Structure of Indian Army & its Organizational Divisions

The Indian Army is the land-based unit of the Indian Armed Forces and is responsible for safeguarding the security of India's land borders. The Indian Army is categorised into several components. Each of these components plays its specific roles and responsibilities. 

Moreover, the Indian Army comprises a strength of approximately a million troops that have 34 divisions. The headquarters of the Indian Army is in New Delhi. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) commands this unit. Navigate through this article to learn more about the formation and structure of the Indian Army.

Field formations are part of the Indian Army that are designed to have transportable equipment and mobile weapons. You can find the details of the Basic Field Formations of the Indian Army below:

• Section: This formation is the smallest military unit in the Indian Army. 

  • A Section in the Indian Army comprises ten to twelve soldiers. 

  • NCO or Non-Commissioned Officers of the rank of Havildar or Sergeant command this unit.

• Platoon: Platoon is the second-smallest military division in the Indian Army. It is an intermediate between a Company and a Section.

  • A Platoon Commander leads this branch in the Indian Army. He/She is the Commissioned Officer (CO) of the rank of Captain or Lieutenant. Depending on the availability of Army officers, a JCO or Junior Commissioned Officer can command a Platoon in certain situations. 

  • Besides, a Platoon has the strength of about 32 troops. Four Sections in the Indian Army form a Platoon.

• Battery: A Battery generally consists of about three or four Sections in artillery units and air defence. 

  • Each battery has two officers, and a Battery Commander leads this unit. He/She is the senior of the two army officers.

• Company: The company is another division in the field formation of the Indian Army.

  • In the Indian Army, a Company Commander leads the Company. He/She is a Commissioned Officer of the rank of Major or Captain. 

  • A Company comprises about 120 soldiers. It consists of about four Platoons.

• Battalion: In the Indian Army, a Battalion is the main fighting unit in the Infantry.

  • It has four to six Rifle Companies and between 900 and 1000 combat personnel or soldiers. 

  • A Commissioned Officer commands a Battalion. He/She is of the rank of Colonel.

  • Additionally, each infantry battalion has one Ghatak Platoon.

• Brigade: A Brigade is another significant unit in the field formation.

  • The Indian Army comprises three Infantry Battalions and supports arms or 3000 combat troops along with additional supporting components. 

  • A Brigadier commands a Brigade. 

  • Besides Brigades in various divisions, there are five Independent Armoured Brigades, one Independent Parachute Brigade, two Independent Air Defence Groups, three Independent Air Defence Brigades, seven Independent Infantry Brigades, 15 Independent Artillery Brigades and four Independent Engineer Brigades. 

  • These additional independent Brigades directly function under the command of the Corps Commander or GOC Corps.

• Division: Divisions in the Indian Army played a significant role during every combat and mission.

  • It comprises around 10000 to 15000 combat troops or soldiers. In addition, there are about 8000 support elements. 

  • Three to four Brigades make up Divisions. 

  • A General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the rank of Major General commands Divisions in the Indian Army.

  • The Indian Army presently has about 37 Divisions, including three Armoured Divisions, four RAPID (Reorganised Army Plains Infantry) Action Divisions, 18 Infantry Divisions, two Artillery Divisions, and ten Mountain Divisions.

  • Each Division consists of multiple Brigades.

• Command: In the Indian Army, Commands are organisational units that are directly affiliated to the Headquarters of the Indian Army in New Delhi. 

  • A military commander supervises a Command and provides a legal framework for the authority deployed upon them.

  • The Indian Army is divided into seven Commands - six field armies or operational commands and one Training Command.

  • A General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) with the rank of Lieutenant General commands these divisions.

  • Besides, army officers might also head tri-service Commands, including the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), the Strategic Forces Command, and the Andaman & Nicobar Command.

• Corps: In the Indian Army, Corps is a field formation that functions for a specific zone within a Command theatre. 
  • Indian Army Corps consists of two to five Divisions and has about 20000 to 45000 soldiers. 
  • There are three types of Corps - Holding, Strike and Mixed. The Indian Army consists of 14 Corps and 40 Divisions.
  • Corps Headquarters is the highest field structure in the Indian Army formation.

The Indian Army comprises seven command structures and basic organisational structures.

The following is the seven-command structure, along with the details of their subordinate units and headquarters:

1. Central Command | Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Central Command, or Surya Command, has played a pivotal role in nation-building and humanitarian assistance. In addition, it has contributed immensely to disaster relief operations within India and in foreign nations.

However, no units or Corps of the Central Command are presently functioning. All of it has been deployed to the South Western Command in the Indian Army.

2. Eastern Command | Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal

The four Corps under the Eastern Command are as follows:

• III Corps having headquarters at Dimapur, Nagaland

• XVII Corps having headquarters at Panagarh, West Bengal

• IV Corps having headquarters at Tezpur, Assam

• XXXIII Corps having headquarters at Siliguri, West Bengal

Furthermore, there are twelve divisions under Eastern Command.

3. Western Command: Headquarters: Chandi Mandir, Haryana

The subordinate units or Corps functioning under the Western Command of the Indian Army are as follows:

• IX Corps has headquarters at Yol, Himachal Pradesh

• II Corps having headquarters at Ambala, Haryana

• XI Corps, having headquarters in Jalandhar, Punjab

About nine divisions function under Western Command.

4. South Western Command | Headquarters: Jaipur, Rajasthan

Two Corps or subordinate units function under the South Western Command. These are as follows:

• 42nd Artillery Division, with headquarters in Jaipur

• XXI Corps has headquarters at Bhatinda, Punjab

• I Corps has headquarters at Mathura, Uttar Pradesh

Furthermore, there are seven divisions under the Indian Army South Western Command.

5. Northern Command | Headquarters: Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir

It has three subordinate units or Corps, such as:

• XIV Corps having headquarters at Leh

• XVI Corps having headquarters at Nagrota

• XV Corps having headquarters at Srinagar

Furthermore, seven divisions and one Brigade (10 artillery Brigades) function under the Northern command. 

6. Southern Command | Headquarters: Pune, Maharashtra

The subordinate units or Corps functioning under the Southern Army Command are as follows:

• XXI Corps has headquarters at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

• XII Corps having headquarters at Jodhpur, Rajasthan

However, there are six divisions under the Southern Command.

7. Training Command: Headquarters: Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

The Indian Army Training Command, or ATRAC, serves as the nodal agency for all institutional training in the Indian Army. They perform the following functions:

• It evolves combined doctrines along with other services

• This training command helps formulate doctrines of warfare and concepts in the strategic field, logistics, tactics, and operational art. They also train human resource development so they can handle real-life combats.

• It helps to plan, coordinate and implement training policies and conducts training courses at the Indian Army training establishments.

• ATRAC continuously interacts with training commands of other services at the conceptual level.

• It helps to prepare training manuals, special training reports and directives, and audits training establishments.

• ATRAC supervises and monitors training in all other army training institutes and establishments.

The organisational structure of the Indian Army is divided into three groups. Each of these groups further consists of smaller units, which are as follows:

1. Combat Arms

Combat Arms or Fighting Arms is the name given to a group of troops within the Indian Armed Forces that operate in direct tactical ground. There are six Corps/Units under Combat Arms. These are as follows:

• Infantry: The key role of infantry is to attack and defend during a war. All the other branches support these troops on foot.
• Armoured Corp: This unit has the armoured regiments of the Indian Army. It comprises 63 armoured regiments.
• Regiment of Artillery: Artillery is the second largest unit of the Indian Army. It comprises one-sixth of the Army's total strength. Artillery consists of aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, mortars, guns, rocket launchers, missiles, and artillery firepower. It is further subdivided into Corps of Army Air Defence and Field Artillery.
• Mechanised Infantry: The Mechanised Infantry Regiment comprises 27 battalions deployed under various armoured formations throughout India.
• Army Aviation Corps: The Army Aviation Corps functions during external aggressions and attacks enemies from the air. Furthermore, it ensures logistical support to the Indian Army in remote regions. 
• Corps of Army Air Defence: Army Air Defence comprises guns and rockets to handle airborne enemy attacks.

2. Combat Support Arms

Combat Support Arms is a structure of the Indian Army that supports and assists the combat troops and soldiers by providing cover fire to the infantry and armoured soldiers. The following are the divisions/structures under this unit:

• Army Ordnance Corps: This unit procures clothes for weapons such as tanks, missiles etc., except medicines, fuel, and fodder for the Indian Army.
• Corps of EME: EME Corps handles the development, design, trial, testing, inspection and fitting of equipment and weapons. Besides, they provide technical advice to troops and conduct recovery missions in peace and war.
• Army Supply/Service Corps: These units procure and distribute fresh & dry food items, food supplies, rations, hygiene chemicals, fuels, oil and lubricants, carriage & distribution of weapons and ammunition, and hospital comforts items to Army.
• Corps of Signals: Corps of Signals handles Indian Army’s military communications. This unit functions closely with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and develops control and command software.
• Army Medical Corps: It is a specialist unit/division in the Indian Army which provides medical services to all army personnel. 
• Corps of Engineers: This unit handles all the technical aspects of missions. This team comprises - Combat Engineers, Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineering Service, Married Accommodation Project and Survey of India.

3. Supporting Arms

This unit supports the other two divisions of the Indian Army, especially the Fighting Arms of the Indian Army. Read all about them in detail below:

• Intelligence Corps: Military Intelligence Corps handles counter-terrorism in the north and the northeast areas. Besides, it operates specific intelligence for small-group missions. This team also handles counterintelligence, which includes identifying and detecting spies in military areas.
• Army Dental Corps: Army Dental Corps have officers assisting the troops and soldiers by educating them about maintaining their oral hygiene and making them aware of dental care.
• Corps of Military Police: Corps of Military Police receive rigorous training to handle prisoners of war. This unit also regulates traffic and operates telecommunication equipment.
• Army Education Corps: This unit educates soldiers and officers of all ranks in several disciplines about various tactics and strategies to be implemented during warfare. Officials of these institutes provide education in combat and non-combat missions. Additionally, they provide education in military academies like NDA, AFA, ACC, IMA, INA, etc. and post-commission courses.
• Military Nursing Service: Military Nursing Service is a primary division of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). After independence, the authorities of this unit have played a crucial role in United Nations peacekeeping missions abroad.
• Military Farms Services: Military Farms were established during the British era to supply the Indian Army with dairy products. As of August 2017, the Government has ordered the closing down of all 39 Military Farms as they are not in use currently.
• Territorial Army: The Territorial Army is an auxiliary military organisation comprising part-time volunteers. This unit provides support services to the Indian Army and functions for a limited period while being in civilian service for the rest of the year.
• Pioneer Corps: These units provide well-trained manpower in places where civilian labour is unavailable, or employment is not required due to security purposes. Pioneer units are mostly committed to operational areas.
• Judge Advocate General’s Department: It is the legal division of the Indian Army. This unit deal will include all the court marshals. This branch provides legal advice to the soldiers and practises military law on its personnel.
• Army Postal Service Corps: This division ensures postal, remittance, savings & insurance facilities to Army, Indian Navy, Air Force and Paramilitary forces personnel. There are about 500 Field Post Offices established across India. This unit also provides cover to Indian soldiers deployed with United Nations peacekeeping Forces abroad.
• Defence Security Corps: The responsibility of this unit is to ensure the security of designated defence installations and safeguard them from pilferage or sabotage. This department ensures security at India's nuclear laboratories, Indian Ordnance Factories, and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) establishments.
• Remount and Veterinary Corps: Remount and Veterinary Corps breeds, rears and trains all animals used in the battalion.

All the divisions and units of the Indian Army perform separate duties and responsibilities. Therefore, each unit is crucial in its aspect. The Indian Army is important as the soldiers safeguard our nation in every possible way by continuously upgrading and adapting themselves to newer trends. Below is the importance of the Indian Army:

• The Indian Army is crucial for the nation's safety as they aid national security. They preserve our nation’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and harmony from external intimidation or aggression.

• The soldiers in the Indian Army undergo rigorous training. It enhances their spiritual, cognitive, psychological, physical and social well-being.

• Our Indian Army ensures humanitarian support and assistance to civilians in case of any emergency or natural disaster.

• Indian soldiers are highly trained to use advanced weapons and warfare tactics. It is important so they can respond to external attacks as and when required.

• The Indian Army knows the use of cyber systems, AI technology, Drones and multiple modern equipment, which are important to support their missions and operations.

This sums up the important details of the formation and structure of the Indian Army. The duties and responsibilities of each Army officer are crucial as they are deployed to head a specific unit. All the soldiers in the troops and the officers abide by the three most significant principles – duty, honour and country.