research paper on indian army

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• Med J Armed Forces India
• v.67(3); 2011 Jul

Stress in the Indian Armed Forces: how true and what to do?

* Professor and HOD, Department of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune - 40

+ Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune - 40

Kalpana Srivastava

# Scientist ‘F’, Department of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune - 40

INTRODUCTION

Stress among the Indian Armed Forces has been a topic of discussion in the lay press, among civil society, and the political classes over the last decade, often leading to considerable concern for the military leadership. Alleged increases in the rates of suicide, fratricide, stress related physical disorders, psychiatric illnesses, and substance use have been quoted in the lay press and these figures were viewed with concern by the law makers. Military responses that some of these figures could be exaggerated or misrepresented were viewed with scepticism by the general public. Does the available epidemiological data support the contention of a stress epidemic in the Armed Forces? Various social measures to deal with stress of soldiering have been implemented and efforts to improve the psychological health of troops have been undertaken in recent times. How effective have these measures been? In this background it is proposed to review the available literature on the current concepts of stress, evaluation methodologies, epidemiological trends of stress related disorders among soldiers, stress manifestations and the availed coping strategies.

CONCEPTUALISING STRESS

The word stress is derived from the Latin word “stringi”, which means, “to be drawn tight”. Stress can be studied under a stimulus based paradigm, where certain conditions otherwise called “stressors”, like competition, challenges, workload, heat and cold and time pressure cause a stress reaction. Stress can also be studied under a response-based paradigm, which defines it as the pattern of responses otherwise called “strains”, which can be physiological, behavioural, cognitive, and affective that result from exposure to a stressor. Hans Selye's general adaptation syndrome (GAS) model defined stress as a nonspecific, conventional response of the body to any demand made on it. He described the reaction of body under three stages namely alarm stage, resistance stage and exhaustion stage. 1 In general, stress improves performance till an individually determined tolerance limit is reached, when exhaustion sets in and impairs performance. Stress is also classified as acute and chronic. Acute stress is sudden in onset, severe in degree and typically seen in service environment while in combat or while facing a personal catastrophe. Chronic stress on the other hand is insidious in onset, moderate in severity and represented in the service environment in the form of frequent transfers, denial of promotions and familial problems as a result of single parenting. Whatever be the type of stress, the trick is not stress avoidance but stress management for improved performance at the individual and the organisational level.

MEASURING STRESS

Stressors can be physical, physiological and psychological. Holmes and Rahe, two psychiatrists of the United States Navy conceptualised life change units (LCU) to measure chronic psychological stress. Based on their work, they allotted points to events experienced by most in their life span. For example the psychological weight of the death of a spouse was considered as 100 LCUs and a cumulative score was derived based on a person's experience. The life events questionnaire constructed by Holmes and Rahe 2 and Paykel 3 are the most commonly used instruments in the western world. In view of the cultural bias imposed by the western scales, one of the researchers developed a scale of 52 items and standardised it on 110 normal people from Delhi. 4 The presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES) developed in 1984 is a scale of 51 items drawn from the social readjustment rating scale and standardised on a sample of 200 adult subjects from Punjab. 5 The PSLES has limited utility in service personnel drawn from various parts of the country who face unique experiences like fighting against enemies and terrorists and moving across geographical areas frequently and at short notice. To measure the life change units in Indian soldiers, a standardised stress scale known as the AFMC life events scale was developed in 2001, which rightly commemorates the institution, where it was developed. 6

STRESS MANIFESTATIONS

Combat stress manifests as acute stress reaction, adjustment disorder and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The consequences of chronic stress can be in the form of physical and psychological symptoms like headaches, bodyaches, tiredness, reduced sleep or appetite, and lethargy. Chronic stress may also manifest as psychosomatic disorders or psychiatric illnesses.

Evaluation of 601 polytrauma patients at one of the service hospitals revealed incidence of PTSD as 24.3%. 7 However, no standardised scale for PTSD was used in this study. A series of 140 limb fracture patients at a service hospital reported significantly higher scores on general health questionnaire, Michigan alcoholism screening test, Carroll rating scale for depression, impact of events scale, and fatigue scale. 8 The limb fracture patients also had a high prevalence of alcohol dependence/abuse and depressive disorders. The above were hospital based cross-sectional studies done on in patients and cannot be generalised to soldiers in the field. In a second set of studies, a researcher reported that troops deployed in counter insurgency operations (CI Ops) showed higher and significant signs of stress indicators such as use of alcohol, unfavourable response to tasks, diminished efficiency, frustration, maladjustment, tension, isolation and depression. 9 Standardised scales were not used in this study. Another study in this set assessed stress and job satisfaction of soldiers in CI Ops using the Taylor's manifest anxiety scale and security/insecurity inventory developed earlier. 10 Use of standardised scales in a study showed high psychiatric morbidity, depression and alcoholism in soldiers in low intensity conflict (LIC), but the study lacked a control group. 11 A third set of studies reported the effects of soldiering and terrorism on children of Armed Forces personal. One such study on 16 children injured in a terrorist attack, found that five suffered acute stress reaction of which three recovered with crisis intervention while two suffered persistent scholastic backwardness on review after one year. 12 A study published in this issue assessed behavioural problems of 150 children of service personal in a field area and compared them with equal number of children from a peace area. 13 Interesting findings in this study were that the soldiers from the field and peace areas did not differ significantly in life events past year (LEP) and life events life time (LELT) on the AFMC life events scale. Though the authors reported scores above cut-off in 23.3% children on the child behaviour check list, they did not find any significant increase in the behavioural problems among children of personal posted in field areas. This can be attributed to the successful implementation of the rotation policy between field and peace, which the Indian Army adopts for its soldiers. All the above discussed studies were cross-sectional. A longitudinal follow up of Army personal engaged in CI Ops with a self made personal questionnaire, multidimensional fatigue inventory, perceived stress questionnaire, PEN inventory, AFMC life events questionnaire, general health questionnaire, state-trait anxiety inventory, Carroll rating scale for depression, Michigan alcoholism screening test and Impact of events scale for two years with all scales being administered at six monthly intervals, found significant increases in general and fatigue and certain other parameters during the period of service in CI Ops. 14

Data from annual health reports does not show any significant increase in the decadal trends of three psychosomatic and life style disorders, namely ischemic heart disease (IHD), essential hypertension (EHT), and obesity during the previous decade. There is no significant increasing trend discernible in the invalidment rates due to mental disorders and injuries during the same period either. 15

COPING WITH STRESS

Soldiering is stressful and evidence exists regarding the stress consequences on Indian soldiers. However there is no evidence to suggest a stress epidemic in the Indian Armed Forces nor is there any evidence of increasing stress related illnesses over the last decade. Reports in lay press on suicides and fratricides tend to be sensationalised and fail to report the relative low rates of suicide in the Armed Forces compared with matching samples of civilian population. How are the Armed forces managing stress at the organisational level? A flurry of welfare measures ( Table ) unveiled in the last decade seem to have had an effect in containing the exceptionally high level of stress faced by the Indian soldier due to ongoing counter insurgency. Is this enough and is everything perfect? Indian studies in this field have been sporadic and scanty when compared to the large number of studies from Vietnam, Somalia, Kosovo and the ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are freely available in indexed psychiatric and combat journals or as service published monographs. Service psychiatry in the Indian Armed Forces is largely hospital based and this is reflected in the large number of studies on patient populations which cannot be generalised to the soldier in the field. Most combat psychiatric research work from the USA and Europe is done by psychiatrists posted in field units. It is perhaps time to experiment with a few field psychiatric units in the operational commands of the Indian Army. This experiment with field psychiatric units can be combined with centrally directed integrated research projects to improve yield in combat psychiatry.

Measures in the Indian Armed Forces to deal with combat stress.

Project Force: Is India a military superpower or a Paper Tiger?

After decades of under-investment, India’s military forces have been in decline, but it isn’t all bad news for the country.

India’s strategic position has changed dramatically over the past decade. Traditionally fixated on its chief rival, Pakistan, India is now concerned about the striking and rapid modernisation of China’s armed forces.

With a weak air force that is under-strength, an army still bogged down with strategic ideas formed in the last century and a navy that looks good on paper but is being comprehensively outclassed by China’s navy, India is finally coming to terms with its own inadequacies.

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After last year’s stand-off between the two countries in Ladakh, India has launched a crash programme designed to address these failings and to play to the several strengths its military does possess.

The Ladakh region is sandwiched between the Karakoram mountain range in the north and the Zanskar range to the south. Pakistan forms its western border and China is to its east. Despite the arid and rugged terrain, it has been part of the Silk Route for centuries and has been fought over at various times by the Persians, Tibetans and Russians, all to control the mountain passes vital for access and trade. India, China and Pakistan all have vested economic and strategic interests in this important region. Ladakh also borders Indian-administered Kashmir, with both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh having become formal parts of India in 2019.

It is no surprise, then, that this region has been the flashpoint for several conflicts and the epicentre of the latest clashes between India and China.

India has significant advantages and disadvantages in any potential conflict over this vital region.

Air force in a sorry state

Bureaucracy, major procurement issues, inter-service squabbling over a shrinking defence budget and successive governments repeatedly switching the strategic focus between Pakistan and China have left the military meandering in its focus.

As the lion’s share of defence budgets has traditionally gone to the army, the Indian air force has suffered and is now seriously under-strength. At full strength, it operates with 42 squadrons, but it can currently only field 31.

Aircraft such as the MiG-21, which entered service in 1964, should have been retired years ago, but are still flying and are easy targets for any contemporary aircraft. This was brought into focus in the 2019 Kashmir stand-off when Pakistani F-16s shot down an Indian MiG-21 that had attempted to intercept them. The pilot was subsequently captured and paraded on Pakistani television, much to India’s embarrassment.

The latest skirmish with China in 2020 forced the Indian government into a crash procurement programme to shore up its air force.

Thirty-six French multi-role Rafale fighters were already in the works, the first five of which were delivered in July last year. Twelve Sukhoi MKI-30 and 21 MiG-29 fighter jets have also been ordered – the former to be built under licence in India and the latter ordered from Russia with a whole range of other arms, especially ammunition. While some of the equipment is in stock and can be sent within the next few months, the building of dozens of advanced fighter jets will take several years.

The new Rafale fighters will help. Highly advanced and capable, they have been fitted with “cold start” engines to make it easier for them to be scrambled from freezing, high-altitude, forward bases, all positioned near the sources of any potential conflict in the north of the country.

Despite these stop-gap improvements, India’s air force remains seriously depleted. However, it is not the only service going through strategic convulsions.

Upgrading a neglected army

The army is the senior service in India’s military and has, traditionally, been armour-heavy with over 3,500 main battle tanks in its arsenal. By contrast, Pakistan fields 2,400. Most of the tanks in India’s inventory are Russian-built with over 1,000 of the modern T-90s in operation.

The attempt to build an indigenous tank – the Arjun – ended in disaster. Three decades in the making, cost overruns and massive bureaucratic delays produced a tank that is too heavy, unwieldy and prone to mechanical failure.

The army was forced by the government to buy 124 of these tanks to keep the state manufacturer happy. Despite attempted modifications, Indian defence procurers still favour Russian equipment, which is both familiar and reliable. Russia and India are in discussions for India to buy the ultra-modern T-14 Armata main battle tank in the near future.

Still mired in an older strategic style that relies heavily on armoured thrusts by mass formations of tanks, India’s defence planners have been slow to wake up to the fact that warfare is changing dramatically, along with its enemies and how they will fight. Only recently has there been deeper cooperation between the armed services and joint operations now run using cyber and space assets, along with a greater emphasis on special forces and long-range precision strike weapons.

With the downturn in its relations with China, India’s strategic position has changed sharply for the worse and its defence doctrine has not fully adapted to this change.

India still focuses on shock tactics using the Cold Start Doctrine, which proposes a short, sharp, armoured assault through the middle of Pakistan, quickly cutting the country in two, before Pakistan’s neighbours and the international community can react.

A conflict with China would be a very different matter in the savagely cold, mountainous terrain of the Himalayas, where concentrations of tanks cannot move with the same freedom. Such a war would be fought with troops specialised in high-altitude warfare, precision strike weapons and mobile artillery. Airpower would be key as would the ability to operate in bad weather at high altitude.

It’s not all bad news for India. The country possesses 21 satellites, at least half of which are for image and intelligence gathering, which helps greatly in getting a clear picture of what is happening in the battlespace, especially given that the potential area of operations would be remote and mountainous.

The army has some extremely well-trained units, namely the 89,500 Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other units who are locally recruited and specialise in high-altitude warfare and guerilla operations. This is in addition to the 12 mountain divisions already deployed. Furthermore, India’s army is combat-proven, having fought several wars, whereas China’s is not. The last war China fought was in 1979 when it invaded Vietnam, withdrawing after three weeks, having suffered tens of thousands of casualties.

India’s High Command is putting the lessons learned in these past conflicts into practice, like those of the high-altitude Indo-Pakistan Kargil conflict in 1998. Better cold-weather clothing for troops has been bought, intelligence gathering has been vastly improved and a joint-service defence staff set up – vital if all branches of the military are to operate in a coordinated way.

India has sought to improve its air defences – also vital, considering its air force would be outnumbered significantly by the Chinese air force, the PLAAF.

A $5.5bn deal was signed with Russia in 2018 for five S-400 squadrons of air defence missile batteries. India is also in discussions to buy more air defence units from Israel. How these various units will work with each other and be integrated into a single air defence architecture remains to be seen, but this crash arms modernisation programme could make a real difference in any coming conflict.

Reaching out diplomatically to the United States has also reaped dividends as the two countries recently signed defence agreements allowing India to use US geospatial intelligence, encrypted communications and to purchase high-end items India sorely lacks: Overland reconnaissance aircraft, attack helicopters, heavy-lift choppers and strategic transport aircraft for the swift deployment of troops to potential combat zones.

The country is also boosting its drone inventory, buying more from Israel, its chief supplier. It is also arming 90 Israeli Heron drones already in its possession and petitioning to buy at least 20 American MQ-9 Reaper Armed drones, which are able to scan large areas of terrain, send back valuable intelligence and engage potential targets on the spot if needed.

All this will help the Indian military maintain its position in Ladakh but serious challenges remain in feeding and supplying a large army in a remote region.

Warfare in the winter

For years, both China and India have been improving their roads and bridges on either side of the Line of Actual Control, the unofficial demarcation line between India and China, in an effort to be able to better re-supply their troops in the event of a conflict. China has the advantage in this, having built high-speed rail links close to the border – railways being vital for maintaining the high levels of supplies and ammunition needed for any military offensive. It has improved its road system to its border posts and laboured to build heated accommodation for its troops, with winter temperatures plunging to -30 degrees Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit).

While India has sought to improve its road network in Ladakh, the mountainous terrain puts it at a disadvantage. Drinkable water is also an issue as most sources freeze and those that remain are brackish. Water supplies, therefore, have to be tortuously brought up by truck – an untenable proposition for the Indian army in an extended conflict.

India has significant experience in sub-zero, high-altitude warfare, particularly in the Siachen Glacier in northern Ladakh, and understands the serious logistical difficulties in supplying armed forces and sustaining them at that altitude. Helicopters can only carry a fraction of their load due to the thin atmosphere. The cost soars as helicopters have to fly many more missions in order to keep troops fed. This would be almost impossible to achieve with a much larger force in a high-intensity conflict, consuming far greater amounts of food and ammunition.

To get around this, the Indian army has been stockpiling military supplies, deploying an extra 50,000 troops, including a specialised, high-altitude mechanised corps – heavily armed and mobile units – to forward areas of eastern Ladakh high up on the strategically vital Depsang plains.

At 4,500 metres, right on the Line of Actual Control, the plains lie between Siachen Glacier and Aksai Chin and would be one of the focal points in any potential conflict between the two countries.

But war, once started, would not just be fought on the frigid heights of the Karakoram but also in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, with naval power being vital in tipping the balance of any conflict between the two superpowers.

India’s navy

The Indian navy is in the middle of restructuring itself with a focus on projecting its combat power beyond its coastal waters, centring around the creation of three aircraft carrier groups and the 150 aircraft they would carry.

While this sounds impressive, it is unlikely to happen any time soon. The service has seen its share of the defence budget shrink from 18 percent in 2012 to 13 percent in 2020. It currently has just one aircraft carrier, the ex-Soviet INS Vikramaditya, with a second, the INS Vikrant entering sea trials and due to be inducted into the navy in early 2022.

Costs for both have spiralled out of control and a third carrier – the INS Vishal – remains in the conceptual stage. There is also a growing debate in India, echoed around the world, that aircraft carriers are costly white elephants with limited use in any future conflict, in which smaller, swarmed, networked ships, drones and hypersonic missiles would be used.

China’s vast shipbuilding programme has paid off and the PLA Navy outclasses the Indian navy at every turn, having more and better conventional submarines, as well as larger and faster destroyers and corvettes (used for coastal patrols). Having also built up two aircraft carrier fleets of its own, the Chinese navy has also focused on small, fast, heavily armed and networked vessels that would form an integral part of any future battle plans.

Is the Indian Ocean Indian?

China’s main supply route into the South China Sea is through the Andaman Sea and the narrow Malacca Strait. A vulnerable choke-point for China, it has sought to protect itself and diversify its supply routes. This ties into its massive and ongoing infrastructure scheme the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of which Pakistan is a vital member.

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has had billions of dollars of Chinese investment. Consisting of road and rail links from the port of Gwadar running all the way through Gilgit and Baltistan in the north, it will eventually join up with highways running to Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province. This route provides a much-needed alternative to the easily disrupted choke point in the Malacca Strait, a narrow stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra that acts as a major shipping channel between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

As such, China has built up massive infrastructure and port projects throughout the Indian Ocean, in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. China has lost its battle for influence over the Maldives, where a pro-Indian president was recently voted in. It has secured listening posts in Myanmar and helped revamp that country’s port facilities, giving Chinese naval vessels potential ports of refuge and re-supply in a time of conflict.

India has developed its own web of listening posts close to the Malacca strait and recently revitalised the Quad, a four-country alliance between India, Japan, Australia and the United States, all countries concerned by China’s meteoric rise to power. In November, all four countries held combined, large-scale naval exercises in the eastern Indian Ocean, with the emphasis on realistic war games and “high-end tactical training” – a clear message to China that India would have diplomatic allies should any conflict arise.

India wouldn’t be the only one with potential support from outside, however. Pakistan is deeply tied to China not just economically but also with its military. Cooperation in aircraft manufacture has led to the development of the JF-17 Thunder, a relatively low-cost yet capable fighter jet, of which 111 now serve in the Pakistan Air Force, with more on the way. Its performance record is so successful, it is now being considered for export.

Pakistan is also jointly manufacturing China’s armed drone, the Wing Loong 2, of which Pakistan has ordered 48, to be built in part at its Aeronautical Complex in Kamra.

Alarmed by increased intelligence sharing between the US and its arch-rival, India, Pakistan has also sought to further boost its defence cooperation with China. Joint exercises, already a regular event, are expected to become more regular as both militaries practise how to operate in an increasingly coordinated way.

India’s military has been eroded by a lack of focus and changing priorities.

Clashes with China and the looming spectre of possible large-scale conflict between the two countries, with the possible involvement of Pakistan, have focused India’s attention on what it needs to fight in a future war with a chance of prevailing.

The country has finally started to address the failings it has identified and begun a crash re-armament programme to redress this strategic imbalance.

It has several strengths it is playing to. Its military has extensive combat experience, it has some excellent units and the advent of new high-tech weapons, combined with information from the US’s extensive network of military satellites, will go a long way towards helping India’s military reverse its strategic malaise.

Video production and additional reporting by Adam Adada. 

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• Indian Army Day 2024 Essay

Introduction

The Indian Army , the world's second-largest standing army, marks Indian Army Day 2024 theme as the Year of Technology Absorption, signifying a focused commitment to incorporating and harnessing technological advancements. when is Indian Army Day? The celebration of Indian Army Day occurs annually on the 15th of January. As we approach Indian Army Day 2024 , let's delve into the forces that safeguard our nation's security and why Indian Army Day is celebrated, exploring their evolving role in a rapidly changing world. The Indian Army's dedication to absorbing cutting-edge technology adds a dynamic dimension to their capabilities, reflecting a strategic vision for a modernized defense.In this context, we will explore the importance of celebrating Indian Army Day 2024 and examine the role of technology in shaping the future of our armed forces.

Essay on Indian Army Day 2024

The Indian Army is the land-based branch of the Indian Armed Forces. It is the world's second-largest standing army and the largest army. The President of India is 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 battalions of the Indian Army have been awarded the "Nations in conflict" peacekeeping medal.

The Indian Army has a regimental system but is operationally and geographically split into seven commands, with the basic field formation being a division. It is an all-volunteer force and comprises more than 81,000 active troops and a support element of close to 1,160,000 troops.

The primary objective of the Indian Army is to safeguard the nation's territorial integrity from external aggression and threats and maintain peace and security within its borders. It conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other restlessness, like Operation Surya Hope, and can also be requisitioned by the Government to assist in national emergencies. The Indian Army has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with China. It has also conducted numerous peacekeeping operations across the world.

Indian Army consists of many regiments which are territorially based, and each regiment has its own cap badge, traditions and history. The units that make up the Indian Army are not all permanently based in one location. They are rotated between deployments in India and other countries as part of peacekeeping or training missions.

The Indian Army is a very disciplined force and follows a strict hierarchy. Officers must salute their seniors, regardless of rank, and must obey orders from their superiors without question. The soldiers are also expected to maintain a high degree of personal hygiene and be physically fit.

The Indian Army is one of the largest armies in the world. It has more than 1,160,000 troops who are available for deployment at short notice. These troops come from all over India and are drawn from all religions and regions. They are paid according to their rank and duration of service.

The Indian Army is the largest volunteer army in the world. It has more than 1,160,000 troops who are available for deployment at short notice.

India became independent from Britain in 1947. It was then ruled by the British Indian Empire. The independence day of Pakistan is on 14 august 1947. There was a lot of violence and bloodshed between the Hindus and Muslims in the partition of British India into India and Pakistan. 

The British Indian Army was divided between the two countries. The British Indian Army in Pakistan became the Pakistani Army. The British Indian Army in India became the Indian Army.

A Long Indian Army Day 2024 Essay

The Happy Indian Army Day originated from armies of the East India Company's which at last became the British Indian Army, and the Princely States Army, which after its independence in 1947, merged into the National Army of India. The units of the Indian Army have fought many battles in the past where they gained honor for the country with their bravery. One will find out more facts about the Indian Army through this essay on the Indian Army in English.

The Indian Army has the sole objective of protecting the nation from any foreign aggression that arises, ensuring the nation's security. They also try to prevent the nation from internal threats. During natural calamities, the Indian Army conducts humanitarian rescue operations to save many people's lives. There are a total of 65 regiments in the Indian Army that are divided based on their skills. These are some facts that one can learn from the essay on the Indian Army. 

There are various medals presented by the President of India to different Indian Army recruits for their bravery on the battlefield. The medals awarded for the valor shown on the battlefield in the face of the enemy are Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra, and Vir Chakra, and the medals awarded for bravery and courage shown away from the battlefield are Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra.

The Indian Army, till now, has fought four battles, from which three were with Pakistan, and one was with China. Some other operations that are performed by the Indian Army are Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus, and Operation Brasstacks. One can also learn about some more missions conducted by the Army from this essay on the Indian Army, as they were also involved in many peacekeeping missions organized by the United States. Some of these peacekeeping missions were conducted in Lebanon, Angola, Cambodia, Vietnam, and many other countries.

The Government is now planning to increase the capabilities of the Indian Force by introducing some new policies. Recently, it has been planned that the Indian Army with the Indian Navy will set up a marine brigade. 

The current formations that the Army follows are holding formations and combat formations. Holding formations are meant for holding and containing the enemies, and combat formation is meant for counter-attacking the enemies in order to neutralize them and stop them from attacking.

One can gain knowledge of the Army's uniform from this Indian Army essay. The Indian Army camouflage uniform includes a shirt, trousers, and a synthetic material cap. The Indian Army's camouflage dress has a jungle camouflage pattern that is designed to be used in woodland environments. 

Regiments that are posted in the desert or dusty area have desert camouflage pattern uniforms. The modern recruited armies are required to wear distinctive parade uniforms, which are classified by variegated turbans and waist-sashes in regimental colors.

The Indian Army gives the perfect example of gender inequality by recruiting women in different regiments of the Army. The first women were appointed in the Indian Army when the Indian Military Nursing Service was formed in the year 1888. These women nurses have served the Army in both World War I and II.

With all the facts relating to the Indian Army covered in this essay, one can understand the importance of the Indian Army essay. The essay about the Indian Army gave an overview of the Army as a whole. The Indian Army is the third-largest on the globe, and has many features that one can see from this essay. It is also visible how the Government has planned to make the Army better every passing day so that they are ready to face any danger, be it internal or external.

A Short Note on Happy Indian Army Day 2024

Indian Army is the third-largest Army in the globe, is one of the most powerful and strongest among the armies of other countries. In the past, they have proved their superiority in different battles and missions that have been conducted. Through this short essay on Happy Indian Army Day in English, one will be able to see the power and strength that the Indian Army possesses.

The Indian Army has only one goal, which is to safeguard the nation's security and maintain unity in the country. All the recruits in the Army perform to achieve this one goal. The Indian Army consists of a total number of 65 regiments that are classified or divided based on their skills and capabilities. They are trained with two formations that are holding formation and combat formation. Holding formation is meant for defense, and combat formation is meant for an attack.

The Indian Army improves its skills by conducting training missions with different powerful countries such as The United States, Russia, and Israel.

Through this essay on the Indian Army Day 2024 in 100 words , it is clear that the Indian Army is well prepared for any unwanted situation in the future and has the capability to deal with it. The Indian Army epitomizes unwavering commitment and valor, safeguarding our nation's sovereignty with courage. Beyond borders, they contribute to disaster relief and peacekeeping, embodying humanity's spirit. Their sacrifices inspire national pride. Let us honor and support our armed forces, recognising their pivotal role in preserving our cherished freedom and unity. Jai Hind!

FAQs on Indian Army Day 2024 Essay

1. What is the Indian Army?

The Indian Army, which is one of the strongest armies in the world, and has all the features that make it an efficient army. The Indian Army has a total number of 65 regiments which are divided based on their skills and capabilities. These soldiers undergo training with two formations: holding formation and combat formation, which consists of the following: Holding Formation: This is meant for defense, Combat Formation: This formation is meant for attacking. For more information, read this Indian Army essay on Vedantu.

2. What are the different types of uniforms in the Indian Army?

The Indian Army has two types of uniforms: a camouflage uniform and a parade uniform. The camouflage uniform includes a shirt, trousers, and a synthetic material cap, while the parade uniform consists of a variegated turban and waist-sash in regimental colors. The color of the uniform differs according to the regiments. The Indian Army's uniform is a combination of different colors, which represents the culture and tradition of the country. Army uniform is a matter of pride for every soldier because it gives the mental satisfaction that on a special occasion, they are given a chance to wear their best uniform.

3. What is the role of the Indian Army in India?

The Indian Army has been playing many different roles from protecting its borders from any external danger; apart from this, they have also played a crucial role in the development of the country. Indian Army helps to build infrastructure, assists in natural calamities and provides medical assistance during any emergency. The Indian Army is one of the most powerful armies in the world. It has all the features that make it an efficient army. The Army consists of a total number of 65 regiments grouped and divided based on their skills and capabilities. These soldiers go through training with two formations holding formation and combat formation, which is described in the wiki. The Indian Army improves its skills by conducting training missions with different powerful countries such as the US, Russia and Israel.

4. What are the roles played by women in the Indian Army?

The first women were appointed in the Indian Army when the Indian Military Nursing Service was formed in 1888. These women nurses served the Army in both world war I and II. Women have also participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Sri Lankan Civil War and the Kargil War. Presently, women are recruited in the Army as doctors, engineers, lawyers, air warriors etc., and they are performing their duties efficiently. The Indian Army has only one goal, which is to safeguard the nation's security and maintain unity in the country. All recruits in the Army perform to achieve this one goal. The Indian Army has all it takes to face any challenges in the future if any arise. The Indian Army essay covers all these points.

5. What is the role of the Indian Army in development?

The Indian Army plays a crucial role in the development and progress of the country. The main aim of this research paper on the Indian Army is to make people aware of the Indian Army and its roles. India, which is considered one of the biggest democratic countries, has faced many internal conflicts throughout its history. It is the Indian Army that has protected the country from any external danger and guarded its borders. The Indian Army not only defends India's land but also gives medical assistance to people during emergencies such as floods, earthquakes etc.

6. How Many Regiments Are There in the Indian Army?

The Indian Army has a total number of 65 regiments in which army recruits are divided according to their skills. Some of the important regiments are Gurkha Regiment, Dogra Regiment, Kumaon Regiment, Ladakh Scouts Regiment, and many others.

7. Who Started the Army in India?

Mohan Singh established the first Indian National Army. He was an officer in the British Indian Army, and he was captured in the Malayan Campaign. The nationalist sympathies of Mohan Singh led him to find an ally in Fujiwara that helped him a lot.