Indian Armed Forces

The Indian Armed Forces are the military of India. It is made up of an Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. There are other parts like Central Armed Police Forces and Strategic Nuclear Command.

Indian Armed Forces
भारतीय सशस्त्र बल
Parts  Indian Army
 Indian Navy
Flag of the Indian Air Force Indian Air Force
Headquarters Ministry of Defence, South Block, New Delhi
Leadership
Supreme Commander India President Droupadi Murmu
Minister of Defence Flag of the Ministry of Defence of India.svg Rajnath Singh
Chief of Defence StaffFlag of Chief of Defence Staff (India).svg General Anil Chauhan
Defence SecretaryFlag of the Ministry of Defence of India.svg Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS
Serving soldiers
Military age 18[1]
Conscription No
Reaching military
age annually
23,116,044[2]
Active employees/soldiers 1,431,000[3] (ranked 2nd)
Reserve personnel 1,000,000[3]
Expenditures
Budget INR6.81 trillion (US$120 billion) (2025/26)[4]
(ranked 4th)
Percent of GDP 1.9% (2025/26)[4]
Industry
Suppliers from inland
Suppliers from
foreign countries
 Russia[6]
 France[6]
 Israel[6]
 United States[7]
Historical:
Annual imports Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Currency/Presentation' not found. (2010–2021)[10]
Annual exports Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Currency/Presentation' not found. (2010–2021)[10]
See also
History Military history of India
Presidency armies
British Indian Army
Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Air Force
Indian National Army
Wars involving India
Ranks Army
Navy
Air Force

Flag of Indian Armed Forces.svg
Flag of Indian Armed Forces

The President of India is its Commander-in-Chief. However, it is managed by the Ministry of Defence.

In 2025, the Indian Armed Forces had 1.32 million active personnel. This makes it 4th largest militaries in the world.[11]

Currently, the Indian Armed force is becoming more modern by buying and making new weapons. It is also building defences against missiles of other countries.[12] In 2011, India imported more weapons than any other nation in the world.[13]

From its independence in 1947, India fought four wars with Pakistan and one war with China.

Every year, 7 December is celebrated as Armed Forces Flag Day.

Indian Armed Forces Media

References

  1. "Categories of Entry". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  2. "Manpower Reaching Military Age Annually (2020)" (in en). Global Fire Power (GFP). https://www.globalfirepower.com/manpower-reaching-military-age-annually.asp. Retrieved 19 June 2020. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 IISS 2021, p. 259
  4. 4.0 4.1 "India's Defense Budget 2025-26: Strengthening Strategic Autonomy and Advancing Self-Reliance in Military Capabilities". Mid Day. 4 February 2025. https://www.mid-day.com/buzz/article/indias-defense-budget-2025-26-strengthening-strategic-autonomy-and-advancing-self-reliance-in-military-capabilities-4304. Retrieved 4 February 2025. 
  5. "Ministry of Defence, Govt of India". mod.nic.in. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "India / Aircraft / Jianjiji / Fighter". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  7. "U.S. Security Cooperation With India". Department of State. 20 January 2021.
  8. Chari, P. R. "Indo-Soviet Military Cooperation: A Review." Asian Survey, vol. 19, no. 3, 1979, pp. 230–44. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/2643691. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  9. Singh, S. Nihal. "Why India Goes to Moscow for Arms." Asian Survey, vol. 24, no. 7, 1984, pp. 707–20. JSTOR, doi:10.2307/2644184. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "TIV of arms imports/exports data for India, 2010-2021". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 7 February 2022.
  11. IISS 2010, pp. 358
  12. Rabinowitz, Gavin; Press, Associated (18 June 2008). "India's army seeks military space program". SFGate.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)