Facts about Indian Army

The Indian Army is the world's second largest army in terms of military personnel. The basic responsibility of the Army is to safeguard the territorial integrity of the nation against external aggressio. In addition, the Army is often required to assist the civil administration during internal security disturbances and in the mainntenance of law and order, in organising relief operations during natural calamities like floods, earthquakes and cyclones and in the maintenance of essential services.

Impressed by the fighting qualities displayed by the Gorkhas of Nepal during the Gurkha War, Sir David Ochterlony was quick to realise Gorkha Regiment, was raised as the Nasiri regiment. This regiment later became the 1st King George’s Own Gurkha Rifles, and saw action at the Malaun fort under Lieutenant Lawtie.
They were instrumental in the expansion of the British East India Company throughout the subcontinent. The Gorkhas took part in the Anglo-Sikh wars, Afghan wars, and in suppressing the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Throughout these years, the British continued to recruit the Gorkhas and kept increasing the number of Gorkha regiments.

By the time First World War started, there were 11 Gorkha regiments under the British Indian Army.[citation needed] The Gorkha regiments played a vital role in the Commonwealth armies during both the World Wars seeing action everywhere from Monte Cassino in the west to Rangoon in the east, earning battle honours everywhere. As a testament to the psychological factors of the Gorkha Regiments on its enemies, during the North African campaign, the German Afrikakorps accorded great respect to the brave Nepalese knife khukri-wielding Gorkhas.

The Baily Bridge is the bridge at the greatest elevation in the world. This bridge is located in the Himalayan mountains, between the Dras River and Suru River, in the Ladakh Valley in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is 30 meters (98 ft) long, and is at an altitude of 5,602 meters (18,379 ft) above sea level. It was built in 1982 by the Indian Army.

Indian Army has nine army bases and fifty three cantonments that stretch throughout the country.

The Siachen Glacier lies immediately south of the great watershed that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called the "Third Pole". The glacier lies between the Saltoro Ridge immediately to the west and the main Karakoram range to the east. The Saltoro Ridge originates in the north from the Sia Kangri peak on the China border in the Karakoram range. The crest of the Saltoro Ridge's altitudes range from 5,450 to 7,720 m (17,880 to 25,330 feet). The major passes on this ridge are, from north to south, Sia La at 5,589 m (18,336 ft), Bilafond La at 5,450 m (17,880 ft), and Gyong La at 5,689 m (18,665 ft). The average winter snowfall is more than 1000 cm(35 ft) and temperatures can dip to −50 °C (−58 °F). Including all tributary glaciers, the Siachen Glacier system covers about 700 km

Following the experiences in World War I, where Indian soldiers proved their mettle Montague-Chelmsford Reforms facilitated ten Indians per year to undergo officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1922 the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (now known as the Rashtriya Indian Military College) was set up in Dehradun to prepare young Indians for admission to Sandhurst. The Indianisation of the Army started with the commissioning of 31 Indian officers. Among this first batch of officers to be commissioned was Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, who later became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army and the second Indian Field Marshal.

Post-independence and after the subsequent partition of India, in 1947, four of the ten Gurkha regiments were transferred to the British Army. The rest of the British Indian Army was divided between the newly created nations of Republic of India and Republic of Pakistan.

Indian army recruits candidates without any requirements for reservations, based on caste, creed or religion. The candidates are selected based on merit and their physical fitness.

‘The President’s Bodyguards’. It was set up in 1773 and these soldiers were also trained paratroopers. Interestingly, Indian army also has a horsed regiment and it is one among the last 3 such existing regiments in the world.

Indian army was set up in 1776, under the East India Company governance in Kolkata. India is one of the biggest contributors to the UN in Peace Keeping Forces’ missions.

Param Veer Chakra is the highest military honor in India, given to any army workforce. Only 21 soldiers have so far received this prestigious award out of which 14 were awarded posthumously.

Indian army was the largest volunteering army in the history with over 25,00,000 men helping in infantry, airforce, and naval regiments over Africa, Asia, and Europe, during the end of World War II.

He is the first Sikh to have led the Indian Army and the 11th chief of army staff from the Western Command based at Chandigarh. His selection was not a surprise, as at the time of his appointment he was the most senior officer in the army after General N C Vij. Following his retirement, he became governor of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in January 2008.

He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the 9 Maratha Light Infantry on 2 August 1964.