Introduction of Indian Defence System
The Indian Defence System is mainly divided into three branches - Army, Navy and Air Force. Although the President is the 'Supreme Commander' of the Indian Defence Forces (Article 53) as per the Constitution, the administrative functions related to national security are performed by the Ministry of Defence. The major decisions in defence matters are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister. The Defence Minister is responsible to Parliament in all matters relating to the department. The administrative and operational matters of the forces are taken by the Ministry of Defence and the three services. The headquarters of all three services are in New Delhi. India is the fourth largest military power in the world in terms of manpower. The Coast Guard, Territorial Army and NCC are the subordinate branches of the Defence Forces. The Central Police Forces are special security forces working under the Union Home Ministry in relation to the internal security of the country. The Central Police Forces have two components namely the Central Police Organisation and the Central Armed Police Forces. The Ministry of Defence has five departments -
1. Department of Defence (DOD)
2. Department of Military Affairs (DMA)
3. Department of Defence Production (DDP)
4. Department of Defence Research and Development (DRDO) and
5. Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW)
National Security Forces in India
The Indian defence system is mainly classified into three - the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. Although the President is the 'Supreme Commander' of the Indian Defence Forces (Article 53) as per the Constitution, the administrative functions related to national security are carried out by the Ministry of Defence. The major decisions in defence matters are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs headed by the Prime Minister. The Defence Minister is responsible to Parliament in all matters relating to the department. The administrative and operational matters of the forces are taken by the Ministry of Defence and the three services. The headquarters of all three services are in New Delhi. India is the fourth largest military power in the world in terms of manpower. The Coast Guard, Territorial Army and NCC are the subordinate branches of the defence forces. The Central Police Forces are special security forces working under the Union Home Ministry in relation to the internal security of the country. The Central Police Forces have two components namely the Central Police Organisation and the Central Armed Police Forces.
INDIAN ARMED FORCES
◆ Indian Army
The Indian Army consists of over 1.1 million regular members and about 1 million reserve members. Major Stringer Lawrence is known as the 'Father of the Indian Army'. He took charge as the Commander-in-Chief of the forces under the English East India Company in 1748. When India gained independence in 1947, the Chief of Army Staff was General Sir Robert Lockhart.
Indian Army Commands and Headquarters - Central Command (Lucknow), Eastern Command (Kolkata), Northern Command (Udhampur), Western Command (Chandimandir), Southern Command (Pune), South Western Command (Jaipur), Army Training Command (Shimla),
Indian Army Ranks - General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant
◆ Indian Navy
India has the fourth largest navy in the world. Before independence, the navy was known as the Bombay Marine, Indian Navy, and Indian Marines. The Royal Indian Navy was established in 1934. The first Indian to be commissioned in the Navy was D.N. Mukherjee (1928). When India became a republic on 26 January 1950, it was renamed the 'Indian Navy'.
Indian Navy Commands (Headquarters) - Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam), Western Naval Command (Mumbai), Southern Naval Command (Kochi)
Indian Navy Ranks - Admiral, Vice - Admiral, Rear Admiral, Commodore, Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, Lieutenant, Sub Lieutenant
◆ Indian Air Force
The Royal Indian Air Force was established on 8 October 1932 and became known as the Indian Air Force on 26 January 1950. The Chief of the Air Force is the Chief of Air Staff. The Air Force has seven commands. Marshal of the Air Force is the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Air Force, equivalent to the rank of Field Marshal in the Army. The only person to have received this honour is Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh (in 2002). The Air Force Museum is located at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi. India's air force is the fourth largest in the world. It currently has a strength of around 1.2 lakh employees. 'Garud' is a special commando wing of the Air Force. It was formed in 2003.
Indian Air Force Commands (Headquarters) - Central Air Command (Allahabad), Eastern Air Command (Shillong), Western Air Command (New Delhi), Southern Air Command (Trivandrum), South Western Air Command (Gandhinagar), Maintenance Command (Nagpur), Training Command (Bangalore)
Indian Air Force Ranks - Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal, Air Commodore, Group Captain, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader, Flight Lieutenant, Flying Officer
Special Forces of the Indian Armed Forces
◆ Para Commandos (Army)
Para Commandos are Indian special forces unit nicknamed 'Glass Eaters'. It is the Para Special Forces, a special forces unit of the Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army. This nickname is because they chew and eat even glass without hesitation! It is one of the oldest parachute units in the world. And, one of the most dangerous commando forces in the world! India used Para Commandos to conduct a surgical strike against Pakistan in 2016. These people are trained to survive anywhere in the world. The services of Para Commandos are sought for missions that require extraordinary skills, such as special missions, direct battles with enemies, freeing hostages, and eliminating terrorists. They are known for their stealth and jungle warfare. Paratroopers are another branch of the Parachute Regiment.
◆ MARCOS/Marine Commandos (Navy)
MARCOS, officially known as the Marine Commando Force (MCF), is a special commando unit of the Indian Navy. MARCOS was formed in February 1987. They are trained in combat on land, in the air, and in the water. They are specialized in counter-insurgency operations in the Jhelum River and Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. They are also known as the 'Dadiwala Fauj' (bearded soldiers) because they wear beards and disguise themselves in populated areas. Known for their varied combat tactics, they have participated in many military missions including the Kargil War, Operation Pawan, Operation Black Tornado, and Operation Cactus.
◆ Garud Commando Force (Air Force)
The Garud Commando Force is a special commando unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in 2004. The decision to form such a commando force was made after the terrorist attacks on two important air force bases in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001. The Garud Commando Force is named after Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. The main mission of these commandos is to provide protection to air force bases. Garuda's services are used for search and rescue operations during natural disasters and other disasters. Their duties include assisting air strikes during war, rescuing injured air force personnel, destroying enemy air defenses, and disrupting radar systems.
PARAMILITARY FORCES
The paramilitary forces, like the Indian Defence Forces, also consist of armed soldiers. Paramilitary forces are armed forces formed under the Union Home Ministry at various times for tasks such as border protection, peacekeeping, internal and external security, and assisting the army in times of war. The forces, which were earlier known as paramilitary forces, are now known as the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Home Ministry.
CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES (CAPF)
◆ Assam Rifles (AR)
Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India. Formed in 1835 under the British government. The 'Cachar Levy' was renamed the Assam Rifles in 1917. The motto of the Assam Rifles is 'Friends of the Hill People'. It has been called the Assam Frontier Police (1883), the Assam Military Police (1891), and the Eastern Bengal and Assam Military Police (1913) at various times. It was finally renamed the Assam Rifles in 1917. Known as the Guardians of the Northeast, the Assam Rifles is headquartered in Shillong. The main missions of this force are to protect international borders, fight insurgents in the northeastern states, and protect the India-Myanmar border. It served in Europe during World War I and in Burma during World War II. It has been part of the central government's policy of 'One Border One Force' since 2002.
◆ Border Security Force (BSF)
Border Security Force or Border Protection Force is a force formed on December 1, 1965 to protect the country's borders from enemy attacks, prevent illegal activities through the border, and prevent illegal immigration from neighboring countries. Their motto is 'Duty up to Death'. The main task of the BSF is to control cross-border infiltration and protect India's borders during peacetime. Following the 1965 Indo-Pak war, the central government formed the Border Security Force, realizing the need for a strong border protection force. From 1947 to 1965, the responsibility of protecting the Indian borders was with the police of the respective states. The BSF was a part of military operations such as the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Operation Bluestar, Operation Black Thunder, and the Kargil War. The BSF has its own helicopters and aircraft. The BSF also conducts the 'Beating Retreat' ritual at the Wagah border every day. The BSF is the largest border guarding force in the world with about 2.5 lakh personnel, including women.
◆ Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), a border security force, was established on 24 October 1962. Following the 1962 India-China War, the central government formed the ITBP to provide a strong paramilitary force to protect the Tibetan areas bordering China. In 1992, the Parliament enacted the ITBP Act. The motto of the ITBP is "Shaurya-Dridhta-Karma Nishtha" (Valour-Steadfastness-Committment)'. They guard the Himalayan mountain range of the India-China border from the snow-capped Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jelep La in Arunachal Pradesh. The main duties of the ITBP are to maintain vigil on the northern borders, ensure the safety of the local population, prevent border violations and prevent illegal immigration. ITBP soldiers have also been providing security at the Indian Embassy and Consulate General of India in Kabul since 2002. Two battalions of ITBP have been deployed for national disaster management.
◆ Sastra Seema Bal (SSB)
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was formed after the 1962 war between India and China. The force, which adopted the ideals of service, security and brotherhood, was initially known as the 'Special Service Bureau'. Initially, the SSB was inducted into the army by providing training in small arms to villagers in border villages and posted on the borders. This reduced the harassment of Chinese spies. In 1963, it became a fully-fledged force. Its main mission was to provide armed support to India's intelligence agency, RAW. In January 2001, as part of the administrative reforms of the Union Home Ministry, the force began to be known as Sashastra Seema Bal. The SSB works from the front to chase away insurgents and combat Naxals. Today, the SSB provides protection to about 80,000 villages and the international border areas including Nepal and Bhutan. The SSB functions as the border guarding force and lead intelligence agency on the India-Nepal border.
◆ National Security Guard (NSG)
The National Security Guard is a special force formed with the aim of protecting the Indian states from all forms of terrorist activities. This special force is deployed in missions that cannot be handled by the state police or other paramilitary forces, including terrorist attacks and aircraft hijackings. The NSG, a special commando unit, was formed after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Sikh terrorists in 1984. NSG commandos were responsible for the attack on the Golden Temple in 1988, the rescue of hostages when terrorists hijacked an Indian Airlines Boeing 737 in 1993, and the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The NSG is also known as the Black Cats because of its black uniform. The Special Action Group (SAG) and the Special Ranger Group (SRG) are two wings of the NSG.
◆ Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a force responsible for the protection of historical monuments, industrial establishments, strategic establishments and nuclear power plants. The CISF is an armed force established in 1969 by a special act passed by the Indian Parliament for the security of important government institutions and public sector industrial establishments in India. The motto of the CISF is protection and security. The CISF, which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs, today has more than 1.5 lakh members. CISF personnel provide security to about 300 units, including about 60 airports and about 11 private sector establishments in India. This includes defense establishments, power plants, ports, RBI, Delhi Metro, atomic power stations and steel plants. The Special Security Group and the Fire Wing are the units formed by the CISF. The CISF is the only armed force that works in conjunction with important institutions in the maritime, air and land sectors. The CISF has special battalions that work in collaboration with the state police.
◆ Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
The CRPF is the largest paramilitary force in India. It was formed on 27 July 1939 under the name of Crown Representatives Police under the British government. The main task of this force was to provide protection to the British residences and their residents. Later, after independence, they became the CRPF through a special amendment to the law. The CRPF, which started its operations in Madhya Pradesh with two battalions, today has more than three lakh members. The main task of the CRPF is to suppress riots, maintain law and order, conduct election work, UN missions and conduct defensive operations. The terrorists who attacked the Indian Parliament building in 2001 were killed in an encounter by CRPF soldiers. Cobra, Rapid Action Force, and Green Force are part of the CRPF.
OTHER SECURITY FORCES IN INDIA
◆ Railway Protection Force (RPF)
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a police force formed to provide protection to the property of Indian Railways and train passengers. Coming under the Ministry of Railways, this force has a unique feature that other armed forces do not have: the power to arrest criminals, take legal action and conduct investigations. The Railway Protection Force was formed on July 2, 1872. After independence, the Railway Protection Force Act of 1957 was enacted by Parliament, and the RPF came under the Ministry of Railways. At present, there are about 75,000 members.
◆ Special Frontier Force (SSF)
The Special Frontier Force (SFF) is a commando unit formed in November 1962 to monitor and take necessary action against covert activities on the border in the wake of the 1962 Indo-China War. Under the supervision of the Prime Minister, the Special Frontier Force has received excellent training under the leadership of the American intelligence agency, the CIA. The Special Frontier Force, which started its operations under the Central Intelligence Bureau, now works as a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). With the help of the Aviation Research Centre, the Special Frontier Force (SFF) is also a force capable of flying and operating in difficult mountainous and jungle areas.
◆ Special Protection Group (SPG)
The Special Protection Group (SPG) is a special force formed in 1985 to provide security to the Prime Minister, his family members and former Prime Ministers. Initially, the protection of Prime Ministers was entrusted to a team headed by the Commissioner of Delhi Police. In 1981, a force called the Special Task Force was formed and entrusted with the protection of Prime Ministers. Later, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the Special Protection Group was formed as part of enhancing the security of Prime Ministers. It functioned as a special agency from 1985 to 1988 and was authorized by Parliament under the 1988 Act.
◆ Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra)
Cobra is a CRPF unit specially trained for armed operations in Naxal-affected areas, guerrilla warfare and forest warfare. Cobra was formed in 2008 after the security forces were threatened by the aggressive Naxalites. The aim was to carry out counter-attacks on Naxalite strongholds. Cobra commandos are highly trained to perform various tasks in dangerous areas. The motto of the Cobra force is 'Glory or Death'. Currently, the 10,000-strong Cobra force, consisting of ten battalions, is deployed in 70 districts where the Naxal threat exists.
◆ Rapid Action Force (RAF)
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a special unit of the CRPF that is specially trained for various services such as controlling communal and civil riots, leading relief operations, and crowd control. The Rapid Action Force was formed in Delhi on 11 December 1991 with the motto of Serving Humanity with Sensitive Policing. The force became fully operational in October 1992. The Rapid Action Force currently has fifteen battalions.
◆ Home Guards
The Home Guards are an auxiliary force that provides assistance to various state police forces. The services of the Home Guards are available in cases of internal security and natural calamities. The Home Guards were formed in December 1946 but were expanded following the Chinese invasion of 1962. In the wake of the Chinese invasion of 1962, the Centre advised the states and union territories to merge the existing volunteer organizations and raise them into a unified volunteer force known as the Home Guards. The organization is spread across all other states and union territories except Kerala.
◆ Rashtriya Rifles
Rashtriya Rifles is a paramilitary force formed in 1990 to suppress terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The force is mainly concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir. The motto of Rashtriya Rifles is Dridhta aur virta (courage and valour). It was formed by General B.C. Joshi.
◆ Ghatak Force
Ghatak Commandos or Ghatak Platoon is a powerful infantry unit of the Indian Army. They are the frontline fighters of the Army. Every battalion has a Ghatak Platoon. The Hindi word Ghatak means killer or deadly. It consists of the most physically fit soldiers in each battalion. A Ghatak Platoon usually has 20 people. Along with combat techniques, they are trained in mountain climbing and attacks using helicopters. They can perform missions that require a lot of skill, such as observing enemy hideouts without being seen by them, breaking through enemy defenses and launching surprise attacks on key centers.
Paramilitary forces of the Defence Forces
◆ Coast Guard
The Coast Guard is a force under the Ministry of Defence that is responsible for protecting India's coastal borders. This force is also responsible for protecting maritime borders and marine resources. In the 1960s, when the Customs could not cope with the increasing smuggling through the sea alone, they started seeking the help of the Indian Navy. With this, the Coast Guard was formed to monitor the sea and prevent smuggling. With the formation of the Coast Guard, smuggling through the sea decreased to some extent. The Indian Coast Guard, which came into existence on February 1, 1977, received the approval of the Parliament under the Coast Guard Act of 1978 and was subsequently established on August 18, 1978. They work in collaboration with the Navy, Fisheries Department, Customs, and State Police. The Coast Guard is responsible for the protection and rescue of fishermen.
◆ Territorial Army (TA)
The Indian Territorial Force was established in 1920 under the Indian Territorial Act of 1920 as a successor to the Indian Defence Force (1917-1920) established by the British. The Territorial Army was formed under the Territorial Army Act of 1948 as a successor to the Indian Territorial Force (1920-1948). The Territorial Army is a voluntary organization of Indian citizens who have received military training to assist the Indian Army in times of need for the defense of the country. It can be considered a parallel force of the Indian Army operating under the Department of Defense. They are not regular soldiers and may come from any other field. Mohanlal, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Abhinav Bindra are all part of the Territorial Army. They are given military rank based on their contributions to the country. There is no remuneration for their service.
◆ National Cadet Corps (NCC)
The NCC was established as a successor to the University Corps, which was established under the Indian Defence Act of 1917. The University Corps was renamed the University Training Corps (UTC) in 1920 and the University Officers Training Corps in 1942. The NCC Act of 1948 made new reforms and retained the name NCC in the country. The NCC came into existence on 15 July 1948. Considered an Indian paramilitary force, the NCC was established on the recommendations of the H.N. Khunsru Committee appointed in 1946. The NCC functions under the Indian Ministry of Defence. The first unit of the NCC came into existence in Delhi in November 1948. The motto of the NCC was adopted on 23 December 1957, with the phrase "Unity and Discipline". The fourth Sunday of November is observed as NCC Day. NCC units operate in high schools, colleges and universities. A student who is a member of the NCC is called a cadet. Parades using small arms, systematic military classes and military camps are organized for the cadets.
Central Police Organisation in India
The Central Police Forces are special security forces operating under the Union Home Ministry in connection with the internal security of the country. The Central Police Forces have two components, the Central Police Organisation and the Central Armed Police Forces.
Agencies of Central Police Organization (CPO)
◆ Intelligence Bureau (IB)
The Intelligence Bureau is the domestic intelligence agency of India. The Intelligence Bureau was formed in 1887. The Intelligence Bureau operates under the Union Home Department. It was originally called the Central Special Branch. In 1920, the name was changed to the Intelligence Bureau. The agency works in relation to national security. The mission of the IB is to collect secret information related to national security. The first director of the IB in independent India is T.G. Sanjeevi Pillai.
◆ Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) is the foreign intelligence agency of India. The full form of RAW is Research and Analysis Wing. RAW was established on 21 September 1968. The defeat in the Indo-China War of 1962 laid the foundation for the idea of a special international secret police. RAW was modeled after the American spy agency CIA. RN Kao is the founding director of RAW. K.Shankaran Nair is the second director of RAW. RAW operates under the control of the Prime Minister. RAW is an intelligence agency that works only on deputation from the armed forces, state police, etc. K.Shankaran Nair and Hormis Tharakan are the Keralites who became the head of RAW. 'The law protects when it is protected' is the motto of RAW. New Delhi is its headquarters.
◆ Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
The CBI is the most important investigative agency in India. The full form of the CBI is the Central Bureau of Investigation. The organization known as the predecessor of the CBI is the Special Police Establishment. The Special Police Establishment came into existence in 1941. The CBI was established on April 1, 1963. Initially, the CBI dealt with corruption cases involving central employees. The founding director of the CBI was D.P. Kohli. The longest-serving CBI director was D.Sen. Archana Ramasundaram is the CBI's first woman additional director. The CBI started investigating economic crimes, murder, kidnapping, terrorist attacks, etc. in India since 1965. The headquarters of the CBI is in New Delhi. The three investigative wings of the CBI are the Anti Corruption Investigation Wing, the Economic Offences Wing and the Special Investigation Wing. The CBI office in Kerala is in Kochi. The CBI is the investigative agency that represents India in Interpol. The CBI operates under the Department of Personal Public Grievances & Pensions of the Central Government. The activities of the CBI are supervised by the Prime Minister's Office. 'Industry, Impartiality and Integrity' is the motto of CBI. CBI Academy is located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The Central Forensic Science Laboratory operates under the control of the CBI. Central Forensic Science Laboratory established in 1968 is located in New Delhi.
◆ National Investigation Agency (NIA)
NIA is the counter-terrorism agency of the Government of India. The investigative agency formed following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. This is a special agency formed by the central government to combat terrorist activities. The bill related to this was introduced in Parliament on December 16, 2008. It began operating with its headquarters in Delhi on January 1, 2009. Radha Vinod Raju, a Malayali, was the first Director General of the agency. In addition to terrorism, crimes such as counterfeit currency, money laundering, drugs, and smuggling also fall under the agency's investigation program. It can also engage in investigations without the permission of state governments.
◆ National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
National Crime Records Bureau was established in 1986. It acts as a repository of information on crime and criminals. The National Crime Records Bureau operates under the Union Home Department. It was formed on the basis of the recommendations of the Tandon Committee, the National Police Commission (1977-1981), and the Task Force of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data and acting as a repository of such information to assist investigators in finding crimes and criminals. The headquarters of the National Crime Records Bureau is in New Delhi. In 2009, the National Crime Records Bureau was entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring, coordinating and implementing the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) project.
◆ Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)
Bureau of Police Research and Development was established in 1970 under the Ministry of Home Affairs as a replacement for the Police Research Advisory Council. Its Headquarters is located in New Delhi. It was established with an aim to Identify the needs and problems of the police in the country. It undertakes research projects and studies and suggest methods to overcome the problems and challenges faced by the police and to meet the needs and requirements of the police. The Bureau was initially formed with two sections - Research, Statistics & Publication and Development. As per the recommendations of the Gore-Committee, the Bureau set up a Training Section in 1973. Bureau of Police Research and Development has five Central Detective Training Institutes. The institutes are located at Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ghaziabad and Jaipur.
◆ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (Hyderabad)
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy is a civil service training institution in India. The institution trains officers of the Indian Police Service who are selected through the All Indian Civil Service Exam. The trained officers will be posted as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in their respective states. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy was formed in 15th September 1948 in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The institution moved to its current location at Hyderabad in 1975. The institution was renamed after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was the man responsible for creating 'All Indian Services'. The motto of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy is Satya Seva Surakshanam.
◆ North Eastern Police Academy
The North Eastern Police Academy formerly called as the Regional Police Training College is an institution working under the Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India. It is located in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya. The academy started in July 1978. It is engaged in shaping police officers for fair, effective and sensitive policing. It is dedicated to educating police officers in the North Eastern states and across the country to safeguard the value of freedom from disorder, criminal acts and criminals.
◆ National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (NICFS)
The National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science was established in 1972 under the ministry of Home Affairs. It has been renamed as 'Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Science (LNJN NICFS) on 2003 and continues to function as the country’s nodal institution. The institute provides training to all senior practitioners in the criminal justice system in the fields of criminology and forensic science, and also facilitates research related to these fields.
◆ Central Vigilance Commission
The Central Vigilance Commission was formed in February 1964. The Central Vigilance Commission was formed on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee. In 2003, the Central Vigilance Commission Act came into force after the Central Vigilance Commission Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Accordingly, it was given statutory status. Under the Whistleblowers Act, a complaint can be filed with the Central or State Vigilance Commission alleging corruption by officials.
◆ Bureau of Immigration, India
The Bureau of Immigration is an agency of government of india, working under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The agency is responsible for managing immigration related functions such as immigration facilitation service at Integrated Check Posts, Sea-ports and Airports and foreigner registration. The Bureau of Immigration was formed in 1971. The head of the agency is Commissioner of Immigration. The department of Bureau of Immigration is working directly under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
◆ Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Narcotics Control Bureau is a nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of government of india, working under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was established in 1985 November 14, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. Delhi is its headquarters. It also functions as an enforcement agency through its Zonal Offices. The Zonal Offices of NCB are responsible for collecting and analysing data related to seizures of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It works in close collaboration with State Police, Customs and other law enforcement agencies.
◆ National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
After the natural calamities of Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004), among many others, the concerned authorities took necessary steps of designing the systematic disaster management plan. This led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26, 2005. As a result of Disaster Management Act, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is constituted for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
Intelligence and Investigative Agencies in India
The Central Intelligence and Investigative Agencies are responsible for preserving the unity and integrity of the country during any attempt of threat to the internal as well as external security of the nation. Apart from the defence and paramilitary forces in India, various intelligence and investigation agencies are engaged in internal and external security of nation. Here are a list of various Intelligence and Investigative Agencies in India.
1. Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Intelligence Bureau (IB) is the main internal intelligence agency of India. It is one of the oldest intelligence agency in the world. IB was established in 1887 with its headquarters at New Delhi. It was recast as the central intelligence bureau in 1947 under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2. Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)
The primary foreign (external) intelligence agency of india is Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). It is similar to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of US. RAW is established in 1968 with its headquarters at New Delhi. The primary function of RAW is gathering foreign intelligence and counter terrorism. The first director of RAW is Alok Joshi.
3. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the foremost investigating police agency in India. It is similar to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of US. It was established in 1963 April 1 with its headquarters at New Delhi. The former name of CBI is Special Police Establishment which was founded in 1941. The motto of CBI is Industry, Impartiality, Integrity. The indian agency which represent Interpol is Central Bureau of Investigation. The first director of CBI is Dr.P.Kohli. The CBI academy is located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
4. National Investigation Agency
The federal agency established by the Indian Government to combat terrorism in India is National Investigation Agency. It was established in 2009. Its headquarters is at New Delhi. It was formed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The founding Director General of National Investigation Agency is Radha Vinod Raju.
5. Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)
Narcotics Control Bureau is a nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of government of india, working under the Union Home Department. It was established in 1985 November 14, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. Delhi is its headquarters. It also functions as an enforcement agency through its Zonal Offices.
6. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
National Crime Records Bureau was formed in 1986. It acts as a repository of information on crime and criminals. The NCRB operates under the Union Home Department. They are responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data. They acts as a repository of crime data to assist investigators in finding crimes and criminals.
7. National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)
The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is a technical intelligence agency of India Government. It was established in 2004. This intelligence agency reports to the National Security Advisor and to the Prime Minister's Office. National Technical Research Organisation comprises of National Institute of Cryptology Research and Development and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre.
8. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
The Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency responsible for providing and coordinating the defence and military intelligence to the Armed Forces of India - Military, Navy and Air Force. It was established in March 2002 and operates under the Ministry of Defence.
9. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERT-In or ICERT is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) was established in 2004 and operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India. It strengthens security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain.
10. National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC)
The National Cyber Coordination Centre is an operational cyber security and e-surveillance agency of India. The main function of NCCC is intended to screen communication metadata and co-ordinate the intelligence gathering activities of other agencies of india government. Components of the National Cyber Coordination Centre includes the cybercrime prevention strategy, outdated laws review and cybercrime investigation training.
11. Joint Cipher Bureau (JCB)
The Joint Cipher Bureau is an agency operating under the Indian armed forces. It is responsible for signals intelligence, cryptanalysis, encryption of sensitive data and coordinate the similar activities and operations of military intelligence agencies. The Joint Cipher Bureau works closely with the Intelligence Bureau and Research & Analysis Wing.
12. Central Monitoring Organisation (CMO)
The Central Monitoring Organisation is an agency operating under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. It has several monitoring companies across the country. The main duties of Central Monitoring Organisation is to monitor the use of radio spectrum in various sectors such as Defence, Police, All India Radio, Railways, Public Sector Untertaking etc.
13. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM)
Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring earlier called as the Vigilance Telecom Monitoring (VTM), is an agency operates under the vigilance and monitoring wing of the Indian Department of Telecommunications. Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring formed in October 2004, is made up of 34 Cells in 22 telecom circles of india and 10 large telecom districts
14. All India Radio Monitoring Service (AIRMS)
All India Radio Monitoring Service is the central monitoring service of india government that monitors the broadcasts in the country and also from all foreign broadcasts of interest to India. All India Radio Monitoring Service is located in Simla. It operates closely with the Research & Analysis Wing and Military intelligence agencies.
15. Signals Intelligence Directorate (SID)
The Signals Intelligence Directorate is a joint service organisation that includes the officers of the Indian Armed Forces - Army, Navy and Air Force. Signals Intelligence Directorate has a large number of Wireless Experimental Units (WEUs) that carry out the specific task of monitoring the military links of other countries.
16. Aviation Research Centre (ARC)
The Aviation Research Centre is an imagery intelligence organisation of India Government. It operates under the Directorate General of Security of Research and Analysis Wing. It started its operations in November 1962, in the wake of the Indo China War, as an extension of the Intelligence Bureau. It was formally created on 7 September 1963. Currently Aviation Research Centre is placed under the Ministry of External Affairs.
17. Financial Intelligence Unit - India (FIU)
Financial Intelligence Unit is an organisation working under the Department of Revenue, Government of India. It is the central, national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analyzing and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions. It was established in November 2004 and reports directly to the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) headed by the Finance Minister. The functions of Financial Intelligence Unit are collecting information, information analysis, information sharing, act as central repository, coordination, research & analysis and punitive action.
18. State Special Branch/State Intelligence
There are several state intelligence agencies working under the respective state/union territory police force of India. It includes Special Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CID), State Special Branch, State Intelligence Department, etc.
19. Directorate of Air Intelligence (DAI)
The Directorate of Air Intelligence is the intelligence agency of the Indian Air Force. Its duty is to give timely, accurate and synchronized intelligence support for the tactical and operational needs of the Indian Air force.
20. Directorate of Naval Intelligence (DNI)
The Directorate of Naval Intelligence is the intelligence agency of the Indian Navy.
21. Directorate of Income Tax (Intelligence and Criminal Investigation)
The Directorate of Intelligence and Criminal Investigation has the responsibility of ensuring timely, complete and accurate filing of Financial Transaction Statement and Reportable Accounts Statement by the Reporting Entities.
22. Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation
The Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation is the law enforcement agency operates under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. They are responsible for investigating violations of India's tax laws. It also includes the investigation of fraud, evasion and money laundering. The controlling authority of Directorate General of Income Tax Investigation is the Investigation Division of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
23. Directorate of Enforcement (ED)
The Directorate of Enforcement is a law enforcement and economic intelligence agency. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) was established on 1 May 1956 as an Enforcement Unit within the Economic Affairs Department of India Government. It was established to manage the violations of exchange control laws under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 (FERA). Directorate of Enforcement is the agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and combating financial crimes.
24. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence was established on 4 December 1957. It is the apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency in India. The Directorate is under the control of officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
Indian Defence Technology
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
India's indigenous weapons development and production programs are implemented by DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation). It came into existence in 1958. Its objective is to research and develop equipment required for India's defence sector. It is headed by the Scientific Advisor to the Minister of Defence. The Motto of DRDO is Strength's Origin is in Science. DRDO's headquarters are located in New Delhi.
Vision and Mission of DRDO
◆ To strengthen the country with indigenous defence technology.
◆ To oversee the production, design and development of weapons.
◆ To develop missiles.
◆ To provide technologies to the forces and develop the necessary ones.
◆ To develop infrastructure, ensure quality human resources, and build a strong indigenous technology base.
DRDO Laboratories
1. Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) - Bangalore
2. Aerial Delivery Research Development Establishment (ADRDE) - Agra
3. Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) - Bangalore
4. Defence Avionics Research Establishment (DARE) - Bangalore
5. Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) - Bangalore
6. Armament Research Development Establishment (ARDE) - Pune
7. Centre for Fire and Explosive Environmental Safety (CFEES) - Delhi
8. High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) - Pune
9. Combat Vehicles Research Development Establishment (CVRDE) - Chennai
10. Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) - Chandigarh
11. Advanced Numerical Research Analysis Group (ANURAG) - Hyderabad
12. Centre for Artificial Intelligence Robotics (CAIR) - Bangalore
13. Defence Electronics Application Laboratory (DEAL) - Dehradun
14. Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) - Hyderabad
15. Laser Science Technology Centre (LASTEC) - Delhi
17. Electronics Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) - Bangalore
18. Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) - Delhi
19. Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (Deemed University) - Pune
20. Institute of Technology Management (ITM) - Mussoorie
21. Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) - Mysore
22. Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) - Delhi
23. Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) - Delhi
24. Naval Physical Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) - Kochi
25. Naval Science Technological Laboratory (NSTL) - Visakhapatnam
India's Missile Programme
A missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon that is capable of self-propelled flight usually with the help of a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles of India is made of both ballistic and cruise missile systems with strategic and tactical importance. These missiles have been developed through various missile programs like Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (IBMDP), BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture and other Independent Projects.
1. Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) is a program designed by India to develop missiles of different categories indigenously. It is also a program of the Indian Ministry of Defence to achieve self-sufficiency in the missile field. The IGMDP program was started after the government gave its approval on 26 July 1983. The project, which was completed in 2008, developed Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag missiles. APJ Abdul Kalam was the head of IGMDP.
Missiles developed by IGMDP
◆ Prithvi: Surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile
◆ Agni: Surface-to-surface intermediate-range ballistic missile
◆ Trishul: Surface-to-air short-range ballistic missile
◆ Akash: Surface-to-air intermediate-range ballistic missile
◆ Nag: Third-generation anti-tank missile
2. Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (IBMDP)
The IBMDP is India's programme to provide an air defence shield to protect India from ballistic missile attacks. The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a defence system. Two land-based and sea-based interceptor missiles were developed under this programme to counter ballistic missile attacks from enemy countries. They are the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD). With the successful testing of PAD/AAD, India became the fourth country after the United States, Russia and Israel to successfully develop an anti-ballistic missile system.
Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept enemy ballistic missiles from outside the atmosphere. PAD has a range of 2000 km and travels at a speed of Mach 5+. It was tested in November 2006.
Advance Air Defence (AAD): Advanced Air Defence (AAD) is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept enemy ballistic missiles from outside the atmosphere that the Prithvi Air Defence missile cannot intercept. AAD has a range of 15 - 25 km and travels at a speed of Mach 4.5. It was tested in December 2007.
Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV): India has successfully tested the 'Prithvi Defence Vehicle' missile interceptor missile (interceptor), which is capable of intercepting enemy missiles in outer space. Prithvi is capable of destroying enemy missiles at an altitude of 50 to 100 km above the ground. The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha. Prithvi Defence Vehicle is part of the ballistic missile defense shield being developed by India. The first test of Prithvi Defence Vehicle was successfully conducted by DRDO on April 27, 2014. The second test of PDV on February 11, 2017 and the third test on February 12, 2019 were also successful.
3. BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture
BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture was established in 1998. It is jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia. The Missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture is BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile.
4. Independent Projects
The independent projects were started in 2008, after completion of IGMDP in the same year. The independent projects are Agni series, K-Missiles, Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (in process) etc.
Types of Missiles in India
Missiles are now understood to be guided airborne vehicles either remotely guided or self-directed to targets. Some short-range missiles once used wire guidance with electrical signals sent by the operator via the wires. More common is the use of radio or radar control. For the longest range, intercontinental ballistic missiles are used. Missiles in India can be classified based on Trajectory, Speed, Launch Mode, Strategic Importance, Tactical Importance, Propulsion and Guidance Systems.
I. Types of Missiles in India Based on Trajectory
Missiles are classified based on Trajectory. They are
1. Ballistic Missile
India is the fourth country after the United States, Russia, and Israel to successfully develop a ballistic missile system. Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Sagarika, K.5, and Pralay are examples of ballistic missiles manufactured by India.
Characteristics of Ballistic Missiles
◆ Can be controlled for a certain time even after launch.
◆ Lands on a specific target depending on gravity.
◆ Low accuracy.
◆ Travels on a parabolic path.
◆ Capable of flying at very high altitudes.
◆ Long range (up to 12000 km).
◆ Easily tracked.
2. Cruise Missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that uses technology to destroy land or sea targets. It remains in the atmosphere, self-navigates, and travels at a nearly constant speed for the majority of its flight path. Cruise missiles are designed to carry a very small payload over long distances with high accuracy. Modern cruise missiles are capable of traveling at high subsonic, supersonic, or hypersonic speeds. They are also capable of flying at very low altitudes and are non-ballistic. In addition to being launched from land, cruise missiles can be launched from submarines, ships, and aircraft. Examples of Indian-developed cruise missiles include the Brahmos and Nirbhay.
Characteristics of a cruise missile
◆ Self-navigates.
◆ No fixed trajectory to travel.
◆ Carries a very small payload.
◆ Travels at low altitudes.
◆ Difficult to track.
3. Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS)
It is a warhead missile launching system that uses a low Earth orbit towards its target destination. It de-orbits through a retrograde engine burn, just before reaching the target.
II. Types of Missiles in India Based on Speed
Missiles are classified based on their speed with respect to that of sound, expressed as Mach. They are
1. Subsonic missile
Missiles that travel slower than sound are known as Subsonic missile.
Example : Prithvi Missile
2. Supersonic missile
Missiles that travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1) but less than Mach 5 are called Supersonic missile.
Example : BrahMos Missiles
3. Hypersonic missile
Missiles that travel at least five times faster than the speed of sound (over Mach 5) are called Hypersonic missile.
Example : Shaurya/Sagarika Missiles (Max speed – 7.5 Mach)
III. Types of Missiles in India Based on the Launch Mode
1. Surface-to-Surface
Can Launched from land to strike land. Example - Prithvi, Agni, and BrahMos
2. Surface-to-Air
Can Launched from land to strike aerial threats. Example - Akash, MRSAM
3. Air-to-Surface
Can Launched from aircraft to strike land. Example - Helina anti-tank missile fired from Rudra helicopter
4. Air-to-Air
Can Launched from aircraft to strike aerial threats. Example - Astra BVR fired from Tejas aircraft
5. Ship-to-Ship
Can Launch Naval anti-ship missiles from warships/submarines. Example - BrahMos fired from ships
6. Ship-to-Air
Can Launch Naval surface-to-air missiles for fleet air defence. Example - Barak-8 LR-SAM deployed on ships
7. Submarine-launched
Can Launch from submerged submarines. Example - K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missile
8. Shoulder-fired
Man-portable missiles launched from launchers carried by infantry. Example - FIM-92 Stinger and Igla shoulder-fired SAMs
IV. Types of Missiles in India Based on the Strategic Importance
In India, these missiles are part of the nuclear triad.
1. Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
These missiles are long-range missiles that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads across continents. Example - Agni V
2. Sub-surface ballistic nuclear (SSBN)
A nuclear-powered submarine carrying and launching ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons. Example - K-15 Sagarika
V. Types of Missiles in India Based on Tactical Importance
Tactical missiles are used in the battlefield and frontline combat situations to hit and destroy enemy assets and capabilities. India has an array of tactical missiles.
1. Prithvi Missiles - These are short range surface to surface ballistic missiles.
2. BrahMos Missiles - BrahMos is fastest supersonic missile.
VI. Types of Missiles in India Based on Propulsion
Missiles utilise different types of propulsion. They are,
1. Solid Propulsion - It uses solid propellants. Example: Prithvi, Brahmos.
2. Liquid Propulsion - It uses liquid fuels and oxidisers. Example: Agni series, Akash.
3. Hybrid Propulsion - It uses a combination of solid and liquid propellants. Example: Brahmos hypersonic cruise missile
4. Cryogenic - It uses liquid oxygen and hydrogen. Example: Agni-V ICBM
5. Ramjet/Scramjet - Air-breathing engines are employed in hypersonic ballistic and cruise missiles. Example: India’s HGV, Brahmos-II
VII. Types of Missiles in India Based on Guidance Systems
Missiles utilise different types of guidance technologies to accurately reach targets. They are,
1. Command Guidance - Using radio or wire links, external commands direct missiles. Example: Nag anti-tank missile.
2. Inertial Guidance - Autonomous course correction is provided by motion sensors and onboard computers. Example: Agni ballistic missiles.
3. Terrain Mapping - This verifies accuracy by comparing radar altimeter data with onboard terrain maps. Example: Prithvi missiles.
4. Laser Guidance - It points in the direction of a target that is lit by a laser designator. Example: Helina anti-tank missile
5. Radar/GPS - This uses satellite navigation to update position and compares it with targeting information. Example: Brahmos cruise missile.
Indian Missiles
After independence, research on missiles was started in India as part of the need to acquire new technologies for the security of the country. Missiles are high-explosive weapons that are made to destroy a specific target using technologies. Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and anti-tank missiles are examples of various types of missiles. Based on the surface on which they are launched, missiles can be mainly classified into two - surface-to-surface and surface-to-air.
Prithvi Missile
Prithvi is a short-range ballistic missile. It was developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. 'Prithvi' is the first missile developed indigenously by India. Prithvi became the first indigenous missile to become part of the Indian Armed Forces in 1993. Prithvi has I, II and III versions with ranges from 150 to 600 km. Prithvi is a surface-to-surface missile used by the Army, Air Force and Navy. 'Dhanush' is a variant of Prithvi II missile used by the Navy. Dhanush is one of the five missiles developed by DRDO under IGMDP. Dhanush is a ship-launched Prithvi missile.
Agni Missile
Agni is a surface-to-surface intermediate-range ballistic missile with different ranges. It was developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). Agni has I, II, III, IV, V and VI versions with ranges from 700 to 10,000 km. The Agni series consists of the short-range missile Agni I, the medium-range missile Agni II, the intermediate-range missiles Agni III, Agni IV, and the long-range missiles Agni V and Agni VI. Agni I is the first indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile by India.
Agni Missile (Range)
◆ Agni I - 700-1250 km
◆ Agni II - 2000-2500 km
◆ Agni III - 3000-3500 km
◆ Agni IV - 3000-4000 km
◆ Agni V - 5000-8000 km
◆ Agni VI - 8000-10000 km
Agni Prime (Agni P): DRDO has successfully tested the new generation ballistic missile Agni Prime, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The latest missile in the Agni series, Prime, was launched on June 28, 2021 from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore off the coast of Odisha. The missile has a range of 1000 to 2000 km. The second test of Agni Prime in December 2021 and the third test in October 2022 were successful. Agni Prime missiles can be launched from both road and rail.
Akash Missile
Akash is an indigenously developed surface-to-air ballistic missile developed by India. It is designed to protect strategic areas from enemy air attacks. With a range of up to 30 km, this missile can target aircraft flying at an altitude of 18 km.
Akash NG: The Akash NG missile, which can be used against surface-to-air targets, was successfully launched from the Odisha coast on July 21, 2021. The new version of the third generation of Akash missiles was tested. The new generation Akash missile (Akash NG) is capable of destroying any fast-moving enemy attacks through the air.
Akash Prime: The new version of the Akash missile, 'Akash Prime', was successfully tested on September 27, 2021, at Chandipur, Odisha. Unlike the existing Akash missile, it has an indigenously developed radio frequency (RF) system. This will help it strike the target with greater accuracy. It has also been modified to perform better in any temperature.
Trishul Missile
Trishul is a short-range surface-to-air ballistic missile developed by India. It was developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It can destroy low-flying enemy aircraft and helicopters. Trishul has a range of 9 km. Trishul traveled at supersonic speeds. Trishul, which was used for the Indian Navy, is no longer in service.
Nag Missile
India has successfully tested Nag, an indigenously developed third-generation anti-tank guided missile. It was developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The range is four to seven kilometers. Nag was developed after 30 years of research.
BrahMos Missile
The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from land, aircraft and submarines. India is developing the BrahMos missiles in collaboration with Russia in the BrahMos Aerospace. The name BrahMos comes from the names of the Brahmaputra River in India and the Moskva River in Russia. The BrahMos missile is designed to be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft and land. The BrahMos has two stages - a solid-fuel rocket booster and a liquid-fuel ramjet. The system is designed with two variants for anti-ship land attack roles. It is also a universal long-range supersonic cruise missile system. Inducted in November 2006, the BrahMos is used by the Army, Air Force and Navy. The submarine version of Brahmos was test-fired on 20 March 2013. With this, India became the first country in the world to successfully test a supersonic cruise missile underwater.
Various versions of Brahmos
◆ Land-to-land launch.
◆ Land-to-ship launch.
◆ Ship-to-ship launch.
◆ Aircraft-to-land launch.
Nirbhay Missile
Nirbhay is an indigenously developed long-range subsonic missile with nuclear capability. Nirbhay is the first cruise missile developed entirely by India. Developed by DRDO, this missile is capable of carrying a 300 kg warhead to a distance of 1000 km. Nirbhay travels at a speed of 0.7 - 0.9 Mach. They can take off vertically like a rocket, fly along the coast, overcome obstacles, and evade radars. This missile can be launched from fighter aircraft, warships, submarines, and land. All seven tests of Nirbha were conducted in Balasore, Odisha. The missile was first tested in March 2013. The second to seventh tests were conducted in October 2014, October 2015, December 2016, November 2017, April 2019, and June 2021.
Sagarika Missile
Sagarika is a nuclear-capable ballistic missile launched from a submarine. Developed by DRDO, Sagarika has a range of up to 750 km. The 8.5-meter-long Sagarika can carry a payload of up to 500 kg. Sagarika was successfully test-fired for the first time on 26 February 2008 off the coast of Visakhapatnam. The missile was initially named K-15. Sagarika is being tested for the Indian Navy.
Astra Missile
Defense scientists describe Astra as the 'missile of the future'. Astra is a Beyond Visual Range class of Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) system designed to be mounted on fighter aircraft. The missile is designed to shoot down and destroy powerful supersonic aircraft. It can be fired from fighter aircraft at air targets beyond the visual range. This missile can be used to detect and shoot down enemy aircraft even at a distance of 90 - 120 km. It is a missile that can intercept radar. The first test was conducted in May 2000. It is an indigenously developed air-to-air missile for the Indian Air Force and Navy. The missile is currently being developed in multiple variants to meet specific requirements. The Astra Mk-1 and Astra Mk-2 are the variants of the Astra. The Astra Mk-1 weapon system is inducted into the Indian Air Force by integrating it with the SU-30 Mk-1 aircraft.
Shaurya Missile
Shaurya is a surface-to-surface hypersonic ballistic missile developed by DRDO for the Indian Armed Forces. Shaurya, a land variant of India's K-15 missile, has a strike range of 700 km to 1000 km. The altitude limit is 50 km. It uses two-stage solid propellants. The nuclear-powered missile, Shaurya, travels at speeds of up to Mach 7.5. The 10-meter-long Shaurya can carry a payload of 200 to 1000 kilograms.
Pralay Missile
Pralay is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile. Pralay is a short-range surface-to-surface missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can change course after a certain distance after launch. It can destroy targets at a distance of 150 to 500 kilometers. It has the capacity to carry a warhead of 350 to 700 kilograms. The first test was conducted on December 22, 2021 from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore off the coast of Odisha and the second test was conducted on December 23, 2021. The Pralay missile project was approved in 2015. It is a modification of Prahar, which was first tested in 2011. Prahar is a surface-to-surface missile indigenously developed by DRDO. Prahar is a weapon capable of carrying multiple types of warheads and neutralizing a wide range of targets.
Barak 8 Missile
In 2010, reports emerged that India and Israel were jointly developing a missile. In 2017, the central government approved a defense project to jointly develop a medium-range missile with Israel. The project was to develop a land-launched missile with a range of 70 km. Following this, the Defense Research and Development Organization of India (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) jointly developed the Barak 8 missile. Barak 8 is the first missile developed jointly by Israel and India. The Barak 8 missile is also known as LR-SAM and MR-SAM. The Indian Navy successfully tested the Barak 8 LR-SAM missile for the first time in 2015. It is a surface-to-air missile.
Antiballistic Missiles
High speed nuclear weapon used to attack hostile ballistic missiles. Operated by ground based radars and computers, they rely for their final attack on their own guidance systems, destroying the target by radiation from their warheads. Short range versions with low yield warheads are designed to seek and destroy targets within the earth's atmosphere; long range missiles with high yield war space heads operate in space.
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
India has tested a cutting-edge technology that allows missiles to travel six times faster than the speed of sound. The name of this technology, which was tested on September 7, 2020, is Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle. India is the fourth country to develop hypersonic technology on its own after the United States, Russia and China. It was developed by the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO).
Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher
'Pinaka' is a rocket launching system that can launch multiple missiles simultaneously onto the battlefield. A fully indigenously developed multi-barrel rocket launcher, Pinaka can launch 12 rockets in 44 seconds. The rockets, which can carry 1.2 tonnes of explosives, can strike at a distance of up to 60 km. In December 2021, the extended range test of the Pinaka rocket was successfully conducted at the Pokhran test site (Rajasthan). The Pinaka ER, a modified version of the Pinaka rocket system with an increased attack range from 60 km to 75 km, was launched. The Pinaka rockets are manufactured by a private company with the help of technology transferred by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Indian Army currently has the Pinaka MK1 variant. The last successful launch of the Pinaka ER was in 2022.
Drones of Indian Armed Forces
Drones are unmanned aircraft. They range from 'unmanned aerial vehicles' used for military purposes to small aircraft used to capture video and images and deliver goods. There are drones that are controlled by remote control and drones that are completely autonomous. The history of drones begins with the military. Unmanned aircraft have been tested since the time of the World Wars. Drones are still used for military purposes today.
Drones of Indian Armed Forces
1. Bharat Drone - DRDO indigenously developed Bharat Drone to tighten surveillance as problems escalate on the India-China border.
2. Rustom - Rustom is the Combat drone indigenously developed by India as part of ensuring national security.
3. Indrajal - Indrajal is the first indigenously manufactured drone defense dome in India. Indrajal is developed by Grene Robotics (Hyderabad).
4. SWiFT (Stealth Wing Flying Testbed) - SWiFT, the country's first indigenous combat drone developed by DRDO and capable of dropping missiles and bombs, was successfully tested at the Chitradurga Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka.
5. Lakshya - Lakshya is a remotely piloted high speed target drone system of india developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation.
6. SWARM - India developed the world's first fully functional SWARM drone system. Swarm drones are drones especially designed to operate together as robotic swarms. Military swarms are capable of surveillance and attack missions.
Torpedoes in Indian Navy
Torpedo is a self-propelled, cigar shaped, under water weapon used to blow-up ships. It is highly complicated and designed to combat fast-moving warships and merchant ships. Modern torpedoes are difficult to detect and are extremely versatile. They can be launched from submarines, surface vessels or aircraft. They can even ride piggy-back on a rocket to distant targets. Torpedoes differ in size, weight and mechanical design, according to the purpose for which they are intended. Some are designed for attacking large groups of cargo vessels shielded by warships. Other torpedoes are used in hunting, deep-running submarines and air-craft carriers or in unique battle situations. Submarines are vehicles that travel under the sea to destroy enemy ships and explore the undersea. Torpedoes are bombs launched from submarines or ships to destroy enemy ships. The torpedoes indigenously designed by DRDO for the Indian Navy are the heavyweight torpedoes Varunastra and Takshak, the lightweight torpedo Shyena, and the Smart Missile.
Varunastra: Varunastra is a heavy-weight torpedo indigenously manufactured by India. It became a part of the Navy's arsenal on 29 June 2016. Varunastra was developed by the Naval Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL) located in Visakhapatnam under the DRDO.
Takshak: Takshak is a heavy-weight torpedo in the form of a missile that can be used underwater against submarines and ships.
SMART: SMART (Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo) is a new weapon system developed and successfully tested by the DRDO in October 2020. SMART is a torpedo that can be launched from submarines with the help of a supersonic missile.
Shyena: Shyena is a lightweight torpedo that was developed and successfully tested by India indigenously in March 2021. Shyena was developed by NSTL under the DRDO.
Advanced Light-Weight Torpedo (ALWT): It is the second generation of Shyena anti-submarine torpedo. ALWT is developed by NSTL of DRDO and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). It can be launched from ship, helicopter or from a fixed wing aircraft.
Laser Guided Bomb
Smart bombs or laser-guided bombs are bombs that land precisely on their targets and wreak havoc. The biggest challenge in war is to land the bomb on its target. Smart bombs came into being as a solution to this. Laser beams guide smart bombs. The first laser-guided bomb was developed by the US Air Force in 1968. The test was carried out by dropping it on a jet aircraft. The bomb was dropped after sending laser beams from a special device to illuminate the target. Today's new smart bombs use a different strategy. Forces on the warfront send laser beams to illuminate the target. Fighter jets following behind will bomb the target illuminated by the laser. If the weather is not right, smart bombs often miss. The bomb's aim is missed when the target is not clear. After the United States, Russia, France, Britain, and India have also developed laser-guided bombs.
Indian Battle Tanks
Tanks are huge combat vehicles that can travel over any type of terrain. Most tanks travel on continuous tracks. They carry such weapons as cannons, machine guns and missile launchers. In most tanks, these weapons are mounted in a revolving structure called a turret. A tank has a crew of three to five members. Tanks are used to attack other armoured vehicles, infantry and ground targets and to fire an aircraft. Tanks are classified as main battle tanks or as armoured reconnaissance vehicles. Main battle tanks weigh from 32 to 54 metric tons. Armoured reconnaissance vehicles weigh from 9 to 23 metric tons. This powerful vehicle that travels on tracks has a cannon that can destroy an entire area. It is built in such a way that it cannot be damaged in any attack. The British army was the first to use tanks. It was during the First World War. The bazooka is a weapon used to destroy tanks. The Arjun and Vijayanta are battle tanks developed indigenously by India. Battle tanks for the Indian Army are manufactured at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi, Madras. The Bhishma and Ajeya are tanks that India purchased from Russia.
◆ Arjun: Arjun is a main battle tank developed indigenously by India. It was manufactured at the Heavy Vehicles Factory in Avadi. The Arjun Mark II is a tank of the Arjun series. This is the battle tank of the Indian Army. These can travel over extremely difficult terrains and are equipped with ammunition and a machine gun. The Arjun Mk 1A is a battle tank that was indigenously built by DRDO and handed over to the Indian Army in February 2021.
◆ Vijayanta: Vijayanta is the first tank indigenously developed for the Indian Army. It became part of the armed forces in the 1970s.
◆ Bhishma: Bhishma is a T-90 model tank purchased from Russia.
◆ Ajeya: Ajeya is a T-72 model tank purchased from Russia.
◆ Muntra: Muntra is India's first indigenously built unmanned tank. The Muntra tank was developed at CVRDE in Avadi, Chennai. This is a research center under DRDO. Three types of tanks have been developed for three types of purposes: military reconnaissance (Muntra S), mine detection (Muntra M), and use in times of biological and nuclear attack (Muntra N).
Indian Fighter Aircrafts
A winged, mechanically propelled aircraft that is heavier than air. Supersonic airplanes, flew faster than the speed of sound, are among the newest developments in air transportation. Fighter aircraft are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. This article provides a list of Indian military aircrafts.
◆ Shamsher
These are 'Jaguar' fighter aircraft.
◆ Vajra
A fighter aircraft of the 'Mirage 2000' series. Part of the army since 1985.
◆ Chetak, Cheetah
These are single-engine helicopters. Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
◆ Deepak
A training aircraft of the Air Force.
◆ Vikram, Trishul
These are fighter aircraft of the MiG-21 series. Part of the army since 1963.
◆ Vijay, Rakshak
These are MiG-23 fighter aircraft. In service since 1981.
◆ Garuda
MiG-25 fighter aircraft. Part of the army since 1981. The Air Force has eight Garuda aircraft. The 102 Squadron to which these belong is known as 'Trisonics'.
◆ Bahadur
The MiG-27 fighter aircraft is known as Bahadur in the Indian Air Force. It has been in service with the Air Force since 1981.
◆ BAS
The MiG-29 fighter aircraft is known as BAS in the Indian Air Force.
◆ Gajraj
The IL-76MD fighter aircraft is known as Gajraj in the Indian Air Force.
◆ Sukhoi
A fighter aircraft developed jointly by the Sukhoi Corporation of Russia and Hindustan Aeronautics. The Sukhoi Su-30 MKi, the best long-range fighter aircraft in the Indian Air Force, has a speed of 2120 km/h. The Sukhoi Su-30 MKi is the first Sukhoi aircraft of the Indian Air Force to land on a national highway (Rajasthan).
◆ Lakshya 1
Lakshya 1 is an indigenously developed light unmanned aircraft. It was successfully tested in January 2012. It is operated using a remote control system. Lakshya is the smallest combat aircraft developed by India.
◆ Dhruv
It is an indigenously developed advanced light helicopter. It is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics.
◆ Rudra
Rudra is an indigenously developed advanced light helicopter. It is an armed version of the Dhruv-4 multi-role helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Rudra was handed over to the Army on 8 February 2013.
◆ Rustom - I, II
Rustom - I is a new unmanned aircraft developed by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization. Rustom - II (Tapas 201) is an unmanned aircraft developed indigenously by India as part of ensuring national security.
◆ Nishant
An unmanned aircraft developed indigenously by DRDO.
◆ Mirage - 2000
Mirage - 2000 is a fighter aircraft purchased by India from France. The Mirage - 2000 was the first fighter aircraft to be tested on a highway in India.
◆ Tejas Fighter Plane
The Tejas, an indigenously developed light fighter aircraft, became part of the Indian Air Force on July 1, 2016. It became part of the Air Force after 32 years of research and trials. Tejas, a single-seat, single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft, is 13.2 meters long and weighs 6,500 kilograms. Its maximum speed is 1,350 kilometers per hour. It can fly at the speed of sound. Tejas is operated by the Flying Daggers squadron under the Southern Air Command of the IAF. Tejas replaced the Russian MiG-21. The IAF had been dependent on the MiG-21 for half a century. The light fighter was named Tejas by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The supersonic aircraft can carry weapons such as laser-guided bombs, missiles, rockets, and anti-ship missiles. Tejas is the first Indian aircraft to perform an 'arrest landing'. An arrest landing is when an aircraft is stopped before it can fly too far on the runway. This technology is mainly used to land aircraft on warships called aircraft carriers.
◆ Rafale Fighter Aircraft
The Rafale, the fighter aircraft acquired by the Indian Air Force from France.
Indian Warships
Warship is a naval combat ship. Some kinds of warships attack enemy aircraft, surface ships and submarines. They have a lot of weapons, including torpedoes, rockets, missiles, and firearms. Others serve as bases for planes or helicopters. Still other are used to transport troops, weapons and equipment to battle area. Warships range in size from small vessels with only a few crew members to large aircraft carriers that carry more than 6000 people. Most warships have radar and sonar to detect and locate enemy planes, surface ships and submarines. Radar detects aircraft and surface ships and sonar locates submarines. Electronic intercept equipment can detect radio and radar transmissions from enemy ships and aircraft. One type of naval ship employed mostly for fighting is the warship. These ships are used in combat by the Navy. Compared to ordinary cargo ships, they are quicker, more agile, and easier to maneuver. Typically, warships transport weapons, ammunition and other necessities for the troops. Frigates, aircraft carriers, destroyers, corvettes, submarines, cruisers, amphibious assault ships are some of the examples of large warships. Here are a list of Warships of India.
◆ INS Vikrant (1961): INS Vikrant is India's first aircraft carrier. The ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 4 March 1961. It is powered by both electric and gas and generates over 80 megawatts of power. It was in service until 1997. INS is an abbreviation for 'Indian Navy Ship'. The ship now serves as a naval museum.
◆ INS Vikrant: INS Vikrant is the first and largest aircraft carrier built indigenously by India. The aircraft carrier is named after India's first aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant (1961). The 262-meter-long aircraft carrier was built at the Cochin Shipyard. Its construction was completed in 2013. It became operational in 2022. With the construction of INS Vikrant, India has become the fifth country to design and build its own aircraft carrier.
◆ INS Mormugao: INS Mormugao is India's missile destroyer warship that was handed over to the Indian Navy in December 2022. INS Mormugao is the most powerful warship built in India. INS Mormugao first put to sea on 19 December 2021, the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Goa from Portuguese rule. The ship was built by Masgaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. This is the second warship to be built under Project 15B.
◆ INS Taragiri: INS Taragiri is the third warship to be built under Project 17A recently by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders, both under the Ministry of Defence. The first and second warships are INS Nilgiri and INS Udayagiri. Taragiri is named after a hillock located in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas. The Indian Navy launched the Project 17A Alpha frigates in 2019 to build a series of stealth guided missile frigates.
◆ INS Vagir: The fifth submarine of the Kalvari class built as part of the Navy's Project 75, INS Vagir was commissioned to the nation on January 23, 2023. It is an indigenously built submarine at the Masgaon shipyard as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defense sector. It has the ability to engage adversaries on the surface and under the sea. It can also perform surveillance and information collection missions. Its features include a fast-moving shape and the ability to accurately attack adversaries. The submarine was named after the deadly Vagir sand fish found in the Indian Ocean. The first Vagir submarine was commissioned into the Navy on December 3, 1973. It was built in Russia. After 28 years of service, it was decommissioned on June 7, 2001. INS Vagir is the fifth of the six Scorpene-class attack submarines being built at the Masgaon shipyard in collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France. INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj and INS Vela are the first four submarines built as part of Project 75.
◆ INS Vela: INS Vela is the latest submarine of the Indian Navy. Built at Masgaon Dock in Mumbai in collaboration with the French Naval Group, the ship was launched in November 2021. The ship, which is capable of all types of warfare at sea, can store 18 anti-ship missiles and 30 mines. It can accommodate 43 people, including eight officers, at a time.
◆ INS Karanj: INS Karanj is the Indian Navy's submarine capable of attacking both the surface and the undersea. Launched in 2018, the ship was commissioned in 2021. INS Karanj is the third of six submarines to be built under a contract signed with French company DCNS in 2005.
◆ INS Nilgiri: INS Nilgiri is the first ship built under Project 17A by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders under the Ministry of Defence. It was launched in 2019.
◆ INS Udayagiri: INS Udayagiri is the second ship built under Project 17A by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Garden Reach Shipbuilders under the Ministry of Defence. It was launched in 2022.
◆ INS Surat: INS Surat is the fourth and last ship of the indigenously built Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided missile destroyer class. It was launched in 2022.
◆ INS Dunagiri: INS Dunagiri is a new ship of the Navy built at the Garden Reach Shipyard as part of Project 17A.
◆ INS Sandhayak: Large Survey Vessel launched by the Indian Navy built at the Garden Reach Shipyard.
◆ INS Dhruv: India's first satellite and nuclear missile tracking ship. Commissioned in 2021.
◆ INS Tushil: The seventh stealth frigate of the P1135.6 class acquired by the Indian Navy from Russia in October 2021.
◆ INS Viraat: INS Viraat is an aircraft carrier of India commissioned in 1959. It was in service until 2016.
◆ INS Ranipadmini: The first ship of Kerala was launched in Kochi, the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. The ship 'Rani Padmini' was launched from the Cochin Shipyard on January 28, 1980, at a cost of Rs 32 crore for the Shipping Corporation of India.
◆ INS Arihant: INS Arihant is the first nuclear submarine built by India. The construction of INS Arihant, which is capable of firing ballistic missiles, was completed in 2009. Arihant, which is 112 meters long and 25 meters wide, has a displacement of 6000 tons. It can carry 100 personnel.
◆ INS Sindhushastra: INS Sindhushastra is India's first missile-carrying submarine. The 73-meter-long INS Sindhushastra was launched in 1999 and commissioned in 2000.
◆ INS Sindhurakshak: INS Sindhurakshak, a Russian-built ship of the Indian Navy, was launched in 1997. It was decommissioned after a fire and sinking off the coast of Mumbai in 2013.
◆ INS Sindhudhvaj: INS Sindhudhwaj, a submarine of the Indian Navy, was commissioned in 1987. The ship was decommissioned by the Indian Navy in July 2022.
◆ INS Pondicherry: INS Pondicherry was an Indian mine clearance ship. It was part of the Indian Army from 1978 to 2007. Decommissioned in 2007.
◆ INS Talwar, INS Trishul: Stealth warships built in Russia for the Indian Navy.
◆ INS Shivalik: The first indigenously built stealth warship of the Indian Navy.
◆ INS Prahar: The first Indian missile boat with a speed of over 40 knots, commissioned in 1997.
◆ INS Dalhira: INS Dalhira is the most important Indian-built warship of the Indian Navy, a class of guided missile destroyers. The ship, commissioned in 1997, was built at Mazagon Dock, Mumbai.
◆ INS Shalimar: India's first indigenously built submarine.
◆ INS Chakra: Indian Navy's first nuclear submarine (on lease from Russia). Handed over to Russia in 2021.
◆ INS Brahmaputra: INS Brahmaputra, also known as the 'Leaping Rhinoceros', is an Indian ship. The 126-meter-long INS Brahmaputra was launched in 1994 and commissioned in 2000.
◆ INS Tarangini: INS Tarangini is the Indian Navy's first sail training ship. INS Tarangini is the Indian Navy's first circumnavigating ship. INS Tarangini was designed by British designer Colin Muddy. Built by Goa Shipyard. The 54-meter-long Tarangini was launched in 1995 and commissioned on 11 November 1997. Tarangini's 2007 circumnavigation is known as Lokayaan 07. Tarangini's seven-month circumnavigation in 2022, which began in Kochi, is known as Lokayaan 22.
◆ INS Jalashwa: INS Jalashwa is the second largest ship in the Indian Navy in terms of size. Jalashwa is 173.7 meters long and has a maximum deadweight of 16,600 tons. Laid down in 1968, Jalashwa was commissioned in 2007. INS Jalashwa was initially known as USS Trenton. INS Jalashwa was used to transport 1,000 metric tons of rice to the Comoros Islands as part of Mission Sagar IV.
◆ INS Vikramaditya: Admiral Gorshkov is an aircraft carrier that India bought after being refurbished from Russia. INS Vikramaditya is the name given to Admiral Gorshkov by the Indian Navy. INS Vikramaditya is the best aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. It has the capacity to carry up to 36 fighter aircraft. It is a modernized version of the Russian Kiev-class aircraft carrier.
◆ INS Rajput: INS Rajput is the first destroyer ship of the Indian Navy to be decommissioned after 41 years of service. It was commissioned in 1980.
◆ INS Visakhapatnam: The Indian Navy's INS Visakhapatnam warship was commissioned in November 2021. With the commissioning of INS Visakhapatnam, India has also joined the list of leading countries capable of designing and building state-of-the-art warships.
◆ INS Imphal: INS Imphal is India's first warship named after a North Eastern state. It was commissioned into the Navy in December 2023. INS Imphal is the third of the four warships of Project 15B, which forms the Visakhapatnam class of stealth guided missile destroyers. The other warships are INS Surat, INS Mormugao and INS Visakhapatnam.
◆ INS Kolkata: The first warship of the Kolkata-class guided missile destroyer class, INS Kolkata, was commissioned in 2014. The ship, with a deadweight of 7,500 tonnes, is 164 metres long and 18 metres wide. It has a speed of 30 knots. The ship, designed by the Indian Navy, was built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. The missile destroyer INS Kolkata was built under the Alpha Project.
◆ INS Kochi: INS Kochi is the second guided missile destroyer in the Kolkata class. It is 164 meters long, 7500 tons in weight and 17 meters in width. It has a maximum speed of 56 kmph. The ship, designed by the Indian Navy, was built at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai. The ship's crest features the Kerala's "Chundan Valla", "Sword" and "Shield". The ship's motto is "Armed to conquer the enemy".
◆ INS Chennai: INS Chennai is the largest warship built in India. The ship was launched on 21 November 2016. INS Chennai is the third and last of the Kolkata class guided missile destroyers. The 164-meter-long ship was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai. The ship's motto is "Enemy Destruction".
◆ INS Sukanya: INS Sukanya is the flagship surveillance ship of the Indian Navy.
◆ INS Himagiri: The first Project 17A stealth ship built by GRSE Limited for the Indian Navy.
◆ INS Darshak: An indigenously built hydrographic survey ship.
◆ INS Bangaram: A fast attack ship of the Navy with state-of-the-art communication systems.
◆ ICGS Aryaman, ICGS Atulya: Aryaman and Atulya are ships commissioned by the Coast Guard for patrolling.
◆ ICGS Varad: A surveillance ship commissioned by the Indian Coast Guard.
◆ ICGS Vigraha: The seventh ship in the Offshore Patrol Vessel series, commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard in October 2021.
◆ ICGS AYUSH: ICGS AYUSH is a ship of the Indian Coast Guard commissioned in 2017. The 50-meter-long AYUSH aims to combat smuggling, coastal security, emergency medical assistance, environmental protection, and protection of fishermen.
◆ ICGS Amogh: A high-speed patrol vessel owned by the Indian Coast Guard.
Defence Training Institutes in India
National Defence Academy
Before independence, officers for the Indian Armed Forces were trained in the military academies in India. However, officers for the Royal Indian Navy and the Royal Indian Air Force were trained in England. After independence, India did not have a system to train all the officers for the Indian Armed Forces, which includes the Army, Air Force and Navy. Also, as more and more young people started joining the armed forces, there was a need for permanent training centers. Thus, the National Defence Academy became the joint military training center of the Indian Armed Forces, formed in 1954. The National Defence Academy is an institution that trains officers for the Army, Air Force and Navy. The headquarters of the NDA is Khadakwasla in Pune district of Maharashtra. The motto of the NDA is Seva Paramo Dharma.
Indian Naval Academy
The Indian Naval Academy is located 35 km from Kannur city. The foundation stone of the academy was laid by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 17 January 1987. The academy was commissioned in 2005. After a 22-year wait since the foundation stone of the academy was laid, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dedicated the Naval Academy to the nation on 8 January 2009. The government spent more than Rs 700 crore on the construction of this Naval Academy. Training for officers of the Navy and Coast Guard and various courses related to the Navy are conducted here. One of the main parts of the Naval Academy is the hospital called INHS Navajeevani. The base depot here is INS Zamorin. INS Zamorin is the main center that coordinates the activities of the Naval Academy. This center manages the affairs of the Naval Hospital and the three schools operating in the academy. The President's Colour Award, the highest honour an armed forces unit can receive, was awarded to the Naval Academy, Ezhimala, in November 2019.
Indian Navy Training Centers
The officers of the Indian Navy, which was known as the Royal Indian Navy before independence, were trained in England. When the National Defence Academy was formed in India in 1954, it took over the training program for naval officers. However, the National Defence Academy did not have the capacity to train all the officers required for the Indian Navy. In 1969, a temporary training center was established in Kochi exclusively for the Navy under the name 'Indian Naval Academy'. The first batch was passed from here in 1970. In 1976, the academy's operations were shifted to Mandovi, Goa. As more young people started joining the Navy, there was a need for permanent training centers. Thus, several naval training centers were established across the country.
Naval Training Centres in India
◆ INS Garuda (Kochi) - Aviation Institute
◆ INS Venduruthy (Willington Island, Kochi) - Naval Training Institute
◆ INS Kunjali (Colaba, Mumbai) - Music Training School
◆ INS Satavahana (Visakhapatnam) - Submarine Training School
◆ INS Gomantak (Vasco-da-Gama, Goa)
◆ INS Valsura (Jamnagar, Gujarat) - Electrical Training Institute. INS Valsura is an Indian Naval Station commissioned in 1942, which has been awarded the President's Colour, the highest honour an armed forces unit can receive.
◆ INS Agrani (Coimbatore) - Leadership Training Institute
◆ INS Chilka (Khurda, Odisha) - Naval Training Institute
◆ INS Dronacharya (Kochi) - Fire Training School
◆ INS Hamla (Malad West, Mumbai) - Defence School
◆ INS Mandovi (Verem, Goa) - Border and Physical Training School
◆ INS Shivaji (Lonavala, Pune, Maharashtra) - Engineering Training Institute
◆ INS Vishwakarma (Visakhapatnam) - Shipwright School
◆ Naval Medical Institute (Colaba, Mumbai) - Institute of Naval Medicine
◆ NIETT (Willington Island, Kochi) - Naval Institute of Educational and Training Institutes
◆ National Institute of Hydrology (Vasco-da-Gama, Goa)
◆ Inter-Services (Vasco-da-Gama, Goa) - National Defence Academy
◆ Inter-Services (Wellington, Tamil Nadu) - Defence Services Staff College
◆ Inter-Services (New Delhi) - National Defence College
Airforce Training Centers
The Indian Air Force was established in British India in October 1932 under the name 'Royal Indian Air Force'. Before independence, pilots of the Royal Indian Air Force were trained in London. After independence, when the Indian Air Force was formed, more and more young people started joining the Air Force, and there was a need for permanent training centers. Thus, many Air Force Training Centers were established across the country. Many Air Force Training Centers were established in India to train pilots and higher-ranking Air Force officers at the officer level in the Air Force. The Air Force training institutions across India are as follows.
◆ Air Force Administrative College - Coimbatore
◆ Air Force Academy - Dundigal (Hyderabad)
◆ Air Force Technical College - Bengaluru
◆ Army Air Defence College - Gopalpur
◆ College of Air Warfare - Secunderabad
◆ Navigation Training School - Hyderabad
◆ Paratroopers Training School - Agra
◆ Institute of Aerospace Medicine - Bengaluru
◆ Flying Instructors School - Tambaram (Chennai)
◆ Air Force School - Bidar (Karnataka)
Military Training Centers
In the pre-independence era, officers for the Indian Army were trained in the military academies existing in India. One of the earliest military academies of India, the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. RIMC came into existence on 13 March 1922. The largest and oldest training centre of the Indian Army is the Infantry School at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. After independence, as more young men started joining the army, there was a need for permanent training centres. Thus, several training centres came into existence. Military schools were started in 1961. The concept of military schools was introduced by V.K. Krishna Menon. The Indian Armed Forces has established several academies and staff colleges across India to train professional soldiers in military science, war command, war tactics and related technologies. The important army training centres among them are given below.
◆ Indian Military Academy - Dehradun
◆ Rashtriya Indian Military College - Dehradun
◆ Army Cadet College - Dehradun
◆ National Defence College - New Delhi
◆ Armed Forces Medical College - Pune
◆ College of Military Engineering - Pune
◆ Officers Training School - Chennai
◆ National Defence University - Binola (Gurgaon, Haryana)
◆ College of Defence Management - Secunderabad
◆ Defence Services Staff College - Wellington (Ooty, Tamil Nadu)
◆ National Defence Academy - Khadakwasla (Maharashtra)
◆ College of Combat (Army War College) - Mhow (Madhya Pradesh)
◆ High Altitude Warfare School - Gulmarg (Kashmir)
◆ Counter - Insurgency Jungle Warfare School - Vairengte (Mizoram)
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