Gourt Home::Gourt :: Indian Armed Forces
| Military manpower | |
|---|---|
| Total armed forces | 2,414,700 (Ranked 2nd) |
| Active troops | 1,325,000 (Ranked 3rd) |
| Paramilitary forces | 1,089,700 |
| Conscription age | 16 years of age |
| Availability | males age 15-49: 287,551,111 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service | males age 18-49: 219,471,999 (2005 est.) |
| Reaching conscription age annually | males: 11,446,452 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures | |
| USD figure | 16.97 billion US $ (2004 est.) * |
| Percent of GDP | 2.5% (2004 est.) * |
| Components | |
| Indian Army | |
| Indian Air Force | |
| Indian Navy | |
| Indian Coast Guard | |
| Indian Paramilitary Forces | |
| Strategic Nuclear Command | |
| History | |
| Military history of India | |
| British Indian Army | |
| Indian National Army | |
| Ranks | |
| Air Force ranks and insignia of India | |
| Army ranks and insignia of India | |
| Naval ranks and insignia of India | |
| Related Info | |
| Aircraft of the Indian Air Force | |
| List of Indian divisions in WWII | |
| Regiments of the Indian Army | |
- Indian Army,
- Indian Navy (including naval air arm),
- Indian Air Force
- Indian Coast Guard
- Indian Paramilitary Forces and
- Strategic Forces Command
Though a paramilitary force, the Indian Coast Guard is not a part of the Indian Paramilitary Forces and acts an independent entity.
The Military of India has the third highest headcount in the world, after the People's Liberation Army and US Military. Over a million strong, the Indian Paramilitary Forces also forms one of the most formidable and largest paramilitary forces in the world. Combined, the Indian Armed Forces is the second largest armed force in the world. It is a key component of India's hard power in its rise to emerging superpower status.
The Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces is the President of India, currently Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. The Indian armed forces is a volunteer only service; the military draft has never been imposed in India.
Combat history
Since its formation, the Army of India, as the armed force was known during the British Raj, fought in both the World Wars. During World War 2, the Army of India played a crucial role in checking the advance of the Imperial Japan and also fought several battles against Axis forces in northern Africa and Italy. Post-independence, it has fought three wars against Pakistan and a war with People's Republic of China. India also fought an extended border skirmish with Pakistan in 1999. The Indian Armed Forces have participated in several United Nations peacekeeping operations and are presently the second largest troops contributor to the peacekeeping force.
Nuclear doctrine
The Indian military possesses nuclear weapons and sufficient means, through a range of missiles and aircraft — to deliver these over considerably long distances. However, India has a nuclear no-first-use policy, also India is the first country in the world to have a nuclear no-first-use policy and maintains a nuclear doctrine based on credible minimum deterrence. India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), citing concerns that it unfairly favours the established nuclear powers, and provides no provision for complete nuclear disarmament. Indian officials argued that India's refusal to sign the treaty stemmed from the treaty's fundamentally discriminatory character; the treaty places restrictions on the non-nuclear weapons states but does little to curb the modernization and expansion of the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons states.
Gallantry awards
The highest wartime gallantry award given by the Military of India is the Param Vir Chakra (PVC), followed by the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and the Vir Chakra (VrC). Its peacetime equivalent is the Ashoka Chakra. The highest decoration for meritorious service is the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.
See also
Republic Day Parade
New Delhi, 2004
Military academies in India
See also
=Pre-independence
==Post-independence
=- India and weapons of mass destruction
- Indo-Pakistani Wars
- Sino-Indian War
- Indian Peace Keeping Force
- Integrated Guided Missile Development Program
- Indian Military Fiction
References
- CIA World Factbook 2005: India
- Militarism in India: The Army and Civil Society in Consensus- by A. Kundu
Notes
Does not include members of the Indian Police ServiceExternal links
- BharatRakshak.com- Informative site on the Indian Military
- Indian Armed Forces - Indian military's official website
- Indian Military Build-up TIME.com
- Lt. Nawang Kapadia of the Indian Army who made the supreme sacrifice while fighting Pakistan sponsored terrorists in Kashmir
"Indian Armed Forces"