The Indian Army (IA, Devangar: , Bhratya Thalasn) is the land based branch and the largest component

t of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service[2] and about 960,000 reserve troops,[2] the Indian Army is the world's second largest standing volunteer army.[1]
[3]

Its primary mission is to ensure the national security and defence of the Republic of India from external

aggression and threats, and maintaining peace and security within its borders. It also conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other disturbances. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a General, is a four star commander and commands the Army. There is typically never more than one serving general at any given time in the Army. Two officers have been conferred the rank of Field Marshal, a 5-star rank and the officer serves as the ceremonial chief. The Indian Army came into being when India gained independence in 1947, and inherited most of the infrastructure of the British Indian Army that were located in post-partition India. It is a voluntary service and although a provision for military conscriptionexists in the Indian constitution, it has never been imposed. Since independence, the Army has been involved in four wars with neighboring Pakistan and one with thePeople's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the Army includeOperation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot and Operation Cactus. Apart from conflicts, the Army has also been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra

Listed below are the most notable people to have received the Param Vir Chakra, the highest military decoration of the Indian Army. 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment 3 November Battle of Badgam, Kashmir, India 1947

Major Somnath Sharma

2 Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane

Corps of Engineers

8 April 1948

Battle of Naushera, Kashmir, India

Naik Jadu Nath Singh

1st Battalion, Rajput Regiment

February 1948

Battle of Naushera, Kashmir, India

Company Havildar Major Piru Singh

6th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles

17/18 July 1948

Tithwal, Kashmir, India

Lance Naik Karam Singh 1st Battalion, Sikh

13 October

Tithwal, Kashmir, India

Regiment

1948

3rd Battalion, 1st Gorkha Captain Gurbachan Singh Rifles (The Malaun Salaria Regiment)

5 December Elizabethville, Katanga, Congo 1961

Major Dhan Singh Thapa

1st Battalion, 8th Gorkha Rifles

20 October 1962

Ladakh, India

Subedar Joginder Singh

1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment

23 October 1962

Tongpen La, Northeast Frontier Agency, India

Major Shaitan Singh

13th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment

18 November 1962

Rezang La

Company Quarter Master 4th Battalion, The HavildarAbdul Hamid Grenadiers

10 September 1965

Chima, Khem Karan Sector

Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore

17th Poona Horse

15 October 1965

Phillora, Sialkot Sector, Pakistan

Lance Naik Albert Ekka

14th Battalion, Brigade of the Guards

3 December Gangasagar 1971

2/Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal

17th Poona Horse

16 December 1971

Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector

Major Hoshiar Singh

3rd Battalion, The Grenadiers

17 December 1971

Basantar River, Shakargarh Sector

Naib Subedar Bana Singh

8th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry

23 June 1987

Siachen Glacier, Jammu and Kashmir

Major Ramaswamy

8th Battalion, Mahar

25

Sri Lanka

Parmeshwaran

Regiment

November 1987

Captain Vikram Batra

13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles

6 July 1999 Point 5140, Point 4875, Kargil Area

Lieutenant Manoj Kumar 1st Battalion, 11th Gorkha Pandey Rifles

Khaluber/Juber 3 July 1999 Top, Batalik sector, Kargil area,Jammu and Kashmir

Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav

18th Battalion, The Grenadiers

4 July 1999 Tiger Hill, Kargil area

Rifleman Sanjay Kumar [edit]Future

13th Battalion, Jammu and Kashmir Rifles

5 July 1999 Area Flat Top, Kargil Area

developments

Futuristic Infantry Soldier As a System (F-INSAS) is the Indian Army's principal modernization program from 2012 to 2020. In the first phase, to be completed by 2012, the infantry soldiers will be equipped with modular weapon systems that will have multi-functions. The Indian Army intends to modernize all of its 465 infantry and paramilitary battalions by 2020 with this program.

India is currently re-organising its mechanised forces to achieve strategic mobility and high-volume firepower for rapid thrusts into enemy territory. India proposes to progressively induct as many as 248 Arjun MBT and develop and induct the Arjun MKII variant, 1,657 Russian-origin T-90S mainbattle tanks (MBTs), apart from the ongoing upgrade of its T-72 fleet. The Army recently placed an order for 4,100 French-origin Milan-2T anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Defence ministry sources said the Rs 592-crore (approximately US$120 million) order was cleared after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, with the government finally fast-tracking several military procurement plans.[55]

The Army gained the Cabinet Committee on Security's approval to raise two new infantry mountain divisions (with around 15,000 combat soldiers each),[56] and an artillery brigade in 2008. These divisions were likely to be armed with ultralight howitzers. In July 2009, it was reported that the Army was advocating a new artillery division, said defence ministry sources.[57] The proposed artillery division, under the Kolkata-basedEastern Command, was to have three brigadestwo of 155mm howitzers and one of the Russian "Smerch" and indigenous "Pinaka" multiple-launch rocket systems.

The Indian Army plans to develop and induct a 155mm indigenous artillery gun within the next three and a half years.[58]

Tanks and armored vehicles

T-90 bhishma - India plans to induct Total 1657 tanks by 2020. 620 already in service. Arjun MBT - 248 On order - 170 inducted. Arjun MBT mk 2 - Trials by 2011. Production By 2014. FMBT - The FMBT will be a lighter tank of 50 tons. Development work started.

Missiles Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles

Agni-V - 5,000 km-6,000 km, test by 2011. Agni-VI

Cruise Missiles

Nirbhay Missile Brahmos and Brahmos missiles

Tactical Ballistic Missiles

Prahaar (missile) - With a range of 150 km.[59] Shaurya (missile) - It has a range of between 750 to 1900 km.

Anti-Tank Guided Missiles

Nag Anti-tank guided missile Helina Air launched Anti-tank missile

Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program - The Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Program is an initiative to develop and deploy a multi-layered ballistic missile defense system to protect India from ballistic missile attacks.

Vehicles Mahindra Axe - Light utility vehicle to be purchased. Kroton - Possible sale of 80 mine laying vehicles from Poland. Light Tank - 300 tanks (200 tracked 100 wheeled) to be deployed on china border. AHS Krab - Possible sale of 110 from Poland. deal along with kroton . PZA Loara - Possible sale of 100 from Poland. deal along with Kroton.

Artillery

Under the Field Artillery Rationalization Plan, Indian Army plans to procure 3000 to 4000

155 mm Towed, Wheeled and Tracked Artillery Systems.The requirement for artillery guns to be met with indigenous development and production. M777 howitzer - 145 British designed howitzers were planned to be acquired. Modern Sub Machine Carbine - The Modern Sub Machine Carbine (MSMC) is the latest combined venture of ARDE & OFB, developed for the Indian Army on a platform of experiences from the INSAS rifle. Army Aviation

Tender for 197 light transport helicopter Along with 125 for Air Force.To Replace Cheetak and Cheetah Helicopters of Armed Forces.

HAL light observation helicopter (LOH) or Light Utility helicopter (LUH) - Requirement for 384 helicopters including for army and air force.

HAL has obtained a firm order to deliver 114 HAL Light Combat Helicopters to the Indian Army.[60]

Indian army staff and equipment

[edit]Strength

The mounted President's Bodyguardduring a state visit by a foreign dignitary.

Indian Army statistics Active Troops Reserve Troops Indian Territorial Army 1,100,000[49] 960,000 787,000**

Main battle tanks 4,117 Artillery 4,238

Ballistic missiles

~100 (Agni-I, AgniII, Agni-III) ~1,000 Prithvi missile series ~1,000 BrahMos ~1,600+ 100,000

Ballistic missiles Cruise missiles Aircraft Surface-to-air missiles

** includes 387,000 1st line troops and 400,000 2nd line troops

[edit]Statistics

Soldiers from the 4th Rajput Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army handling INSAS rifles during a training mission.

4 RAPIDs (Reorganised Army Plains Infantry Divisions) 18 Infantry Divisions 10 Mountain Divisions 3 Armoured Divisions 2 Artillery Divisions

3 Air Defence Brigades and 2 Surface-to-Air Missile Groups 5 Independent Armoured Brigades 15 Independent Artillery Brigades 7 Independent Infantry Brigades 1 Airborne Brigade 4 Engineer Brigades 41 Army Aviation Helicopter Units

[edit]Sub-units 93 Tank Regiments (??) 32 Mechanised Infantry Battalions 50 Artillery Regiments 3 Parachute Battalions 7 Special Forces Battalions 23 Combat Helicopter Units 50 Air Defence Regiments

[edit]Rank

structure

The 1st Battalion of 1 Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army take position outside a simulated combat town during a training exercise.

Main article: Army ranks and insignia of India The various rank of the Indian Army are listed below in descending order: Commissioned Officers

Field Marshal1 General (the rank held by Chief of Army Staff) Lieutenant-General Major-General Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant-Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant

Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) (Active and honorary)

Subedar Major/Honorary Captain3 Subedar/Honorary Lieutenant3 Subedar Major/Risaldar Major Subedar/Risaldar Naib Subedar/Naib Risaldar

Soldiers of the Indian Army's Assam Regiment stand guard near the India Gatewar memorial in Delhi.

Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

Regimental Havildar Mms 1. Indian Infantry Regiments

2. Armoured CorpsAhmednagar 3. Regiment of ArtilleryDevlaliNasik 4. Corps of Signals 5. Corps of EngineersPuneMadras Engineer GroupBangaloreBengal Engineer
GroupRoorkeeBombay Engineer GroupPune

6. Corps of Army Air Defence-Center at Gopalpur in Orissa State.GopalpurOrissa 7. Mechanised Infantry - Regimental Center at Ahmednagar.Ahmednagar 8. Army Aviation Corps(India)
The Indian Territorial Army has units from a number of corps which serve as a part-time reserve.Indian Territorial Army Services 1. Army Dental Corps

2. Army Education Corps - Centered at Pachmarhi.Pachmarhi 3. Army Medical CorpsLucknow 4. Army Ordnance Corps - Centered at Jabalpur and Secunderabad (HQ).JabalpurSecunderabad 5. Army Postal Service 6. Army supply Corps - Centered at Bangalore and GayaBangaloreGaya 7. Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers - Centered at Bhopal
and Secunderabad.Secunderabad

8. Corps of Military PoliceIndian Corps of Military Police 9. Intelligence Corps - Centered at Pune.Pune 10. Judge Advocate General's Dept. - Centered at the Institute of Military
Law kamptee, Nagpur.kampteeNagpur

11. Military Farms Service - Centered at the Military Farms School and Center, Meerut Cantt.

12. Military Nursing Service

13. Remount and Veterinary Corps 14. Pioneer Corps

ajor/Regimental Daffadar Major 2 Regimental Quartermaster HavildarRegimental Quartermaster Daffadar2 Company Havildar Major/Squadron Daffadar Major Company Quartermaster Havildar/Squadron Quartermaster Daffadar Havildar/Daffadar

Other Personnels

Naik/Lance Daffadar Lance Naik/Acting Lance Daffadar Sepoy (infantry and other arms)/Sowar(Indian Army Armoured Corps)

Notes:

1.

Only two officers have been made Field Marshal so far: Field Marshal K M Cariappathe first Indian Commander-in-Chief (a post since abolished)and Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, the Chief of Army Staff during the Army in the 1971 war with Pakistan.

2.
3.

This has now been discontinued. Non-Commissioned Officers in the rank of Havildar are elible for Honorary JCO ranks. Given to Outstanding JCO's Rank and pay of a Lieutenant, role continues to be of a JCO.

For the purpose of classification, Indian honours and awards can be divided into two categories : (a) (b) Gallantry awards. Non-gallantry awards.

The gallantry awards are again divisible into tow categories: (a) (b) 1. 2. 3. Those for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Those for gallantry other than in the face of the enemy. Param Vir Chakra. Maha Vir Chakra. Vir Chakra.

The first category of the gallantry awards comprises :

4. 5. 6. 1. 2. 3.

Sena, Nao Sena and Vayu Sena Medal. Mention in Dispatches. Chiefs of Staff Commendation Card. Ashoka Chakra * Kirti Chakra * Shaurya Chakra *

The second category of the gallantry awards comprise the following :

* These were originally named Ashoka Chakra Class I, Class II, Class III Among non-gallantry awards, the following can be mentioned : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Bharat Ratna. Padma Vibhushan. Padma Bhushan. Param Vishisht Seva Medal. Padma Shri. Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal. Uttam Yudh Seva Medal. Ati Vishisht Seva Medal. Yudh Seva Medal.

10. Vishisht Seva Medal. 11. 30 Years Long Seva Medal. 12. 20 Years Long Service Medal. 13. 9 Years Long Service Medal. 14. Meritorious Service Medal. 15. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 16. General Service Medal - 1947. 17. Samar Seva Medal. 18. Sainya Seva Medal.

19. Videsh Seva Medal. 20. Commendation Card. 21. Raksha Medal. 22. Poorvi Star. 23. Paschimi Star. 24. Sangram Medal. 25. Wound Medal. 26. 25th Independence Anniversary Medal. Attached to a colorful ribbon, a medal, short of the symbol or motif it bears, is a piece of metal. Due thought seems to have been given to this aspect when the gallantry awards were instituted. The superb choice of Vajra (thunderbolt) to serve as the motif for the Param Vir Chakra amply proves this. Great mythology surrounds this mysterious weapon of Vedic origin. It was the Amogha Astra (unfailing weapon) used by Indra to kill vitra, the demon of drought, to release lifegiving waters for the benefit of mankind. In Puranic literature it is said that this Vajra was made out the the Asthis (bones) of Dadhici, a sage of high attainments, for the benefit of the word. The choice of star as a symbol for the Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra as also for Vishisht Seva Medal series is again meaningful. The star, a heavenly body known for its firm, steady and fixed position, symbolically denotes everlasting glory. In Indian mythology, Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada and Queen Suniti, was given a place in northern horizon by Lord Vishnu in appreciation of his firm determination and supreme effort. The polar star is therefore, called Dhruva Tara in Indian mythology. Another widely used motif on Indian medals is the Ashoka Chakra. This is a twenty-four-spoked wheel occurring on the National Flag and the Ashoka Chakra series of medals. This wheel generally symbolised a sense of activity and forward movement. In 4th century BC, the Buddhists adopted this symbol in the service of religion, calling it the Dharma Chakra. The preaching of the gospel by Lord Buddha was denoted with the Chakra (wheel) symbol and the act was called Dharma Chakra Parvartana. The Ashokan Lions form the obverse or the reverse device in most of the medals. This motif when represented along with the motto 'Satyameva Jayate' represents the National Emblem. Three lions facing the four directions are again Buddhist in significance. They symbolise the universal application of the Dharma comprehending all the four directions i.e. east, west, north and south. In respect of medals, the symbol represents service of a very high order. Ribbons are integral to the scheme of medals and decorations. In fact, ribbons when worn on the chest by a soldier adequately convey stories of heroism associated with him. It is notable that all ribbons are intended to convey some motif or symbol by means of colours. A ribbon, generally speaking, is a combination of meaningful colour imprinted on silk, Saffron, green, blue, red and white are the most commonly used colours in the Indian ribbons. Of these red stands for courage and bravery, saffron for self-effacement and dedicated service; green for growth and auspiciousness; white for glory and purity and blue for devotion and sacrifice. Occasionally red symbolises the Indian Army, dark blue the Indian Navy and sky blue the Indian Air Force. Stripes on ribbons generally denote the class of the award. The ribbons are worn by the awardees on their left breast in a specified sequence, the position and priority being the centre of the chest.

In India there also exists the custom of granting 'Battle Honours','Theatre Honours', and 'Honour titles' to various Army units for distinguished performance on the battlefield. In India, the practice came into vogue in the nineteenth century. The recipient regiments display a selected number of battle honours on their colours, standards and kettle drums. These emblazoned battle honours present an epitome of the history of the regiment.

Indian Army celebrates January 15 every year as Army Day to commemorate the Day, when Gen (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Commander-inChief of Indian Armed Forces after Independence, taking over the command of Armed Forces from Gen Sir F R R Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, in 1949.

GENERAL VK SINGH, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC

General Vijay Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC is a third generation officer of the RAJPUT Regiment. An alumnus of Birla Public School, Pilani and National Defence Academy, the General was commissioned in 2 RAJPUT (KALI CHINDI) in 1970 and commanded the same battalion with distinction from June 1991 to May 1994.

Mitalli becomes the first woman officer to get gallantry award HISAR: Even before the Army decides to create history by according permanent commission to women and allowing them in the combat arms, Mitali Madhusmita's Sena Medal, the first to be awarded for gallantry to a woman Army officer, has broken another male bastion that promises to remain etched in the Indian military history.
This comes amid the raging debate over women's permanent commission in the Indian Army and vindicates the stance of all aspiring permanent commission women officers. The history was created on Friday morning at the 'Yodha' hall of the 'DOT' division of southwestern command, when Lt General SK Singh, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) conferred the medal on Major Mitali Madhumita in the investiture ceremony held at the Hisar cantonment.

An officer of Army Education Corp (AEC), Mitali has been given gallantry award for the exemplary courage, grit and valor displayed by her after the attack on the Indian embassy by terrorists in Kabul ( Afghanistan) on February 26, 2010. She helped in saving lots of lives of those severely wounded in that attack. She was on United Nations (UN) mission at that time. A total of 19 persons including seven Indians had been killed in that incident. At that time, she was not a part of combat arms but her job was to teach at facilities in Kabul. But when the incident took place, she immediately rushed to the spot and saved the lives of those buried under the debris after the attack without caring for her life. Impressed with Major Mitali's valor beyond the call off the duties, GOC- in-C, Lt Gen SK Singh could not restrained himself from praising the woman officer's bravery in his special address to the soldiers of the southwestern command. On this occasion, Gen Singh also awarded eight other officers with the Sena Medal (gallantry) in the impressive ceremony held here. Proud moment for Anjali Dass, mother of Major Mitali It was proud moment for Anjali Dass, mother of Major Mitali, who had come all the way from Bhuwneshwar (Orissa) to witness the history created by her daughter. In a candid chat with the TOI, Anjali Dass said, "When Mitali born, she gave me the pride of motherhood and today she made me proud by achieving this feat". Mitali is eldest of three sisters. Both of her younger sisters are working in corporate sector. A retired professor of economic, Anjali Dass further informed that she also wanted Mitali to become a lecturer after completing her masters in English literature but she preferred to join army and excelled. She also informed that Mitali was a NCC cadet during her college days and had also attended a youth exchange programme at Canada at that time. Read more: Mitalli becomes the first woman officer to get gallantry award - The Times of India Mitalli becomes the first woman officer to get gallantry award - The Times of India

Maha Vir Chakra

From Wikipedia(View original Wikipedia article )Last modified on 5 May 2011 at 09:22 Maha Vir Chakra

Maha Vir Chakra

Awarded by India Type Eligibility Awarded for Status Medal Military personnel only "... acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air."
[1]

Currently awarded Statistics

Establish ed

26 January, 1950 Precedence

Next (hig her) Next (low er)

Param Vir Chakra Vir Chakra

The Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) is the second highest militarydecoration in India and is awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea or in the air. It may be awardedposthumously. Literally Maha Veer means extraordinarily brave.

Table of Contents
1 Appearan ce

2 History 3 Reference s External links

Appearance
The medal is made of standardsilver and is circular in shape.Embossed on the obverse is a five pointed heraldic star with circular center-piece bearing the gilded state emblem of India in the center. The words "Mahavira Chakra" are embossed in Devanagari and English on the reverse with two lotus flowers in the middle. The decoration is worn on the left chest with a half-white and half-orange riband about 3.2 cm in width, the orange being near the left shoulder.