How many Types of Armed Forces in India?

The Armed Forces of any country is a strong unit that protects the nation from internal and external threats and wars. Likewise, the Indian Armed Forces protect the citizens by constantly monitoring the international borders, airspace and marine trade.

The Indian Armed Forces play a major role in protecting our country's land, airspace and maritime. They are armed organisations of our country, and the Ministry of Defence governs them. The President of India is their supreme commander and has their headquarters in New Delhi. 

Indian Armed Forces have the largest volunteer army and the second-largest armed force globally. The armed forces protect our country in case of any foreign attack and assist the citizens during any disaster. 

The Indian Armed Forces play a major role in protecting our country's land, airspace and maritime. They are armed organisations of our country, and the Ministry of Defence governs them. The President of India is their supreme commander and has their headquarters in New Delhi. 

Indian Armed Forces have the largest volunteer army and the second-largest armed force globally. The armed forces protect our country in case of any foreign attack and assist the citizens during any disaster. 

1. Indian Army

The Indian Army forms the largest part of the Indian Armed Forces, with an active troop count of over 12 lakh personnel. Their primary objective is to defend our country from internal threats, external invasions and ensuring the national unity and security of our country. Apart from these, they also conduct rescue operations during any natural calamity or emergency. 

Indian Army is segregated into seven different operational commands, supervised by a General Officer Commanding-in-Chief who holds the rank of a Lieutenant General. The Indian Army commands are as follows:

• Eastern Command: Headquartered in Kolkata
• Northern Command: Headquartered in Udhampur
• Central Command: Headquartered in Lucknow
• Southern Command: Headquartered in Pune
• Western Command: Headquartered in Chandimandir
• South Western Command: Headquartered in Jaipur
• Army Training Command: Headquartered in Shimla

2. Indian Navy

The Indian Navy is a marine wing of the Indian Armed Forces. Its prime objective is to protect the maritime borders of India. The Indian Navy works hand in hand with the other two Armed Forces to control any threat or aggression to the Indian Territory. It is commanded by the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS). 

The Indian Navy operates in the Persian Gulf Region, the Strait of Malacca and the Horn of Africa. In addition, the Indian Navy’s operations are divided into four commands where a Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) heads each command. The four Indian Navy commands are as follows:

• Eastern Naval Command: Located in Visakhapatnam

• Western Naval Command: Located in Mumbai

• Southern Naval Command: Located in Kochi

• Andaman and Nicobar Command: Located in Port Blair

3. Indian Air Force

Established in 1932, the Indian Airforce holds strategic capabilities that help the Indian Army on the war field. Its primary objectives are to protect the Indian airspace and use aircraft during any emergency. The Indian Air Force provides assistance to civilians in case of any internal conflicts or natural calamities. Apart from these, they also provide airlift to the Indian Army on the battlefield. 

The Indian Air Force has seven commands where each air command is supervised by an Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, holding the rank of an Air Marshal. Following are the seven commands of the Indian Air Force:

• Central Air Command: Headquartered in Prayagraj
• Western Air Command: Headquartered in New Delhi
• Southern Air Command: Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram
• Eastern Air Command: Headquartered in Shillong
• South Western Air Command: Headquartered in Gandhinagar
• Maintenance Command: Headquartered in Nagpur
• Training Command: Headquartered in Bangalore

Now that you have gone through the list of armed forces in India, you must know their importance. Simultaneously you must also know the role they play in protecting our country from any kind of internal or external threats.

The Indian Armed Forces are very crucial for protecting the country from any threats or violence. Some of theimportance of armed forces in India are as follows:

• The Indian Armed Forces are vital as they ensure the nation's well-being. 

• They safeguard the nation's unity and defend it in case of foreign or internal disturbance.

• The Indian Armed Forces also help the citizens during natural calamities and civil outbreaks. 

• In addition, the Indian Armed Forces' existence is also significant globally as they have to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations. It is because of India's agreement with the United Nations Charter. 

In addition, the total armed forces in India must work with both state and central government to address the security challenges and threats our country faces.

As a major element of Indian defense, the roles of the armed forces are as follows:

Indian Army

The primary role of the Indian Army is to protect the citizens' national interests and safeguard the terrestrial boundary of our country. The Indian Army also helps government agencies during any internal conflicts and assists both the government and citizens in case of a civil outbreak.

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy works with other armed forces of our country to restrain and defeat any external or internal threats. Their primary role is safeguarding the citizens and India's naval interest during war and peace. The Indian Navy works in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard to make sure that India's naval zones are stable.

Indian Air Force

Like the other two armed forces, the Indian Air Force has the same role of defending our nation. They work with the Indian Army and Indian Navy to protect our country from multiple external and internal disturbances. They provide strategic airlifts to the terrestrial army troops in war zones or battlefields. 

Overall, the above list of armed forces in India is the most vital part of the Indian defence system. They protect our country from unwanted threats in case of emergencies. Without the armed forces, the nation would not function properly, leading to its downfall.