Armed Forces of India
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| Armed Forces of India | |
|---|---|
| Name | Armed Forces of India |
| Native name | भारतीय सशस्त्र सेनाएँ |
| Alt | Flag of India |
| Caption | The Tiranga is the common symbol for all branches. |
| Founded | 15 August 1947 |
| Current form | 26 January 1950 |
| Branches | Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, Strategic Forces Command |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Commander-in-chief | President of India |
| Chief minister | Prime Minister of India |
| Minister | Minister of Defence (India) |
| Minister title | Minister of Defence |
| Commander | Chief of Defence Staff (India) |
| Commander title | Chief of Defence Staff |
| Age | 18 |
| Active | 1,455,550 (2023) |
| Reserve | 1,155,000 (2023) |
| Deployed | ~7,900 |
| Amount | $74.8 billion (2024) |
| Percent GDP | 2.1% (2024) |
| Domestic suppliers | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders |
| Foreign suppliers | Russia, France, United States, Israel |
| Related articles | Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces, Ranks and insignia of the Indian Armed Forces |
Armed Forces of India. The unified military forces of the Republic of India, tasked with national defense and safeguarding its sovereignty. It is the world's second-largest standing military by personnel and operates under the civilian leadership of the President of India as its Supreme Commander. The forces consist of three primary service branches—the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force—alongside several integrated and paramilitary components.
History
The modern armed forces trace their lineage to the military forces of the British Raj, particularly the British Indian Army, which was divided during the Partition of India in 1947. Its early history was immediately shaped by the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948 over Kashmir. Subsequent major conflicts defining its evolution include the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the decisive victory in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 leading to the creation of Bangladesh, and the Kargil War in 1999. The forces also conducted a landmark peaceful nuclear test, Smiling Buddha, in 1974, and have been involved in prolonged counter-insurgency operations, notably in Kashmir and the Northeast India.
Structure and organization
The military is headed by the Chief of Defence Staff (India), who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and advises the Government of India on tri-service matters. The Ministry of Defence (India) provides civilian oversight and administration. The primary operational commands are the Indian Army with its six tactical commands like the Northern Command, the Indian Navy with three commands including the Western Naval Command, and the Indian Air Force with five operational commands such as the Western Air Command (India). Key integrated commands include the Strategic Forces Command, which manages the nation's nuclear arsenal, the Andaman and Nicobar Command, and the Defence Cyber Agency.
Personnel and training
With over 1.4 million active personnel, recruitment is voluntary, with officers commissioned through academies like the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, the National Defence Academy (India) in Khadakwasla, and the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala. Enlisted personnel are recruited through a nationwide system. Specialized training is provided by institutions such as the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the National Defence College (India) in New Delhi. The forces also participate in numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises, including Exercise Malabar with the United States Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Exercise INDRA with the Russian Armed Forces.
Equipment and technology
The inventory is a mix of domestically developed and imported systems, driven by initiatives like Make in India. Key indigenous platforms include the Tejas fighter jet, Arjun (tank), INS Vikrant aircraft carrier, and BrahMos cruise missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and produced by entities like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Major foreign acquisitions include the S-400 Triumf from Russia, Rafale fighter jets from France, AH-64 Apache helicopters from the United States, and Barak 8 missile systems from Israel. Modernization efforts focus on network-centric warfare, space and cyber capabilities, and ballistic missile defense.
Operations and deployments
Beyond wartime conflicts, the armed forces are consistently deployed for internal security, disaster relief, and international peacekeeping. They have been a major contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping missions, with deployments in Congo, Lebanon, and South Sudan. The Indian Navy conducts anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and ensures maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Air Force has executed major humanitarian missions like Operation Rahat and provides vital support to the Indian Army in high-altitude areas like the Siachen Glacier.
Budget and expenditure
India consistently has one of the world's largest military budgets, which funds personnel, modernization, and operational costs. The budget is allocated by the Ministry of Finance (India) and administered by the Ministry of Defence (India). A significant portion is dedicated to capital expenditure for new equipment, with ongoing efforts to increase the share of domestic procurement under the Defence Procurement Procedure. Major expenditures include servicing large import contracts, pensions, and funding research through the Defence Research and Development Organisation and development by public sector undertakings like Bharat Dynamics Limited.
Category:Military of India Category:Government agencies of India