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Indian army

Indian Army
ADGPI Indian Army.jpg
Crest of the Indian Army
Founded 1 April 1895; 121 years ago (1895-04-01)
Country  India
Type Army
Size 1,200,255 active personnel
990,960 reserve personnel
136 aircraft
Part of Indian Armed Forces
Headquarters New Delhi
Motto(s) "Service Before Self"
Colors Gold, red and black
            
Anniversaries 15 January – Army Day
Website indianarmy.nic.in
Commanders
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Bipin Rawat
Vice Chief of the Army Staff(VCOAS) Lieutenant General Sarath Chand
Notable
commanders
Field Marshal K M Cariappa
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
Insignia
Flag Flag of Indian Army.svg
Aircraft flown
Helicopter HAL Rudra
Transport HAL Dhruv, HAL Chetak, HAL Cheetah and Cheetal

The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India serves as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and it is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general. Two officers have been conferred with 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 the armies of the princely states, which finally became 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 nationhood unity, defending the nation from external aggression and internal 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.


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