The
Indian Army (
IA,
Hindi:
भारतीय थलसेना,
Bhāratīya Thalsēnā) is the
land-based branch and the largest component of the
Indian Armed Forces. The
President of India
serves as the de jure Commander-in-Chief of the army while the de facto
leadership lies with Minister of Defence, and it is commanded by the
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a
four-star general. Two officers have been conferred the rank of
Field marshal, a
Five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour. The Indian Army originated from the armies of the
East India Company, which eventually became the
British Indian Army and finally the national army after
independence.
The units and regiments of the Indian Army have diverse histories and
have participated in a number of battles and campaigns across the world,
earning a large number of
battle and theatre honours before and after Independence.
The primary mission of the Indian Army is to ensure
national security and unity,
defending
the nation from external aggression and threats, and maintaining peace
and security within its borders. It conducts humanitarian rescue
operations during natural calamities and other disturbances, like
Operation Surya Hope,
and can also be requisitioned by the government to cope with internal
threats. It is a major component of national power alongside the
Indian Navy and the
Indian Air Force.
The army has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and
one with China. Other major operations undertaken by the army include
Operation Vijay,
Operation Meghdoot and
Operation Cactus. Apart from conflicts, the army has conducted large peace time exercises like
Operation Brasstacks and Exercise Shoorveer, and it has also been an active participant in numerous
United Nations peacekeeping missions including the ones in Cyprus, Lebanon, Congo, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, El Salvador, Liberia, Mozambique and Somalia.
