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Armed Forces and Units

Indian Army

Modern

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 Year
1895 1
Established on 1 April 1895 as the British Indian Army; the Indian Army in its current form dates from 26 January 1950.
Force Type
Army 1
Country
India 1
Force Type
Force Type (category)
Army 1
Indian Army
Filter Results1 entry
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

Kargil War, Wars

The Indian Army recaptured high-altitude positions from Pakistani infiltrators in the 1999 Kargil War

Sino-Indian War, Wars

The Indian Army fought the 1962 Sino-Indian War over the disputed Himalayan border

Operates

Source Wikipedia: AH-64 Apache
Source Wikipedia: AK-203
Source Akash (missile), Wikipedia
Source Barak 8, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: BrahMos
Source Wikipedia: Daimler armoured car
Source Wikipedia: Humber armoured car
Source Wikipedia: INSAS rifle
Source Wikipedia: Nirbhay
Source Wikipedia: PIAT
PT-76, Weapons Systems
Source PT-76, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Source Wikipedia: Snider-Enfield
Uzi, Weapons Systems
Source Wikipedia: Uzi
In the Other Atlases
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 Source
Wikipedia: BrahMos
Wikipedia
  • Associated 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 and service fields
    Infobox lists: Indian Army
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Barak 8, Wikipedia
Operates: Barak 8, Infobox, used by and service fields
Quote, Operates: Barak 8, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Indian Army
View the Source
Akash (missile), Wikipedia
Operates: Akash Missile, Infobox, used by and service fields
Quote, Operates: Akash Missile, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Indian Army
View the Source
Wikipedia: Nirbhay
Operates: Nirbhay, Infobox, used by and service fields
Quote, Operates: Nirbhay, Infobox, used by and service fields
Infobox lists: Indian Army
View the Source
Wikipedia: Uzi
WikipediaOperates: Uzi, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Uzi, Wikipedia article text
Micro Uzi variants are still used by Para SF of the Indian Army.
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Wikipedia: AH-64 Apache
WikipediaOperates: AH-64 Apache, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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Wikipedia: PIAT
WikipediaOperates: PIAT (Anti-Tank Weapon), Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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Wikipedia: INSAS rifle
Operates: INSAS rifle, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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Wikipedia: Snider-Enfield
Operates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Snider-Enfield, Wikipedia article text
The British Indian Army used the Snider-Enfield until the end of the nineteenth century.
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Wikipedia: AK-203
Operates: AK-203, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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Wikipedia: RPO-A Shmel
Operates: RPO-A Shmel, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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Wikipedia: Humber armoured car
Operates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article text
Quote, Operates: Humber armoured car, Wikipedia article text
A British Indian Army armoured car regiment, partly equipped with Humbers, served in the reconquest of Burma.
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Wikipedia: Daimler armoured car
Operates: Daimler armoured car, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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PT-76, Wikipedia
Operates: PT-76, Wikipedia article text
Quote, 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.
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