Indian Armed Forces Facts for Kids

Emblem of India

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

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

In 2010, the Indian Armed Forces had 1.32 million active personnel. This makes it one of the largest militaries in the world.

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

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.

Images for kids

Siege of Kushinagar the capital of the Mallakas by seven Mahajanapadas’ chiefs and their armies for the possession of relics of Buddha after his death in 4th century BCE. Depiction of the battle Sanchi stupa railing ,1st century BCE.
A mountain artillery crew from the British Indian Army demonstrating assembly of the RML 2.5 inch Mountain Gun, c. 1895.
Humber armoured cars of 10th Indian Division move forward in Italy, 22 July 1944.
Indian pilots of No. 1 Squadron by a Hawker Hurricane.
HMIS Sutlej leaves Hong Kong for Japan as part of the Allied forces of occupation.
Pakistan's Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi signing the instrument of surrender in Dhaka on 16 Dec' 1971, in the presence of India's Lt. Gen. J.S. Aurora. Standing behind them are officers of India's Army, Navy and Air Force. The 1971 War directly involved participation of all three arms of Indian Armed Forces.
South Block in New Delhi is the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence.
Top ten military expenditures in US$ Bn. in 2014, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Picture showing equivalent ranks and insignia of Indian Armed Forces. (click to enlarge)
The National Defence Academy (NDA) at Pune. NDA serves as the joint services academy for the army, the navy and the air force.
Contingent from the Indian Armed Forces at the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 2015.
Indian Army Pinaka multi barrel rocket launcher.
Indian Army's HAL Dhruv helicopter.
Indian Army's tanks and infantry vehicles during an exercise.
Indian Army soldier from White Knight Corps, 2021.
An Indian Army officer briefing Russian soldiers during a joint exercise in 2015.
Indian Navy ships in transit led by aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
INS Chakra is India's nuclear-powered attack submarine.
The Indian Navy's BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.
An Indian Navy P-8I Neptune anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
Ships from the Indian navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during exercise Malabar 2017.
INS Vikrant is the Indian Navy's first indigenous aircraft carrier, shown here during its maiden sea trials, August 2021.
Guided missile destroyer INS Delhi.
India's Sukhoi Su-30MKI.
India's Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft.
DRDO AEW&CS.
A C-130 J tactical transport aircraft.
A CH-47F(I) helicopters of Indian Air Force at Air Force Station, Chandigarh
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) helicopter takes a survivor to an ICG ship during a mock drill.
NSG operator with SIG MPX, M249 SAW and MP5 during Republic Day parade in 2021.
NDRF personnel undergoing training
MARCOS prepare to enter a hatch during VBSS training during RIMPAC 2022
The Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile.
INS Chennai firing BrahMos (missile).
Launching of an Advanced Air Defence (AAD) missile.
DRDO-built 3rd-generation ATGM Nag missile.
A scaled-down model of the Rustom-1 MALE UAV.
An Indian Air Force helicopter rescues stranded people during 2015 Chennai Floods.
The Indian Navy expedition to North Pole, 2008.

Indian Armed Forces facts for kids

Images for kids

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