Indian Armed Forces

I am a warrior; defending my nation is my Dharma. I will train my mind, body and spirit to fight, excel in all devices and weapons - present and future. Always protect the weak, be truthful and forthright, be humane, cultured and compassionate, fight and embrace the consequences willingly. God give me strength that I ask nothing of you. ~ Bhagwat Gita

Background

Constitution of National Power

Power has always been an integral constituent of inter-state relations. Kautilya defined it as the possession of 'Might and Strength'. In the present-day global environment, our National Power gives us the ability and capability to secure our National Interests (capacities in the military, economic, science & technology, leadership, National character, education, and influence (Diplomacy)) and also National Borders.
Power is broadly classified as Hard Power and Soft Power.

• Hard Power facilitates the use of military, economic and political means to influence other States;
• Soft Power uses our cultural or ideological means to indirectly influence the behaviour of other States

Why Military?

Worldwide Armed forces are essentially seen as the security provider to the nation. Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India which are deployed to prevent insurgencies (internal) or wars (external).
As a Nation aspiring for a greater role, in the new World order, India can not remain detached from global developments. India has to be prepared to influence the world with its geography and all elements of National Power. The size of our Nation, our continental relevance as well as our strategic location at the “head and heart” of the Indian Ocean gives us tremendous leverage to preserve peace, promote stability, and maintain security. Our land borders and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) remain central to India's growth and security, and protecting it is our priority and responsibility.

INDIA'S GEOGRAPHY: India is a large sub-continent with about 33,00,000 sq km territory, land frontiers running over 15,000 km and a coastline of over 7,516 km. The National air space spans a much larger sphere and is estimated to be over approximately 40 million cu km.

India, having a history of conflicts with Pakistan and China, is confronted with the dangers of wars and intrusions in the sensitive Border States. The status of Jammu and Kashmir is the bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Indo-China relationships are complicated because China refuses to acknowledge the McMohan line. So it has to remain in a state of overall defence preparedness. However, the defence policy of India aims at promoting and sustaining durable peace in the subcontinent and, at the same time, equipping the defence forces adequately to safeguard against aggression.

INTERNATIONAL BORDERS: To its north lies Nepal, Bhutan, and China. Pakistan, Afghanistan are there to the north-west; and to the east lies Bangladesh (surrounded by Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura), Myanmar and China. To the south, we have the island country of Sri Lanka.

Armed Forces of India

Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. They consist of the Army, Navy, Air Force supported by the Paramilitary forces (Indian Coast Guard, Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Forces) and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Armed Forces are under the management of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which is led by the Union Cabinet Minister of Defense.
The top-level structure of the armed forces of India is as follows:

1. Armed Forces: The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India mainly consists of three professional uniformed services -
   1. Indian Army:The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary mission of the Indian Army is to ensure national security and national unity, to defend the nation from external aggression and internal threats, and to maintain peace and security within its borders.
   1. Defence Security Corps (DSC): The Defence Security Corps, is a corps of the Indian Army responsible for providing security cover to the defence installations of the three services (Army, Navy, Air Force) and other sensitive installations. The DSC troops are sanctioned and attached to various bases/installations to ensure protection against sabotage and pilferage.
   2. Para Commandos: Para Commandos are a special forces unit of the Indian Army mandated with special operating missions such as Direct action, Hostage rescue, Counter-terrorist, Unconventional warfare, Special reconnaissance, Foreign Internal Defense, Personnel recovery, Asymmetric warfare, Counterproliferation are its primary tasks during hostility.
   2. Indian Navy:The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary objective of the navy is to safeguard the nation's maritime borders, and in conjunction with other Armed Forces of the union.
   3. Indian Air Force:Indian Air Force is the arm of the Indian Armed Forces. The primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during armed conflict.
   Indian Armed Forces are the world's third-largest military force and have the world's largest volunteer army. Its Supreme Commander is the President of India. Its three service wings have their respective Chiefs. The top officer is the Chairman of the Chief of Staff Committee. All services fall under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
2. Rashtriya Rifles (RR): Rashtriya Rifles is a branch of the Indian Army under the authority of the MoD. It is a counter-insurgency/ anti-terrorist force made up of soldiers deputed from other parts of the Indian Army. They are sometimes misidentified as part of the Paramilitary forces. One half of the RR comes from the Indian Army's infantry and another half from the rest of the Indian Army. The force is deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The reputation of RR as a specialized anti-terrorist force forces militants to avoid any kind of direct confrontation.
   The RR units come under five "Counter Insurgency Force " (CIF) HQ's. Each CIF is responsible for an area of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division. The CIF are as follows:
   1. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) R/ Romeo Force: Rajouri and Poonch
   2. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) D/ Delta Force: Doda
   3. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) V/ Victor Force: Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Budgam
   4. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) K/ Kilo Force: Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar
   5. Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) U/ Uniform Force: Udhampur and Banihal
   It comprises 65 battalions.
3. Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF): Paramilitary Forces assist the Indian Armed Forces particularly closely and are led by officers of the Indian Army or Indian Navy. The term Paramilitary is not formally used, informally it consists of:
   1. Indian Coast Guard (ICG): Indian Coast Guard is the maritime paramilitary force of the Union of India. Its mission is the protection of India's maritime interests, enforces maritime law and conducts search and rescue operations, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone. It operates under the MoD. It works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and State police forces.
      The Indian Coast Guard operates five regions:
      1. Western Region (W): HQ - Mumbai
      2. Eastern Region (E): HQ - Chennai
      3. North-East Region (NE): HQ - Kolkata
      4. Andaman & Nicobar Region (A&N): HQ - Port Blair
      5. North-West Region (NW): HQ - Gandhinagar
      It has over 20,000 active personnel, 160+ vessels and 62 aircraft.
      India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is 20,13,410 sq.km., Territorial Waters span is 1,55,889 sq.km., and the total coastline is 7,516.6 km.
   2. Assam Rifles (AR): The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force of the Indian Army. They perform many roles including the provision of internal security under the control of the Indian Army. In times of war, they can also be used as a combat force to secure rear areas if needed.
      It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure. While the administrative control of the force is with the MHA, its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
      There are currently 46 battalions of Assam Rifles with a sanctioned strength of 63,747 personnel.
   3. Special Frontier Force (SFF): The Special Frontier Force is a paramilitary special force of India. Its main goal originally was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Indo-China war; however, SFF has been fielded by the R&AW and the Indian government in various covert and overt operation theatres.
      The current SFF force levels are around 10,000 men.
      Battalions have a strength of around 900, are composed of six companies each company consisting of 123 men.
      There is also a force of around 700 Gorkhas in the SFF at any given time.
4. Nuclear Command Authority (NCA): It is the top authority for command, control and operational decisions regarding India's nuclear weapons programme. NCA's directives are operationalised by the SFC (Strategic Forces Command) under the control of a Commander-in-Chief of the rank of Air Marshal (or its equivalent) in charge of the management and administration of the tactical and strategic nuclear forces.
   Strategic Forces Command: sometimes called Strategic Nuclear Command, forms part of India's Nuclear Command Authority. It is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
5. National Security Guard (NSG): The National Security Guard is an elite counter-terrorism unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The NSG is a 'Federal Contingency Deployment Force' to tackle all facets of terrorism in the country. As a specialised counter-terrorism force, it is intended to be used "only in exceptional situations " and is not meant to take over the "functions of the State Police Forces or other Para Military Forces ".
   The NSG members are also known as Black Cats because of the black drill cotton coveralls and balaclavas or helmets they wear.
   The NSG has a total personnel strength of about 14,500.
   The NSG's specific goals include - Neutralization of terrorist threats, Handling hijacking situations in air and on land, Bomb disposal (search, detection and neutralisation of IEDs), PBI (Post Blast Investigation), Engaging and neutralizing terrorists in specific situations and Hostage Rescue
6. Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF): Central Armed Police Forces refers to the uniform nomenclature of five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their role is to defend the national interest mainly against internal threats. They are as follows:
   1. Border Security: Border security refers to measures taken by one or more governments to enforce their border control policies. India maintains free movement with Nepal and Bhutan, border security focuses primarily on the Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Myanmar borders. Different forces of Border Security are:
      1. Border Security Force (BSF): The Border Security Force (BSF) is a border guarding force of the Government of India on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
         A central police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs, its duties also include VIP security, election supervision, guarding vital installations and counter-Naxal operations.
         The BSF also has active roles during times of war.
         It has 257,363 personnel in 186 battalions.
      2. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): Indo-Tibetan Border Police is responsible for security along the Indo-Tibetan border and its surrounding areas.
         It has 89,432 personnel in 56 fighting, 2 DM and 4 specialised battalions.
      3. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): Sashastra Seema Bal is deployed at the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
         It has 76,337 personnel and 67 battalions, as well as some reserved battalions.
      4. Assam Rifles (AR): It has been guarding the Indo-Myanmar barrier as per the government policy "one border one force ".
         The Assam Rifles is not a part of CAPF but a part of CPMF.
   2. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): The Central Industrial Security Force's primary task is to provide industrial security. It guards industrial installations nationwide which are owned by the central government, secures seaports and airports, and provides security for certain non-governmental organizations.
      It has a total strength of about 1,44,418 personnel in 132 battalions including 9 reserve battalions.
   3. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): The Central Reserve Police Force's main objective is to assist states and union territories' law-enforcement agencies in maintaining law and order and containing insurgency. It is deployed as an anti-terrorist unit in several regions and operates abroad as part of United Nations peacekeeping missions.
      The Central Reserve Police includes:
      1. The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a 15 battalion anti-riot force trained to respond to sectarian violence.
      2. The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA), a 10 battalion strong anti-Naxalite/COIN force.
      The Central Reserve Police Force has 313,678 personnel in 247 battalions.
   Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) includes Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
7. Special Protection Group (SPG): The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency of the Government of India whose sole responsibility is protecting the Prime Minister of India. The SPG protects the Prime Minister at all times both in India and abroad, as well as the Prime Minister's immediate family members residing with them at their official residence.
8. Railway Protection Force (RPF): Railway Protection Force is a security force for "the better protection and security of railway property and passenger area ". The force is under the authority of the Indian Ministry of Railways.
9. Central Police Forces ("Federal Police "): Andaman and Nicobar Police, Chandigarh Police, Delhi Police, Dadra and Nagar Haveli Police, Daman and Diu Police, Home Guard, Lakshadweep Police, Puducherry Police.

Besides the above, the Indian army is guarding land borders along the LOC on the Pakistan border and LAC on the China border and the Indian Navy and Coast Guard are vested with the responsibility of coastal borders, where the State (Marine) Police are acting as the second line of defence.