The Indian Army traces its institutional roots to the presidency armies of the British East India Company, later consolidated and reorganized as the British Indian Army, before being divided at independence and partition in 1947 into the separate armies of India and Pakistan, with the modern Indian Army inheriting much of the organizational structure, regimental traditions and combat experience of its colonial-era predecessor, including extensive service in both World Wars. Since independence the Indian Army has fought multiple wars with Pakistan, including over the disputed Kashmir region in 1947-48, 1965 and the 1999 Kargil War, as well as the 1962 Sino-Indian War against China and the decisive 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, in which Indian forces achieved one of the most complete military victories of the postwar era. Organized around numerous infantry, armored and specialized regiments maintaining distinct historical identities and recruitment traditions dating to the colonial period, the Indian Army is among the largest standing armies in the world by active personnel and maintains a significant peacekeeping role, contributing substantial troop contingents to United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide over many decades. The Army continues to maintain a heavy operational presence along India's disputed borders with both Pakistan and China, including extreme high-altitude deployments in the Siachen Glacier region, among the highest and most physically demanding military deployments anywhere in the world.
Facts
Partially Attested
Founded YearEstablished on 1 April 1895 as the British Indian Army; the Indian Army in its current form dates from 26 January 1950. Force Type
Force Type (category) Connections
Associated With
Source Wikipedia: BrahMos
Fought In
The Indian Army fought the first Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 over Kashmir
The Indian Army fought the second Indo-Pakistani War in 1965, including major tank battles at Asal Uttar
The Indian Army's 1971 campaign in East Pakistan led to the creation of Bangladesh
The Indian Army has fought Pakistan across four declared wars since 1947
The Indian Army recaptured high-altitude positions from Pakistani infiltrators in the 1999 Kargil War
The Indian Army fought the 1962 Sino-Indian War over the disputed Himalayan border
Operates
Source Wikipedia: AH-64 Apache
Source Akash (missile), Wikipedia
Source Arjun (tank), Wikipedia
Source Barak 8, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: BrahMos
Source Wikipedia: Daimler armoured car
Source Wikipedia: Denel NTW-20
Source Wikipedia: Humber armoured car
Source Wikipedia: INSAS rifle
Source Wikipedia: K9 Thunder
Source Wikipedia: MILAN (missile)
Source Wikipedia: MILAN (missile)
Source Wikipedia: Nirbhay
Source Wikipedia: PIAT
Source Wikipedia: PULS (multiple rocket launcher)
Source Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Source Wikipedia: Snider-Enfield
Source Wikipedia: Uzi
Source Wikipedia: Vickers MBT
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Indian Army, WikipediaLead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articleQuote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
Sources
1. Indian Army, Wikipedia
Lead, first sentence, first clause
is the land-based branch
Origins passage, sentence on 1 April 1895
was established on 1 April 1895 alongside the long established presidency armies of the East India Company
Lead, first sentence, second clause
and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces
View the SourceWikipedia: BrahMos
WikipediaAssociated With: BrahMos Missile, service history section
On 21 June 2007, the Indian Army raised its first BrahMos regiment, designated 861 Missile Regiment, equipped with Block-I variant.
Operates: BrahMos Missile, Infobox: used_by
Indian Army Indian Navy Indian Air Force Philippine Marine Corps
View the Source Wikipedia: PULS (multiple rocket launcher)
Operates: PULS (multiple rocket launcher), Article textQuote, Operates: PULS (multiple rocket launcher), Article text
India Indian Army, Suryastra multi calibre rocket launcher system was ordered in January 2026 at a cost of ₹292.69 crore (US$30 million) from NIBE Limited.
Wikipedia: ASMI
Operates: ASMI, Article textQuote, Operates: ASMI, Article text
The entire 550 guns were delivered to the Indian Army by 1 October 2024.
Barak 8, Wikipedia
Operates: Barak 8, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Barak 8, Infobox: used_by
Indian Navy Indian Air Force Indian Army Israeli Navy United Arab Emirates Army Azerbaijan Air Force
Akash (missile), Wikipedia
Operates: Akash Missile, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Akash Missile, Infobox: used_by
Indian Army Indian Air Force Armenian Armed Forces See Operators
Wikipedia: Nirbhay
Operates: Nirbhay, Infobox: used_byQuote, Operates: Nirbhay, Infobox: used_by
Strategic Forces Command Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy
Wikipedia: Uzi
WikipediaOperates: Uzi, Article textQuote, Operates: Uzi, Article text
Though the weapon was phased out of frontline IDF service in the 1980s, some Uzis and Uzi variants were still used by a few IDF units until December 2003, when the IDF announced that it was retiring the Uzi from all IDF forces. It was subsequently replaced by the fully automatic Micro Tavor.
Wikipedia: AH-64 Apache
WikipediaOperates: AH-64 Apache, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AH-64 Apache, Wikipedia article text
In February 2020, another six for the Indian Army were ordered, including weapons, equipment, and training; deliveries are planned to begin in 2023.
Wikipedia: PIAT
WikipediaOperates: PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Wikipedia article text
The Indian Army was still using PIATs by the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, they were used at the Battle of Longewala helping to halt the Pakistani armoured division advance.
Wikipedia: INSAS rifle
Operates: INSAS rifle, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: INSAS rifle, Wikipedia article text
The INSAS rifle saw limited use in the Indian Army's counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, but was extensively used by Central Armed Police Forces in combating Maoist insurgency.
Wikipedia: Snider-Enfield
Operates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article text
The British Indian Army used the Snider-Enfield until the end of the nineteenth century.
Wikipedia: AK-203
Operates: AK-203, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: AK-203, Wikipedia article text
Meanwhile, the rest of the 600,000 rifles that are to be produced by Indo-Russia Rifles in India under technology transfer will be used by the Indian Army.
Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Operates: RPO-A Shmel, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: RPO-A Shmel, Wikipedia article text
It was used by Indian Army in September 2016 for surgical strike against insurgents in Pakistan-administered Kashmir successfully.
Wikipedia: Humber armoured car
Operates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article text
A British Indian Army armoured car regiment, partly equipped with Humbers, served in the reconquest of Burma.
Wikipedia: Daimler armoured car
Operates: Daimler armoured car, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: Daimler armoured car, Wikipedia article text
A British Indian Army armoured car regiment, the 16th Light Cavalry, which formed part of Fourteenth Army troops was partly equipped with Daimlers and served in the reconquest of Burma.
PT-76, Wikipedia
Operates: PT-76, Wikipedia article textQuote, Operates: PT-76, Wikipedia article text
PT-76s were in service with the Indian Army and they were in reserve status before they were withdrawn from service in 2009, after which they were used for target practice by the army and as static memorials at various military facilities.
Arjun (tank), Wikipedia
Operates: Arjun Tank, LeadQuote, Operates: Arjun Tank, Lead
The Arjun (pronounced [ɐɽˈdʑʊn]) is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army.
Wikipedia: Vickers MBT
Operates: Vickers MBT, LeadQuote, Operates: Vickers MBT, Lead
A variant was built under licence in India as the Vijayanta, and served with the Indian Army.
Wikipedia: MILAN (missile)
WikipediaOperates: MILAN Anti-Tank Missile, Operators
India - Indian Army: 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced by Bharat Dynamics in India.
Operates: MILAN, Operators
India - Indian Army: 34,100 MILAN-2T bought. License produced by Bharat Dynamics in India.
View the Source Wikipedia: K9 Thunder
Operates: K9 Thunder, OperatorsQuote, Operates: K9 Thunder, Operators
India - 100 K9 Vajra-T in service in the Indian Army, with 100 more on order.
Wikipedia: Denel NTW-20
Operates: Denel NTW-20, OperatorsQuote, Operates: Denel NTW-20, Operators
India: Used by the Indian Army.
Wikipedia: OSV-96
Operates: OSV-96, OperatorsQuote, Operates: OSV-96, Operators
India: Used by the Indian Army.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.