New Delhi: Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in recognition of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa's taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.
On January 15, 2016, India celebrated 68th Indian Army day.
1. Indian Army, the biggest component of Indian armed forces, is headed by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a four-star General. At present Genral Dalbir Singh Suhag is COAS.
2. So far only two officers from Indian Army - Sam Mankeshaw (in 1973) and K M Cariappa (1986) have been conferred the rank of Field Marshal, a five-star rank, which is a ceremonial position of great honour.
3. The Indian Army originated from the armies of the East India Company, which eventually became the British India Army and finally the Indian Army after independence.
4. Indian Army is the 2nd largest standing army in the world, with about 1, 129, 900 active troops and 960,000 reserve troops.
5. The Indian Army is a voluntary service and although a provision for military conscription exists in the Constitution, it has never been imposed.
6. Headquartered at New Delhi, the Indian Army fields 35 Divisions within 13 Corps. The army operates 6 operational commands and 1 training command.
