: Srinagar
 XVI Corps: Nagrota
 10 Artillery brigade

4. Southern Command (Headquarter: Pune)

At present, in the Southern Command 6 divisions, 2 cores and 3 brigades are working.

 41st Artillery Division: Pune

 11th Infantry Division: Ahmedabad
 31st Armoured Division: Jhansi
 12th RAPID: Jodhpur
 36th RAPID: Sagar
 54th Infantry Division: Hyderabad/Secunderabad
 4th Armoured Brigade
 340th Mechanised Brigade
 475th Engineering Brigade
 XII Corps: Jodhpur
 XXI Corps: Bhopal

5. Central Command (Headquarter: Lucknow)

At present, no unit of the Central Command is working and it is assigned to the South Western
Command.
6. South-Western Command (Headquarter: Jaipur)

Currently, 7 divisions, 2 cores and 3 brigades of the South-Western Command are working.

 42nd Artillery Division: Jaipur

 4th Infantry Division: Allahabad
 16th Infantry Division: Sri Ganganagar
 6th Mountain Division: Bareilly
 18th RAPID: Kota
 33rd Armoured Division: Hisar
 24th RAPID: Bikaner
 6th Independent Armoured Brigade
 615th Independent Air Defence Brigade
 471st Engineering Brigade
 I Corps: Mathura
 X Corps: Bhatinda

7. Army Training Command (Headquarter: Shimla)

This command is the center piece for all Indian army institutional training.
Note: In addition to these commands, the Indian Army has an independent parachute brigade
based in Agra that is directly under the command of the Chief of the Army Staff.

Sub Divisions of the Indian Army

The Indian Army is divided into sub divisions, each of which has its own fighting force. Infantry
and armed corps are combat arms, while combat support arms and services units are combat
support arms and units. The infantry is organized as follows:
Section: A section is made up of ten soldiers.
Platoon: A platoon is made up of three sections led by a JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer)

Company: Three Platoons make up a Company, which is led by a Company Commander who
is either a Major or a Lieutenant Colonel in rank.
Battalion: A Battalion is made up of four companies. This is the infantry's main fighting unit,
and it is led by a Colonel-level Battalion Commander.
Brigade: A Brigade is made up of three battalions and is led by a Brigade Commander, who is
a Brigadier rank officer.
Division: A Division is made up of three to four Brigades and is led by a Major General known
as the GOC (Division Commander). Infantry, Mountain, Armoured, Artillery, and the Re-
organized Army Plains Infantry Division or RAPIDS are among the 37 divisions that make up
the Indian Army today.

Corps: A Corps is made up of three to four divisions. As GOC, a Lieutenant General leads the
Corp. (Corps Commander).
Command: Each command is led by a Lieutenant General who is the General Officer
Commanding-in-Chief. India has seven commands, six of which are operational and one of
which is a training command known as ARTRAC (Army Training Command)
The Strategic Forces Command, the Integrated Defense Staff (IDS), and the Andaman and
Nicobar Command are all tri-service commands in India. On a rotating basis, Army, Navy, and
Air Force officers lead these.

Organization of the Indian Army:

Combat Arms and Services are the two divisions of the Indian Army.
1. Combat Arms
These are the fighting forces of the Indian Army. This includes:

Armoured Corps: In the Indian Army, the armoured corps has taken the place of the cavalry
or horses. It is one of the modern army's main fighting weapons. The main weapons of the
army are tanks. They also support the Infantry (foot soldiers) by providing cover when they
attack enemy positions.
Mechanized Infantry: The Indian Army's latest arm is the Mechanized Infantry.

Infantry: Fighting troops that attack and occupy captured territory. The Indian Army's Role of
the Forces is the most important and largest branch of the fighting forces. It is supported by
combat support arms, which include: - Artillery
It is supported by combat support arms, which include: -
Artillery: They're used to take out enemy defences and provide infantry fire cover while
capturing enemy positions.
Corps of Engineers: Engineers who lay and clear mines, build bridges and roads and handle
explosives make up the Corps of Engineers, also known as Sappers. SARVATRA, which means
"everywhere," is their motto. They play a critical role in increasing the mobility of army units.
Air Defence Corps of the Army: With the introduction of aircraft, the battlefield's character
has changed. Akashe Shatrun Jahi is their motto (Defeat the Enemy in the Sky).
Army Aviation Corps: The youngest of the Indian armed forces, with the motto Suveg Va
Sudrid, has helicopters that can operate in a variety of terrains, climatic conditions, and other
challenges. It can take advantage of its ability to observe the enemy from deep within its own
territory.

Corps of Signals: Armies must strengthen existing information communication and technology
networks, ensure connectivity to soldiers in remote locations, and provide cyber security in
both peace and war in this information age. The Corps of Signals is in charge of this. Teevra
Chaukas, or Intense Alertness, is their motto.

2. Services:
The remaining army is organized under the services, with the exception of the Combat and
Combat Support Arms. Their primary mission is to supply the army with logistical support
(arms, ammunition, rations, and so on).
The Services comprise the following departments:
I. Army Service Corps
II. Army Medical Corps
III. Army Dental Corps
IV. Army Ordnance Corps
V. Corps of Electronics & Mechanical Engineers
VI. Remount & Veterinary Corps
VII. Military Farms Service
VIII. Army Education Corps
IX. Corps of Military Police
X. Pioneer Corps
XI. Army Postal Service Corps
XII. Territorial Army
XIII. Defence Security Corps
XIV. Intelligence Corps
XV. Judge Advocate General's Department
XVI. Military Nursing Service

Commands of Indian Navy:

The Indian Navy is divided into three commands:

S. No. Command Headquarters

1. Eastern Naval Command Visakhapatnam
2. Western Naval Command Mumbai
3. Southern Naval Command Kochi

 There is also one more Command apart from the above three, at the Andaman
& Nicobar Islands, which is a tri-service command.
 A 'Flag Officer Commanding in Chief' is in charge of all Navy commands
(abbreviated as FOC-in-C). His official title is 'Vice-Admiral.'
 The Navy also operates submarine squadrons, Flotillas of ships, and various types of
aircraft from various Naval Air Stations.
 Mumbai, Kochi, Goa, Karwar, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Kolkata, and Port Blair are
among the Indian Navy's major bases.
1. Western Naval Command (Headquarter: Mumbai)
  It is in charge of all naval forces in the Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean, as
well as naval installations on India's west coast.
 The Command was established on 1st March 1968.
 This command is the Indian Navy's sword arm, and naval operations along the western
seaboard would be crucial to the outcome of any at-sea conflict with Pakistan.
 INS Kadamba, a large naval base, was completed in the year 2005 as part of Project
Seabird. The Indian Navy is the sole user of this naval base in Karwar, Karnataka.
 The INS Vikramaditya is the Western Fleet's flagship carrier.
 INS Vikramaditya, Talwar class frigates, Delhi class destroyers, INS Kolkata,
Brahmaputra class frigates, and Sindhughosh class submarines are all part of this
command.
 Naval Aviation is supported by MiG-29K fighter jets and Kamov Ka-31 helicopters that
provide airborne early warning.
2. Eastern Naval Command (Headquarter: Visakhapatnam)

 The command is in charge of all naval forces in the Bay of Bengal and parts of the
Indian Ocean, as well as naval installations on India's east coast.
 On 1st March 1968, the Command was established.
  Visakhapatnam's headquarters also serves as a strategic dockyard for two nuclear-
powered submarines.
 Due to traffic congestion and heavy shipping traffic, INS Varsha, a new 20-square-
kilometer naval base 50 kilometers south of Visakhapatnam, is being built for exclusive
naval use.
 The Navy has opened INS Baaz at the southernmost tip of the Andaman & Nicobar
Islands to secure the strategically important Straits of Malacca, as well as a naval air
station in Kolkata to house an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron.
3. Southern Naval Command (Headquarter: Kochi)

 It is the Indian Navy's Training Command, and it is in charge of all of the Indian Navy's
personnel, both officers and sailors, from basic to advanced levels of training.
 A FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training), a training squadron, training establishments &
bases, and land forces and survey ships make up the Southern Naval Command. A
naval air station and a ship repair yard are located there.

Commands of Indian Air Force

There are five operational and two functional commands in the Indian Air Force. Each
Command is led by an Air Marshal who is the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief. Operational
commands are responsible for conducting the military operations using aircraft within their
area of responsibility, whereas functional commands are responsible for maintaining combat
readiness. Aside from the Training Command in Bangalore, the Air Force Academy in
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, is the primary flight training center, with operational training at
various other schools.
The Defence Services Staff College also provides advanced officer training for command
positions, and specialized advanced flight training schools are situated in Bidar, Karnataka,
and Hakimpet, Andhra Pradesh (also the location for helicopter training). Technical schools
can also be found in a variety of other places.
Operational Commands:

S. No. Command Headquarters

1. Central Air Command (CAC) Praygraj, Uttar
Pradesh
2. Eastern Air Command (EAC) Shillong, Meghalaya
3. Southern Air Command (SAC) Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala
4. South Western Air Command Gandhinagar, Gujarat
(SWAC)
5. Western Air Command (WAC) Subroto Park, New
Delhi

Functional Commands:

S. No. Command Headquarters

1. Training Command (TC) Bengaluru,
Karnataka
2. Maintenance Command (MC) Nagpur,
Maharashtra

1. Central Air Command (CAC) (Headquarter: Praygraj, Uttar Pradesh)

 The Central Air Command is one of the Indian Air Force's five operational commands.
Its current headquarters are in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. It was founded in Rani
Kuthee, Calcutta, on 19th March 1962.
 The CAC primarily patrols India's North Central region.
 Some units are located in Bihta, Kanpur, Darbhanga, Bakshi-ka-Talab, Nagpur,
Memaura, Nainital, and Varanasi, and it has airbases in Gorakhpur, Agra, Bareilly,
Gwalior, and Bamraulli.
2. Eastern Air Command (EAC) (Headquarter: Shillong, Meghalaya)

 The Eastern Air Command is one of the Indian Air Force's five operational commands.
The organization's current headquarters are in Shillong, Meghalaya.
 It was established on 27th May 1958, as the No. 1 Operational Group, and was based
at Ranikutir in Kolkata as part of the government's increased emphasis on border
defense.
 The command's area of responsibility now encompasses 11 countries and is bordered
by the international borders of China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh,
which span 6300 kilometers.
3. Southern Air Command (SAC) (Headquarter: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala)
  The Indian Air Force's Southern Air Command (SAC) is based in Thiruvananthapuram,
on the southwestern coast of the country.
 This is one of the Indian Air Force's seven commands. This command was established
on 19th July 1984 and is relatively new in comparison to the others.
 The formation of this new command was prompted by the conflict in Sri Lanka and the
need to establish a strong base over the Indian Ocean. Indira Gandhi, India's Prime
Minister at the time, inaugurated the SAC.
4. South Western Air Command (SWAC) (Headquarter: Gandhinagar, Gujarat)

 The South Western Air Command is one of the Indian Air Force's five operational
commands.
 It was raised by the Western Air Command's No. 1 Operations Group in Jodhpur in July
1980.
 Its operations area spans much of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Saurashtra, as well as Kutch
and Pune in the south.
 The SWAC, which includes the Indian airbases of Jaisalmer, Bhuj, Naliya, Jamnagar,
Jodhpur, Uttarlai or Barmer, and Pune, moved to its current headquarters in
Gandhinagar in May 1998.
 It is in charge of the air operations in the south-western air sector, which covers most
of the region of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Kutch, all of which are nearby to
Pune.
 It also manages Ahmedabad, Nal, as well as Suratgarh forward airbases. The SWAC's
primary mission has been air defence, while it has been suggested that it also has a
striking profile.
5. Western Air Command (WAC) (Headquarter: Subroto Park, New Delhi)
  The WAC (Western Air Command) is the Indian Air Force's regional command, based
in New Delhi.
 It is the IAF's largest & most significant Air Command, with sixteen Air Force Bases
(AFBs) charged with the aerial defence of North India.
 WAC's Area of Responsibility includes the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, New Delhi, Western Uttar Pradesh, as well as Jammu & Kashmir and
Rajasthan.
6. Training Command (TC) (Headquarter: Bangalore, Karnataka)

 The Indian Air Force's Training Command is responsible for flying and ground training.
 In the 1930s, with the possibility of World War II looming and Japan's inclination
toward the Axis powers, the latter was viewed as a potential adversary.
 As a result, the need to make the IAF a self-sustaining force for the South Eastern
Theater of War was felt. The IAF grew rapidly as a result of this.
7. Maintenance Command (MC) (Headquarter: Nagpur, Maharashtra)
  The Indian Air Force's Maintenance Command is a command.
 It was founded in 1950 as the Chakeri Maintenance Group in Kanpur.
 It was renamed Maintenance Command in 1955.
 On 26th January 1955, the Maintenance Command was founded.
 Its current headquarters are in Vayusena Nagar, Nagpur (Maharashtra), and it is
responsible for all the aircraft, helicopters, and other equipment repairs, overhaul, as
well as maintenance. The overhaul & maintenance of various types of aircraft are
handled by the MC's nine Base Repair Depots.

We will now examine what, where, and why India will establish four
Integrated Theatre Commands by the end of this year only.
By the end of the year, India will have four Integrated Theatre Commands. According to
sources, India has begun laying the groundwork for four theatre commands, with four three-
star generals entrusted with laying out the structures. They would construct a fully integrated
warfighting system. According to insiders, Pakistan and China would establish an integrated
marine theatre command, an air defence command, and two land-based commands in the
next two years.

The Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force are the three pillars of the country's
defence. In terms of command organization, each of the forces currently has many commands
that are vertically split.
About Theatre Command:

It is an organizational system that aims to achieve military convergence by controlling all

military assets in a theatre of battle. It would be in charge of the army, air force, and navy,
concentrating all forces' resources under one command that would report to a senior military
commander.
In India, there are two theatre command services:
I. Andaman & Nicobar Command
II. Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
I. Andaman and Nicobar Command (Headquarter: Port Blair)

 The ANC (Andaman & Nicobar Command) is the Indian Armed Forces' first & only tri-
service theatre command that has the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air
Force together, based in Port Blair, India's Union Territory of the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
 It was established in the year 2001 to protect India's strategic interests in South-east
Asia and the Strait of Malacca by increasing the speed with which military assets are
deployed in the region.
 It supports naval ships deployed to East Asia & the Pacific Ocean with logistical and
administrative support.
II. Strategic Forces Command (SFC) (Branch: Indian Armed Forces)

 India's Nuclear Command Authority includes the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), also
known as Strategic Nuclear Command (NCA).
 It is in charge of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile
management and administration.
 The Vajpayee government established it on 4th January 2003. Its first commander-in-
chief was Air Marshal Teja Mohan Asthana.
 Under the direction of a three-star Commander-in-Chief, the Strategic Forces
Command is responsible for putting the NCA's directives into action.
 After receiving specific authorisation from the NCA, it will be solely responsible for
commencing the process of delivering nuclear weapons and warheads.
 The SFC will decide on the target area's specific location after a calibrated, cumulative
procedure including several layers of decision-making and formal NCA clearance.
  The SFC is in charge of managing and administering all strategic forces, including
nuclear assets, and generating all contingency plans as needed to execute the required
responsibilities.
 The SFC's command, control, and communication systems have been well-established
from its establishment, and the command has achieved a high level of operational
preparedness.

Now, we will see about the new commands.

India has begun laying the groundwork for theatre commands. These are the ones:
1) Western Theatre Command (WTC): It would be set up in Jaipur
2) Eastern Theatre Command (ETC): It would be set up in Lucknow or Kolkata
3) Air Defence Command (ADC): It would be situated in Prayagraj or in Gandhinagar
4) Maritime Theatre Command (MTC): It would be situated in Karwar
In Western Theatre Command and Eastern Theatre Command, the defence forces' tri-services
would be available. Four commanders-in-chief have been named to begin the process of
raising the theatres' structures.
Important Indian Military Operations and Agreements
The Indian Armed Forces are made up of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
The Indian President is the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces.
Under the command of India's MoD (Ministry of Defence), our country's armed forces have
participated in a number of major military operations. It has the world's second-largest armed
forces, with an estimated total active force of 1,325,000 personnel.
The following is a list of operations organized by the country's armed forces. All of these
operations are significant in terms of defence exams such as UPSC CAPF, AFCAT, Indian Navy
AA/SSR, NDA, Indian Coast Guard, and so on.
We will go through major operations of the Indian Military, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy
individually and in brief.

Major Indian Army Operations

Operation Polo (1948):

 The Nizam of Hyderabad's rule came to an end with the incorporation of the princely
state of Hyderabad into the Indian Union by Indian armed forces.
 Mir Osman Ali Khan, the ruler of the most powerful princely state of Hyderabad, was
an aristocratic ruler who maintained an irregular army of Razakars.
 The Army and Police, led by Maj Gen J N Chaudhuri, attacked and covered Hyderabad
as part of Sardar Patel's plan.
 Later, Mir Osman signed the Instrument of Accession.
Operation Vijay (1961):

 The Liberation of Goa was given a code name. The districts of Goa, Daman, and Diu,
and Dadra, and Nagar Haveli, collectively known as the Estado da ndia, remained
under Portuguese control on the Indian subcontinent after 1947.
Operation Trident (1971):

 During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Navy launched an offensive on
Pakistan's port city of Karachi on December 4–5.
 In this operation, anti-ship missiles were used for the first time in the region.
 A minesweeper, a destroyer, a cargo vessel carrying ammunition, and fuel storage
tanks were lost by Pakistan in Karachi.
Operation Blue Star (1984):

 Between June 1 & 8, 1984, Indian military action was carried out to remove militant
religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale & his followers from the Harmandir Sahib
(i.e. Golden Temple) complex in Amritsar, Punjab.
 Indira Gandhi took this on after extensive negotiations with the militants.
 She launched this operation after the negotiations failed.
  To deal with the protests that erupted as a result of this operation, Operation
Woodrose was launched.
Operation Woodrose (1984):

 In the months following Operation Blue Star, the Indira Gandhi-led Indian government
launched Operation Woodrose to ‘prevent the outbreak of widespread public protest’
in the Punjab state.
 All prominent members of the largest Sikh political party, the Akali Dal, were arrested,
and the All India Sikh Students Federation, a large student's union, was banned.
Operation Meghdoot (1984):

 The Indian Armed Forces' operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir,
which sparked the Siachen conflict, was code-named Meghdoot.
 Meghdoot was the world's first military offensive, launched on the morning of 13th
April 1984, on the world's highest battlefield.
 The operation was a success, as it preempted Pakistan's impending Operation Ababeel
(which had the same goal as Meghdoot) and resulted in the Indian forces gaining
complete control of the Siachen Glacier.
Operation Pawan (1987):

 The Indian Peace Keeping Force took control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987 as
part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord to enforce the LTTE's disarmament.
Operation Viraat (1988):

 It was an anti-insurgency operation launched by the IPKF against the LTTE in the
northern Sri Lanka in April 1988, following Operation Pawan.
Operation Trishul (1988):

 In April 1988, the IPKF launched Operation Viraat, an anti-insurgency operation in the
northern Sri Lanka, against the LTTE.
Operation Checkmate (1988):

 In June 1988, the IPKF conducted an anti-insurgency operation against the LTTE in the
Vadamarachi area of northern Sri Lanka.
Operation Cactus (1988):

 The coup d'état attempt in the Maldives in the year 1988 was an attempt by a group
of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi and aided by the armed
mercenaries from the PLOTE (People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam), a
Tamil secessionist organization from that of Sri Lanka, to overthrow the govt. in the
island republic of Maldives.
 The attempted coup was defeated by the intervention of Indian armed forces,
codenamed 'Operation Cactus.'
Operation Vijay (1999):

 The Kargil War, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India
and Pakistan that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Kargil district and elsewhere
along the Line of Control from May to July 1999. (LoC).
 The conflict is also known in India as Operation Vijay, after the Indian military
operation that cleared out the Kargil sector.
Operation Parakram (2001):

 In a terrorist attack outside the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on 1st October 2001, 29
people were killed by the Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Operation Black Tornado, and Operation Cyclone, (2008)

 Operation Black Tornado was launched on November 29 by India's National Security

Guards (NSG) to flush out the remaining attackers; it culminated in the death of the
last remaining attackers at the Taj Hotel, effectively ending the attacks.
Operation Goodwill:

 Humanitarian tasks in Jammu & Kashmir.

Operation Good Samaritan:

 Humanitarian tasks in Nagaland/Manipur.

Operation Calm Down (2016):

 Following the death of Burhan Wani in July 2016, the Indian army launched Operation
Calm Down in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in unrest in Kashmir, with more
than 90 civilians and two security personnel killed and thousands injured.
 It began in September of 2016.
Operation Sahyog (2018):

 After several northern districts of Kerala were hit by excessive rain and landslides, the
Indian army launched Operation Sahyog, a rescue mission.
 Wayanad, Idukki, Kannur, and Kozhikode were among the areas where the Indian
army deployed manpower and equipment for rescue operations.
Operation Randori Behak (2020):

 The operation took place in Jammu & Kashmir.

Major Indian Air Force Operations

Operation Meghdoot (1984):
  The Indian Armed Forces' operation to seize control of the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir,
which sparked the Siachen conflict, was code-named Meghdoot.
 Meghdoot was the world's first military offensive, launched on the morning of 13th
April 1984, on the world's highest battlefield.
Operation Poomalai (1987):

 The codename for an Indian Air Force mission to airdrop supplies over the besieged
town of Jaffna in Sri Lanka on 4th June 1987 to support the Tamil Tigers during the Sri
Lankan Civil War was Operation Poomalai, also known as Eagle Mission 4.
Operation Safed Sagar (1999):

 Safed Sagar was the code-name given to the IAFs (Indian Air Force's) role in providing
assistance to the Indian Army in flushing out regular as well as irregular Pakistani Army
troops from the vacated Indian positions in the Kargil sector along the LoC (Line of
Control) during the 1999 Kargil war.
 It was the first major airstrike in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the 1971 Indo-
Pakistani War.
Operation Rahat (2013):

 The Indian Air Force's rescue operations in order to evacuate the civilians affected by
the 2013 North India floods were code-named as ‘Operation Rahat.’
 Thousands of pilgrims in transit were stranded in various valleys in Uttarakhand and
Himachal Pradesh's hill states.
Operation Maitri (2015):

 In the aftermath of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, the Indian government and
Indian armed forces launched Operation Maitri (or Operation Amity), a rescue and
relief operation in Nepal.
 Within minutes of the quake, the Indian government was on the scene.
 It began on April 26, 2015, with Nepali ex-servicemen from India's Gurkha Regiments
serving as the interface for the guidance, relief, and rescue.
Operation Sankat Mochan (2016):

 During the South Sudanese Civil War, the Indian Air Force conducted Operation Sankat
Mochan to evacuate Indian citizens and other foreign nationals from South Sudan.
 In light of the 2016 Juba clashes, the operation was carried out.
Operation Insaniyat (2017):

 The Ministry of External Affairs has launched 'Operation Insaniyat,' a humanitarian

response to the humanitarian crisis that Bangladesh is experiencing as a result of the
large influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
 India will provide relief materials to the affected people, including rice, sugar, salt,
pulses, cooking oil, biscuits, and mosquito nets, as part of this operation.
Operation Bandar (2019):

 The airstrike on Balakot was code-named 'Operation Bandar' by the Indian Air Force.
 An airstrike by the Indian Air Force in response to a suicide bomber who killed 40
Indian soldiers in the Pulwama terror attack on 14th February 2019.

Major Indian Navy Operations

Operation Vijay (1961):

 The government's desperate attempt to end 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule in
Goa resulted in Operation Vijay in 1961.
 When the Portuguese refused to relinquish control of the state in 1947, India's first
Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, began experimenting with nonviolent solutions.
 All of his efforts at peaceful and diplomatic diplomacy, however, were in vain.
Operation Trident (1971):

 During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Navy launched Operation Trident,
an offensive operation against Pakistan's port city of Karachi.
 During Operation Trident, anti-ship missiles were used for the first time in the region.
The operation took place on the 4th & 5th of December and resulted in significant
damage to Pakistani vessels and facilities.
Operation Python (1971):

 During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Navy launched Operation Python, a
follow-up to Operation Trident, a naval attack on West Pakistan's port city of Karachi.
 Following the initial attack on the Port of Karachi during the Operation Trident,
Pakistan increased its aerial surveillance of its coast due to the presence of large Indian
Navy ships gave the impression that another attack was planned.
Operation Sukoon (2006):

 During the 2006 Lebanon War, the Indian Navy launched Operation Sukoon to
evacuate Indian, Sri Lankan, and Nepalese nationals, as well as Lebanese nationals
with Indian spouses, from the conflict zone.
 During the Libyan civil war in 2011, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Safe
Homecoming to bring Indian nationals back to India.
Operation Searchlight (2014):

 ‘Operation Searchlight’ is the code-name of the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force's
joint search mission.
Operation Raahat (2015):
  During the 2015 military intervention in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies during
the Yemeni Crisis, the Indian Armed Forces conducted Operation Raahat to evacuate
Indian citizens and foreign nationals.
 The evacuation by sea from the port of Aden began on 1st April 2015. The Indian Air
Force and Air India began air evacuations from Sana'a on April 3, 2015.
Operation Nistar (2018):

 After entering Porbandar harbour in Gujarat, the INS (Indian Naval Ship) Sunayana
successfully evacuated 38 Indian nationals.
 They were rescued from the cyclone-ravaged island of Socotra in Yemen as part of the
HADR (Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operation) code-named NISTAR.
Operation Madad (2018):

 The name "Operation Madad" refers to a series of rescue operations carried out by
the Indian Navy on various occasions throughout India.
 The SNC (Southern Naval Command) at Kochi has been conducting ‘Operation Madad’
on 09th August 2018 to assist the state administration & conduct disaster relief
operations as a result of unprecedented flooding in various parts of Kerala caused by
the incessant rainfall and the release of excess water from Idukki & other dams.
Intelligence Agencies of India and World
India's national security is a topic of great importance. Aside from India's defence and
paramilitary forces, the country's intelligence and investigation agencies also play a role. This
article provides a brief overview of India's Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies. It
clearly describes major intelligence wings such as the R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing),
the IB (Internal Intelligence Wing), and the NIA (National Investigative Agency), which was
established after the Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attacks for counter-terrorism purposes. Later,
in the article, we also give you brief information about the world’s major intelligence agencies.

About Intelligence Agencies:

o An intelligence agency is a government organization tasked with gathering, analyzing,
and exploiting information in support of law enforcement, national security, military,
and foreign policy goals.
o They collect information in a variety of ways, including espionage, communication
interception, cryptanalysis, collaboration with other institutions, and source
evaluation (public).
o Intelligence analysis is the process of using collected information about an enemy to
answer tactical questions about ongoing operations or predict future behavior.

Intelligence & Investigation Agencies of India

 Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) - Similar to CIA of United States
 Intelligence Bureau(IB)
 Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN)
 National Technical Research Organization (NTRO)
 National Investigation Agency (NIA)
 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) - Similar to FBI of United States
 All India Radio Monitoring Service
 Signals Intelligence Directorate
 Aviation Research Centre
 Directorate of Air Intelligence
 Directorate of Navy Intelligence
 Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
 Joint Cipher Bureau
 Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation
Other Law Enforcement Agencies of India:

 Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

 Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
 Directorate of Enforcement (DE)
 Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
Below is a brief overview of major intelligence agencies of India:
Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW)

 India's external intelligence agency is the R&AW (Research & Analysis Wing).
Gathering foreign intelligence, advising Indian policymakers, counter-terrorism,
counter-proliferation, and advancing India's foreign strategic interests are the
agency's main responsibilities. It is also involved in India's nuclear program's security.
 R&AW quickly rose to prominence in the global intelligence community during the
nine-year tenure of its first Secretary, Rameshwar Nath Kao, and played a role in major
events such as the accession of the state of Sikkim to India. R&AW is currently led by
Samant Goel, who is based in New Delhi.
Intelligence Bureau (IB)

 India's Bureau of Investigation is a well-known and well-established intelligence

organization. The Ministry of Home Affairs has ultimate authority over the intelligence
bureau.
 The chief of the Intelligence Bureau is the Director of IB, i.e., DIB, who is a member of
the JIC (Joint Intelligence Committee).
Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN)
  The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT) is a government
of India office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
 CERT-In reported in December 2013 that cyberattacks on government organizations
such as banking and finance, oil and gas, and emergency services had increased. All
critical departments received a list of security guidelines.
National Technical Research Organization (NTRO)

 The NTRO, i.e., National Technical Research Organization is a technical intelligence

organization in India. The agency has been the subject of national debate since its
inception in the year 2004.
 The NTRO serves as the Prime Ministers and Union Council of Ministers of India's
primary security advisors. Other Indian agencies receive technical intelligence from it
as well.
National Investigation Agency (NIA)

 India's counter-terrorism task force is the NIA (National Investigation Agency).

Without special permission from the states, the agency has the authority to deal with
terror-related crimes across state lines.
  The National Investigation Agency Act 2008 was passed by the Indian Parliament on
December 31, 2008, following the deadly Mumbai terror attack of 26/11.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's most powerful investigative agency.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Government of India, is in
charge of the organization.
 The CBI is exempt from the Right to Information Act's provisions. The CBI is India's
official single point of contact for Interpol liaison.
All India Radio Monitoring Service (AIRMS)

 The AIRMS (All India Radio Monitoring Service) is a nodal monitoring service that
keeps track of all the Indian broadcasts as well as of all foreign broadcasts of the
interest to India.
 AIRMS is situated in Shimla.
 It collaborates with RAW as well as military intelligence.
Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID)

 The Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID) is a joint service organization that includes
Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel. It has a large number of Wireless Experimental
Units (WEUs) tasked with monitoring other countries' military links.
 The Ministry of Defence oversees the CMO (Central Monitoring Organization). It has a
number of monitoring companies based in various parts of the country.
Aviation Research Centre (ARC)

 The ARC (Aviation Research Centre) is India's imaging-intelligence organization, which

is run by the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Directorate General of
Security.
 It was established as an extension of the Intelligence Bureau in November 1962,
following the Sino-Indian War, but was placed under the Ministry of External Affairs.
Directorate of Air Intelligence (DAI)
  The Indian Air Force's intelligence wing is the DAI, i.e., Directorate of Air Intelligence.
It provides the Air Force with timely, accurate, and synchronized intelligence support
for tactical and operational needs.
 During World War II, DAI was established in the year 1942 as part of the erstwhile
Royal Indian Air Force to provide aerial reconnaissance for both the RIAF and the RAF.
It saw a lot of action during the Burma campaign.
Directorate of Navy Intelligence

 The Indian Navy's intelligence arm is the Directorate of Naval Intelligence.

Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)

 The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is a surveillance agency that provides as well as
coordinates defence & military intelligence for the Indian Armed Forces. It was
established in March 2002 and is run by the Ministry of Defence.
 The Defence Intelligence Agency's Director-General is in charge of the entire
organization. The Director-General is the Minister of Defences and Chief of Defence
Staff's primary intelligence advisor. The director general's position will be rotated
among the three armed services.
Joint Cipher Bureau

 The Joint Cipher Bureau is an Indian military intelligence agency in charge of signals
intelligence and cryptanalysis, as well as coordinating other military intelligence
agencies' activities and operations.
 The IB and R&AW work collaboratively with the Joint Cipher Bureau. It is in charge of
sensitive data cryptanalysis and encryption.
Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation

 The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation, which is part of the Ministry of
Finance, is in charge of investigating tax law violations such as fraud, evasion, and
money laundering.
 The Investigation Division of the Central Board of Direct Taxes is in charge of
supervision.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)

 The NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) is federal law intelligence and enforcement
agency in India which is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Under the provisions of
the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, the agency is tasked with
combating drug trafficking and the use of illegal substances.
 It was established in the year 1986 and is responsible for coordinating with Indian
state governments and other central departments, as well as implementing India's
international drug trafficking obligations and assisting international and foreign drug
law enforcement agencies.
Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)

 The Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND) is a govt. of India organization that
collects financial intelligence on money laundering offenses under the Prevention of
Money Laundering Act, 2002. It was established in November of 2004 and it reports
directly to the Finance Minister's EIC (Economic Intelligence Council).
 The functions of FIU-IND are a collection of information, analysis of information,
sharing of information, act as a central repository, research & analysis, and punitive
action.
Directorate of Enforcement (DE)
  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is Indian law enforcement and economic
intelligence agency tasked with enforcing economic laws and combating economic
crime. It is a part of the Indian govt.'s Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
 Officers from the Indian Police Service, Indian Revenue Service, and Indian
Administrative Service, as well as promoted officers from its own cadre, make up this
body. The department has an overall strength of less than 2000 officers, with approx.
70% of officials coming from the deputation from other organizations, while ED also
has its own cadre.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

 The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is a surveillance organization in India. It

is India's top intelligence, investigations, and operations agency for anti-smuggling.
 Officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) are in charge of
the Directorate, and they are stationed in the CBIC's various Zonal Units as well as
Indian embassies around the world as part of the Customs Overseas Intelligence
Network.

Intelligence & Investigation Agencies of World

 Mossad: Israel
 CIA (Central Intelligence Agency): America
  ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence): Pakistan
 MSS (Ministry of State Security): China
 M1-6 (Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) or Military Intelligence Section 6): United
Kingdom
 ASIS (Australian Secret Intelligence Service): Australia
 DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security): France
 FIS (Federal Intelligence Service) or BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst): Germany
 FSB (Federal Security Service of Russian Federation): Russia
 Canadian Security Intelligence Service: Canada
Below is a brief overview of major intelligence agencies of the world:
Mossad

 It is the main Israeli intelligence agency, along with Aman and Shin Bet, responsible
for intelligence gathering, covert operations, and counter-terrorism.
 It was founded on 13th December 1949.
CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)

 It is a United States of America federal investigation agency. The agency's main job is
to collect, process, and analyze data on national security from all over the world. The
Director of National Intelligence is in charge of them.
 The CIA, as a key member of the United States Intelligence Community (IC), reports to
the Director of National Intelligence and is primarily responsible for providing
intelligence to the US President and Cabinet.
ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence)

 The Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) is Pakistan's top intelligence agency, in

charge of gathering, processing, and analyzing information relevant to national
security from around the world.
 The ISI, as one of the most important members of Pakistan's intelligence community,
reports to its director-general and is primarily responsible for providing intelligence to
the Pakistani government.
MSS (Ministry of State Security)

 The Ministry of State Security (MSS) is the People's Republic of China's civilian
intelligence, security, and secret police agency, in charge of counter-intelligence,
foreign intelligence, and political security. The Joint Staff Intelligence Bureau is its
military counterpart.
 It is headquartered in Beijing and has subordinate branches at the provincial, city,
municipality, as well as township levels throughout China. It is described as one of the
world's most secretive intelligence organizations.
M1-6 (Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) or Military Intelligence Section 6)
  The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, is the United Kingdom's
foreign intelligence service, tasked with gathering and analyzing human intelligence
from around the world in support of the country's national security.
 The Foreign Section of the Secret Service Bureau was established in 1909, and it grew
significantly during World War I, eventually adopting its current name around 1920.
ASIS (Australian Secret Intelligence Service)

 The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is Australia's foreign intelligence

agency, tasked with gathering information abroad through covert means such as
personal contacts and other forms of human intelligence.
 It is part of the Australian Intelligence Community and is in charge of counter-
intelligence as well as liaising with foreign intelligence agencies.
DGSE (Directorate-General for External Security)

 France's foreign intelligence agency is the General Directorate for External Security
(DGSE). The American CIA and the British MI6 are comparable.
 The DGSE protects the French national security by collecting intelligence as well as
conducting paramilitary and even counter-intelligence operations, and also economic
espionage, in the foreign countries. Its headquarters are in Paris's 20th
arrondissement.
FIS (Federal Intelligence Service) or BND (Bundesnachrichtendienst)
  The Federal Intelligence Service (or Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND)) is Germany's
foreign intelligence agency, reporting to the Chancellor's Office directly. The BND
headquarters, which is the world's largest intelligence headquarters, is located in
central Berlin.
 During the Cold War, the BND was established in 1956 as West Germany's official
foreign intelligence agency, working in close collaboration with the CIA.
FSB (Federal Security Service of Russian Federation)

 The Russian Federation's Federal Security Service (FSB) is the Russia's primary security
agency as well as the main successor to the Soviet Union's KGB.
 Counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, internal and border security, and surveillance
are among its main responsibilities, as are investigations into other types of grave
crimes and federal law violations.
 Its headquarters are in the former KGB's main building on Lubyanka Square in
Moscow's center.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service: Canada
 Canada's primary national intelligence service is the Canadian Security Intelligence
Service (CSIS). It is in charge of analyzing, gathering, reporting, and also disseminating
intelligence on threats to the Canada's national security, as well as conducting covert
and overt operations both within and outside the country.
 It is headquartered in a purpose-built facility in Ottawa, Ontario, that was completed
in 1995.
Equipment of the Indian Armed Forces
This is a list of some of the Indian Army's modern as well as historical equipment. The majority
of army equipment is of international design and is commercially produced in India under
license, but efforts have been made to gradually design and produce equipment in India. The
Ordnance Factories Board oversees 41 Indian ordnance factories that produce the majority
of Army equipment such as small arms, combat vehicles, ammunition, and artillery.

1. Infantry Weapons
a. Small Arms

Name Type Caliber Origin Country Notes

(s)

Pistol Auto Semi- 9mm Parabellum Canada and India The Indian
9mm 1A automatic Army's
pistol standard-issue
sidearm.
Licensed
replica of the
Inglis 9mm
pistol from
Canada.
Glock 17 Semi- 9×19mm Parabellum Austria Standard issue
automatic pistol for
pistol Special Forces.
SAF Carbine Sub-machine 9mm Parabellum India and United The Sterling
1A gun Kingdom L2A1 SMG is
made in India.
The MSMC will
take its place.
SAF Carbine Sub-machine 9mm Parabellum India and United Carbine has
2A1 gun Kingdom been silenced.
The MSMC will
take its place.
Micro-Uzi Sub-machine 9mm Parabellum Israel Special Forces
gun can use it. It
was a Micro-
Uzi variant
that was used.
1B1 INSAS Assault rifle 5.56mm NATO India The Indian
Army's
standard-issue
weapon. The
1A SLR has
been replaced.
1B2 folding as
well as 1B1
fixed butt
variants were
used. An Insas
AR with a full-
auto selector,
black polymer
furniture, and
burst lever is
also on the
way.
Ordnance
Factory of
Tiruchirappalli
produced this
item.
OFB 1A1 Rifles Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO India and The standard
and OFB 1C Belgium issue rifle of
Rifles the Indian
army,
manufactured
at the
Tiruchirappalli
 Ordnance
Factory. The
INSAS has
taken its
place. The 1C
full automatic
variant was
used as a
firing port
weapon on
the BMP-2S
Sarath
Infantry
fighting
vehicle by
mechanized
infantry
battalions.
Ishapore 2A1 Reserve 7.62mm NATO India The majority
rifle Weapon of them were
phased out of
service. Some
were kept for
ceremonial
purposes only.
AKM Assault rifle 7.62x39mm Soviet Union and Variants of
Poland AKM fixed
stock and
AKMS under-
folding stock
were used.
Arsenal Co. AR Assault rifle 7.62x39mm Bulgaria Bulgarians
manufactured
the AK-47.
Imported for
police and
paramilitary
forces, but
also used in
small
quantities by
the army.
Variants of AR
fixed stock
and AR-F
under-folding
 stock were
used.
MPi-KM Assault rifle 7.62x39mm East Germany AKM was
created in East
Germany.
Variants of
MPi-KM-72
fixed stock
and MPi-KMS-
72 side-folding
stock were
used. Lower
handguards
were made of
both bakelite
and wood.
Pistol Assault rifle 7.62x39mm Romania Palmswell
Mitraliera lower
model 1990 handguard
versions of the
AKM are in
use in
Romania.
AK-103 Assault rifle 7.62x39mm Russia
Vz. 58 Assault rifle 7.62x39mm Czechoslovakia Variants of the
Vz. 58 P fixed
stock and the
Vz. 58 V side-
folding stock
was used.
IMI Tavor TAR- Assault rifle 5.56mm NATO Israel Israel
21 purchased
3070 for the
Special Forces.
M4A1 Carbine Carbine 5.56mm NATO United States Purchased
through
foreign
military sales.
For use by the
Special Forces
of the Indian
Army.
Dragunov Sniper rifle 7.62x54mmR Soviet Union and Sniper rifle in
SVD59 India its most
standard form.
IMI Galil 7.62 Sniper Rifle 7.62mm NATO Israel For use by the
Sniper Special Forces
 of the Indian
Army.
Mauser SP66 Sniper rifle 7.62mm NATO Germany Sniper rifle
with a
standard bolt
action.
Denel NTW-20 Anti-material 20x82mm South Africa Purchased in
rifle and 20x110mm small
Hispano-Suiza quantities.
INSAS LMG Light machine 5.56mm NATO India The INSAS
gun assault rifle
has been
adapted into a
light machine
gun. Butt
variants that
are both fixed
and folding
are used. A
newer INSAS
LMG is being
procured with
black polymer
furniture.
Ordnance
Factory
Tiruchirappalli
produced this
item.
MG 1B Light machine 7.62mm NATO India Bren was
gun created by an
Indian. It is
currently
being phased
out of service.
MG 2A1 General- 7.62mm NATO Belgium MAG 58,
purpose and India made in India.
MG 5A machine gun With some
armored
MG 6A vehicles, the
MG 6A
(Commander's
gun) and MG
5A (Co-axial)
are also in
service.
 PKM General- 7.62x54mm Soviet Union In Russian-
purpose made T-90S
machine gun Bhishma, T-
72M Ajeya,
and BMP-2S
Sarath, PK
machine guns
were used as
co-axial
weapons and
as general-
purpose
machine guns.
Special Forces
also use it as a
section LMG.
Ordnance
Factory
Tiruchirappalli
produced this
item.
M2 Browning Heavy .50 BMG United States
machine gun
NSV Heavy 12.7×108mm Soviet Union
machine gun
KPV Heavy 14.5×114mm Soviet Union
machine gun

b. Rockets, explosives, and missile systems

Name Type Quantity Origin Country Notes

(s)

Hand Grenade India Hand-thrown

Grenade 36mm fragmentation
grenade or
rifle-launched
fragmentation
grenade.
Multi-Mode Hand grenade 1.8 million India Hand mode
Grenade Shivalik ordered offensive,
hand mode
defensive, and
rifle mode are
all available
for this
 modular
grenade. The
outer sleeve
can be
changed to
change the
type.
GP-25 Grenade Soviet Union
launcher (40mm)
Multi Grenade Grenade India Low-velocity
Launcher 40mm launcher (40mm) grenade
launcher with
six
semiautomatic
shots, 40mm x
46mm.
Ordnance
Factory
Tiruchirappalli
produced this
item.
AGS-17 Plamya Automatic grenade Soviet Union
launcher (30mm)
30 mm Auto Automatic grenade India The AGS-17 is
Grenade launcher (30mm) being
Launcher replaced, and
it is being
manufactured
at the
Ordnance
Factory in
Tiruchirappalli.
RCL Mk II Recoilless rifle (84mm) India and OFB produced
Sweden the Carl
Gustav
Recoilless
Rifle.
RCL Mk III Recoilless rifle (84mm) India The RCL Mk II
and Sweden has been
updated and
made lighter.
106mm M-40A1 Recoilless rifle 3000+ United States
RPO-A Shmel Rocket Launcher Russia
OFB E1 51mm Mortar India
OFB E1 81mm Mortar 5000+ India
and L16 81mm United Kingdom
mortar & Canada
 OFB E1 81mm HE Bomb India
Smoke Bomb
OFB E1 120mm Mortar India
HE Bomb
120mm AM-50 Mortar 1500+ France
HE Bomb
160mm Mortar 200+ Finland
Tampella

2. Vehicles
a. Utility & miscellaneous

Name Type Quantity Origin Notes

VFJ Jonga Light Utility Vehicle India It's been

phased out.
Vehicle
Factory
Jabalpur is the
manufacturer.
Mahindra 550 DXB Light Utility Vehicle India
KrAZ-6322 Heavy Utility Truck Ukraine
Bedford TJ Medium4X4 Truck India Bedford J6:6
Tone
Truck. The
program is
being phased
out.
Swaraj Mazda Medium 4X4 Truck 200+ India Since 1996, it
has been in
operation. The
truck weighs
2.5 tons.
Mitsubishi Pajero Light Utility Vehicle Japan Numbers that
are unknown.
Currently
stationed on
the Indo-
Chinese
border.
Maruti Gypsy Light Utility Vehicle India
Windy 505 Fast attack vehicle 700 India In service from
the year 2005.
Tata 407 Light 4x4 truck India One Ton truck
VFJ LPTA 713 TC Medium 4X4 truck India The truck
weighs 2.5
tons. Vehicle
Factory
Jabalpur is the
manufacturer.
VFJ Matang Medium 4X4 truck India A three-ton
truck Vehicle
Factory
Jabalpur is the
manufacturer.
Super Azad Medium 4x4 truck India A three-ton
truck
Ashok Leyland Topchi Medium 4x4 truck India A three-ton
truck
Sisu Nasu All-terrain transport Finland
vehicle
VFJ Shaktiman Medium 4x4 truck 7,000 India Vehicle
Factory
Jabalpur offers
4-ton trucks in
a variety of
configurations.
VFJ Rampar Medium Amphibious India Vehicle's
truck Shaktiman
truck has been
converted into
an amphibious
vehicle.
Tata Model 1210SD Medium truck India A four-ton
vehicle.
VFJ Stallion Mk III Medium 4x4 60,000 India Vehicle
VFJ Stallion Mk IV 6x6 Truck Factory
Jabalpur
manufactures
five-ton trucks
in a variety of
configurations.
Saab-Scania SBA 111 6x6 trucks 600 Sweden
Ashok Leyland Crash Fire Tender India
Fire Tender
Tata LPTA 1615 TC Artillery Tractor India
Truck
Tatra 8x8 Mobile Mobile India
Decontamination Decontamination
Vehicle Vehicle
Tata LPTA 1621 Medium 4x4 truck India Five-ton truck
 BEML Tatra Heavy 4x4 trucks 7000 India Tatra Force is
6x6 trucks and Czech a heavy truck
8x8 trucks Republic made under
10x10 trucks license.
12x12 trucks Various
models are
available.
Vehicle for
Pinaka and
Smerch MBRL
systems, as
well as
sensitive
equipment
such as radars.

3. Artillery

Name Type Quantity Origin Country Notes

(s)

Howitzer 119 India OFB made a

Dhanush 155 mm gun.

M777 Howitzer United States A total of

145 ultra-
light
howitzers
will be
purchased.
Due to
defence
budget cuts,
procurement
has been
delayed.
Haubits FH77/B Howitzer 200 Sweden Bofors 155
mm machine
gun.
Between
1986 and
1991, 410
were
acquired.
There are
200 people
 left in the
service. An
indigenous
version is in
the works.
M-46 Howitzer 180 Soviet Union and Soltam
Israel upgraded M-
46 130 mm
howitzer
guns to 155
mm
standard.
D-30 Howitzer 550 Soviet Union The M-46
has taken its
place.
METAMORPHOSIS Howitzer India The M46
155 mm GUN Howitzer in
India has
been
upgraded.
M101 howitzer Howitzer 350 United States
75mm Mountain Howitzer 900 United Kingdom In Reserve
Howitzer
88mm 25 Pounder Howitzer 800 United Kingdom Also used for
Field gun training in
the Reserve.
180 mm gun S-23 Heavy Gun 100 Soviet Union
M-46 Field gun 900 Soviet Union Field gun
with a high
caliber of
130 mm. 550
units were
purchased.
100 were
used with
the self-
propelled
gun
Catapult.
Some of the
howitzers
will be
upgraded to
M-46s.
100mm M-1944 Field gun 350 Soviet Union In Reserve
BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun Field gun 150 United Kingdom Rtd.
Indian Field Gun MK Field gun 1700 India To be
1/2/3 upgraded
with digital
FCS and INS
to extend
the range up
to 30
kilometers
with bleed
base.
Light Field Gun Field gun 700+ India 105mm
cannon.
Upgrades
are ongoing.
100 mm field gun M1944 Field gun 350 Soviet Union In Reserve
(BS-3)
76 mm mountain gun Mountain gun 215 Yugoslavia
M48
OTO Melara Mod 56 Mountain gun 50 Italy Rtd.
Sprut anti-tank gun Anti-tank Gun Soviet Union
FV433 Abbot SPG Self-propelled 80 United Kingdom 105 mm
artillery howitzer.
Following
the selection
of a new
system, it
will be
replaced.
M-46 Catapult Self-propelled 100 India A Vijayanta
artillery hull with a
130 mm
howitzer
mounted on
it. There are
80 in
storage.
Following
the selection
of a new
system, it
will be
replaced.
2S1 Gvozdika Self-propelled 110 Soviet Union
artillery
Smerch 9K58 MBRL Multiple rocket 62 Russia Multiple
launcher rocket
launch
 system with
a diameter
of 300 mm.
Pinaka MBRL Multiple rocket 80+ India Multiple
launcher rocket
launch
system with
a diameter
of 214 mm.
The BM-21
(122 mm) is
being
replaced.
Production is
still going
on.
BM-21 Multiple rocket 150+ Soviet Union Russia
launcher provided
modernized
rockets with
a range of 40
kilometers.
Pinaka will
take his
place.
Military Exercises
India is very interested in creating relationships with diverse countries all around the world.
Integration of the military exercises is an essential requirement in today's fighting
environment at bot inter and intra country level. Apart from the economic cooperation and
the current difficult scenario, a joint military is necessary for nation collaboration.

Post-Kargil, the Indian armed forces' lack of collaboration in the military sector was given a
boost. 'Strategic signaling' is the most important benefit of joint military exercises.
The following are the specifics of joint military exercises with foreign countries.

Indian Military Exercises

The Indian military exercises can be divided into three categories:
 Bilateral Exercise
 Domestic exercise
 Multilateral exercise

1. Bilateral exercise: These exercises are carried out between two countries.
Joint Exercises conducted by Indian Army:

S. No. Exercise Name Participating

Country (s) Name
1. Ex AUSTRA HIND Australia
2. Ex SAMPRITI Bangladesh
3. Ex HAND IN HAND China
4. Ex SHAKTI France
5. Ex GARUDA SHAKTI Indonesia
6. Ex PRABAL DOSTYK Kazakhstan
7. Ex KHANJAR Kyrgyzstan
8. Ex EKUVERIN Maldives
9. Ex NOMADIC ELEPHANT Mongolia
10. IMBEX Myanmar
11. Ex SURYA KIRAN Nepal
12. AL NAGAH Oman
13. Ex INDRA Russia
14. Ex LAMITIYE Seychelles
15. Ex MITRA SHAKTI Sri Lanka
16. Ex MAITREE Thailand
17. Ex AJEYA WARRIOR UK
18. Ex YUDHABHAYAS USA
Ex VAJRA PRAHAR
19. VINBAX Vietnam
20. Ex DHARMA GUARDIAN Japan
21. Ex HARIMAU SHAKTI Malaysia
 22. Ex BOLD KURUKSHETRA Singapore
23. Ex FORCE 18 Multinational
(ADMM Plus)

Joint Exercises conducted by Indian Navy:

S. No. Exercise Name Participating

Country (s) Name
1. AUSINDEX Australia
2. IN-BN CORPAT Bangladesh
3. IBSAMAR Brazil and South
Africa
4. VARUNA France
5. IND-INDO CORPAT Indonesia
IND-INDO BILAT
6. IN-MN Table Top Ex Malaysia
7. IMCOR Myanmar
IN-MN BILAT
8. Naseem-al-Bahr Oman
9. INDRA NAVY Russia
10. SLINEX Sri Lanka
11 SIMBEX Singapore
12. INDO-THAI CORPAT Thailand
13 In-UAE BILAT UAE
14 KONKAN UK
15. MALABAR USA
RIMPAC (Multilateral)
16 ADMM+ Exercise Multilateral
Exercise by Brunei
17 Ex KOMODO Multilateral
Exercise by
Indonesia
18 Ex SAHYOG HOP TAC Vietnam
19 Ex SAHYOG-KAIJIN Joint exercise of
Coast Guards of
India & Japan
20 MILAN Multilateral
Exercise by India

Joint Exercises conducted by Indian Air Force:

S. No. Exercise Name Participating

Country (s) Name
1. Table Top Ex Bangladesh
2. Ex Blue Flag-17 Israel
3. Ex EASTERN BRIDGE-IV Oman
 4. Ex AVIA INDRA Russia
5. Ex GARUDA France
6. JOINT MILITARY Singapore
TRAINING
7. Ex SIAM BHARAT Thailand
8. Ex DESERT EAGLE-II UAE
9. Ex INDRADHANUSH or UK
RAINBOW
10. Ex RED FLAG USA
Ex Samvedna with Nepal, Multinational Air
Bangladesh, UAE, Sri Exercise
Lanka

2. Domestic exercise: This exercise strives to promote internal involvement and

depending on the nature and application, there may be inter-services or intra-services.
List of Indian military domestic exercises:
 Gandiv Vijay
 Vayu Shakti
 Vijay Prahar
 Paschim Lehar

3. Multilateral exercise: The military conducts these exercises with the participation of
more than one partner country.
The following is a list of the military's significant multilateral exercises:

 RIMPAC: 26 nations
 COBRA-GOLD of Asia: Pacific countries
 Samvedna: South Asian Region countries
 KOMODO
 KAKADU
 MILEX-18: Between BIMSTEC nations

Top Military Exercises of Importance in 2021

Below are the most recent editions of all of India's major military exercises with other
countries.

1. Exercise Yudh Abhyas: Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021, the 17th Indo-US Joint Military Exercise, was
held recently at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska (United States).
More about Exercise:
  It is India and the United States' longest-running bilateral military training and defence
cooperation project.
 The exercise began in 2004 as part of the United States Army Pacific Partnership
Program. The exercise is rotated between the two countries.
 The goal of the exercise is to improve communication, cooperation, and
interoperability between the two armies.
 This will assist them in conducting combined operations at the battalion level in high
terrain with frigid climatic conditions under UN supervision.

2. Exercise MITRA SHAKTI: Exercise MITRA SHAKTI, the 8th edition of a joint military exercise
between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, was held in Sri Lanka.
More about Exercise:

 It is built on semi-urban counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.

 It is the Sri Lankan Army's largest bilateral exercise, and it is an important aspect of
India and Sri Lanka's increasing defence partnership.
 Through tactical exercises and practical discussions, the combined exercise aims to
incorporate the contemporary dynamics of UN peacekeeping missions.

3. Exercise Surya Kiran XV: The 15th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran' between
the army of India and Nepal began recently in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand state, India.
More about Exercise:

 The biannual exercise, which alternates between the two countries.

 The major goal of this exercise is to: establish military connections between the
soldiers of both countries in impassable mountainous areas, in the event of a calamity,
provide humanitarian help, get anti-terrorist operations training, increase
interoperability and knowledge sharing between the two countries.
4. Exercise Samudra Shakti: The third edition of the maritime exercise 'Samudra Shakti'
between India and Indonesia will take place in the Sunda Strait from September 20th to 22nd,
2021.
More about Exercise:

 Exercise 'Samudra Shakti' was originated in the year 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise
in accordance with India's Act East Policy.
 The exercise main aim is to strengthen the two navies' bilateral cooperation via
improving mutual understanding as well as interoperability in maritime operations.

5. Exercise CORPAT (between India & Indonesia): The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy
are participating in the 36th iteration of the India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (i.e. India-
Indonesia CORPAT).
More about the Exercise:
  Since 2002, the two navies have been conducting CORPAT along their International
Maritime Boundary Line to strengthen maritime ties.
 The exercise ensures the safety and security of regional shipping and international
trade.
 CORPATs improve fleets' awareness and interoperability, making it easier to put in
place measures to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, drug
trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery, and piracy.

6. Exercise INDRA: In August 2021, the 12th edition of the Indo-Russia joint military exercise
INDRA has taken place in Volgograd, Russia.
More about the Exercise:

 The exercise involves a joint force conducting counter-terror operations against

foreign terror groups under the auspices of the United Nations.
 The INDRA series of exercises began in 2003 as a bilateral naval exercise that took
place on a rotating basis between the two countries. The first joint Tri-Services
Exercise, however, took place in 2017.
 In December 2019, India and Russia conducted their most recent joint tri-services
exercise. It was held in Babina (near Jhansi), Pune, and Goa at the same time.
7. Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR:

 The ‘Ajeya Warrior’ exercise is the military exercise between the Indian Army and
United Kingdom Army.
 The goal of this exercise is to undertake combined army training with a focus on
counter-terrorism operations.
 The exercise is alternately held in the India and United Kingdom.
8. Exercise SAMPRITI:

 The exercise ‘Sampriti’ is a notable example of the Indian Army and Bangladesh
Army bilateral defence cooperation.
 The exercise aims to enhance, develop, and promote healthy ties between India's and
Bangladesh's armies.
 Both countries rotate hosting the exercise.
9. Exercise SURYA KIRAN:

 The ‘Surya Kiran’ exercise is the military exercise between the Indian Army and Nepal
Army.
 The exercise will bring together soldiers from the Indian and Nepalese armies, who
will share their experiences in conducting counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism
operations, as well as humanitarian aid missions.
 The exercise is held every year in Nepal and India, and it alternates between the two
countries.
10. Exercise Shakti:
  Exercise 'SHAKTI' is a biennial exercise held in India and France on alternate years.
 The goal of the exercise is to improve communication, cooperation, and
interoperability between the two armies.
 In addition to counter-terrorism actions, the drill will take place in semi-desert terrain.
The training will largely focus on maintaining a high level of physical condition, sharing
tactical drills, and learning best practices from one another.
11. Exercise Dharma Guardian:

 The Dharma Guardian Joint Military Exercise between India and Japan was held to
share the knowledge gathered during various counter-terrorism operations in both
nations.
 It is a yearly training event that has been held in India since 2018.
 The scope of this exercise includes cooperative counter-terrorism training in both the
jungle and the city.
 The joint military exercise will strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and relations
between the two countries.
12. Exercise MAITREE:

 The Exercise 'Miatree' is the military exercise between the Indian Army and Royal
Thailand Army (RTA).
 Since 2006, Exercise MAITREE has been an annual training program held alternately in
India and Thailand.
 This exercise will encompass company-level collaborative training on insurgency and
counter-terrorism operations in jungles and cities.
 The Indian Army (IA) and the Royal Thailand Army (RTA) will conduct a combined
military exercise that will strengthen defense cooperation and bilateral relations
between the two countries.
13. Exercise SLINEX:

 The Sri Lanka India Naval Exercise (SLINEX) is a series of naval exercises between the
Indian Navy and the Sri Lankan Navy.
 In 2005, the first SLINEX exercise was held. In the year 2020, the eighth edition was
held.
 SLINEX main aim is to increase mutual understanding, interoperability, and the
exchange of the best practices as well as procedures for a variety of maritime activities
between both the navies.
 It reflects India's & Sri Lanka's extensive engagement in the maritime domain, which
has fostered bilateral collaboration.
14. Exercise HAND IN HAND:

 Hand in Hand is a joint military exercise between Indian Army & Chinese Army, i.e.,
People's Liberation Army (PLA).
 The troops of both countries participate in the exercise.
  The Hand in Hand exercise is designed to improve interoperability among the two
forces in the fight against terrorism.
15. Exercise KAZIND-21: In Kazakhstan, the 5th edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Training
Exercise "KAZIND-21" was held.
More about the Exercise:

 The exercise is a combined exercise involving both armies.

 Professional exchange, as well as sharing experiences in counter-insurgency and
counter-terrorism operations, are all part of the Joint Exercise's ambit.
Ranks & Equivalents in Armed Forces
The Indian Defence Services are among the best in the world when it comes to dealing with
natural and man-made disasters. The Indian Armed Forces are comprised of the Army, Air
Force, and Navy. The highest officer ranks are at the top of the columns, and they gradually
decrease as you move down the column. This article will discuss the Equivalent Ranks of the
Indian Armed Forces – Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy. The Indian Navy ranks
and their Indian Coast Guard equivalents are listed at the end of this article.

The equivalent ranks of commissioned officers in India's three defence services

are listed in the table below:
From top to bottom, the rankings are listed. If you are asked about the equivalent ranks of
the Indian Defence Services during your SSB, you must begin at the bottom and work your
way up. Start with Lieutenant, for example.

Army Air Force Navy

*Field Marshal *Marshal of the Air Force *Admiral of the fleet
General Air Chief Marshal Admiral
Lt. General Air Marshal Vice Admiral
Major General Air Vice-Marshal Rear Admiral
Brigadier Air Commodore Commodore
Colonel Group Captain Captain
Lt. Colonel Wing Commander Commander
Major Squadron Leader Lt. Commander
Captain Flight Lieutenant Lieutenant
Lieutenant Flying Officer Sub Lieutenant

Note: * denotes a five-star rank.

The significance of 5-star ratings is as follows:

 Field Marshal (in Army), Marshal of the Air Force (in Air Force), and Admiral of the
Fleet (in Navy) are the highest ranks in the three Indian Defence forces. Receiving such
a rank is considered extremely prestigious.
 To date, Kodandera Madappa Cariappa and Sam Manekshaw have been given the rank
of Field Marshal.
 Arjan Singh is the only living Indian military officer with a 5-star rank, having been
promoted to Marshal of the Indian Air Force.
 The rank of Admiral of the Fleet has never been granted.
 The Indian military officers with a five-star rank are considered serving officers until
they die and retain their rank indefinitely.
Equivalent Ranks of Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force Personnel
Below Officer Rank:
Although you are usually only asked about the equivalent ranks of the officer cadre in SSB
interviews, if you are the ward of personnel below officer rank, you should expect this as well.
The following are the PBOR ranks of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy (listed from top to
bottom):

Army Air Force Navy

Subedar or Risaldar Master Warrant Officer Master Chief Petty
Major (MWO) Officer Artificer I & II
Subedar or Risaldar Warrant Officer (WO) Chief Mech I & II/Chief
Artificer
Naib Subedar or Junior Warrant Officer Chief Petty Officer
Risaldar (JWO) (CPO)/Artificer
I/Artificer II /Artificer
III/Mech I/ Mech II/
Mech III
Lance Havildar or Sergeant Petty Officer/Artificer
Daffadar IV/Mech IV
Naik Corporal Leading Seaman &
equivalent
Lance Naik Leading Aircraftsman Seaman I
 Sepoy Airman Seaman II

Note: Personnel below the rank of Officer are also promoted to Officer ranks, which are
known as Honorary ranks, for their outstanding service.

Equivalent Honorary Ranks:

Army Air Force Navy
Subedar Major or MCPO I or Honorary MWO (Master Warrant
Honorary Captain Lieutenant Officer) or Honorary
Flight Lieutenant
Subedar or Honorary MCPO II or Honorary WO (Warrant Officer) or
Captain Lieutenant Honorary Flight
Lieutenant
Subedar Major or MCPO I or Sub MWO (Master Warrant
Honorary Lieutenant Lieutenant Officer) or Honorary
Flight Officer
Subedar or Honorary MCPO II or Sub WO (Warrant Officer) or
Lieutenant Lieutenant Honorary Flight Officer

Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard equivalent ranks:

ICG Ranks Navy Ranks
Director General Vice Admiral (FOC-in-C’s Scale)
Additional Director General Vice Admiral (HAG scale)
Inspector General Rear Admiral
Deputy Inspector General (Senior) Commodore
Deputy Inspector General (Junior) Captain
Commandant Captain (with seniority)/Commander
Commandant (Junior Grade) Commander
Deputy Commandant Lt. Commander
Assistant Commandant Lieutenant
Assistant Commandant (Trainee) Sub Lieutenant

FAQs
Q. What are the ranks of the armed forces?

A. Private, private first class, private second class, specialist, sergeant, corporal, staff sergeant,
sergeant first class, first sergeant, master sergeant, command sergeant major, sergeant
major, and sergeant major of the Army are the 13 enlisted Army ranks.
Q. What are the army's five general ranks?
A. Generals of the army, field marshals, admirals of the fleet, marshals or generals of the air
force, and other ranks with similar names are common among five-star officers. The five-star
ranks are the most senior and are typically the highest.
Q. What is the highest military rank?
A. The Indian Army's highest attainable rank is field marshal, which is a five-star rank.
Q. What does it mean to be a seven-star general?
A. Although some commentators may argue that General George Washington was promoted
to a seven-star general posthumously in the year 1976, no one has ever been awarded or
promoted to that rank.
Q. What is the military's lowest rank?
A. The lowest rank is private. This rank is given to the majority of soldiers during Basic Combat
Training. There is no insignia for this rank. Enlisted Soldiers carry out specific job functions
and possess the knowledge necessary to ensure the success of their unit's current Army
mission.