After India gained independence from the British on August 15, 1947, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on January 15, 1949.
The Indian Army celebrated its 77th Army Day with at the Bombay Engineers Group and Centre Parade Ground in Pune, Maharashtra, on January 15, 2025. This marks the third occasion that the Army Day Parade was held outside Delhi, following the decision to bring this prestigious event to other parts of the country. For the Southern Command, this is the second time the parade has been hosted under its aegis, the first being in Bangalore in 2023, reads the press release. Every year, Indian Army Day is celebrated on January 15 to honor the strength and valor of the Indian Army.
As per the Global Firepower 2025, India ranks fourth among the world’s 145 most powerful countries. The Indian Army’s global reputation for handling tough situations under the United Nations’ mandates is well recognized. The Indian Army was founded by the British Indian government on April 1, 1895. Now, you must be wondering why Army Day is observed on January 15. To know more, read below.
The Indian Army was established on April 1, 1895, yet Army Day is celebrated on Jan 15? The reason is…
After India gained independence from the British on August 15, 1947, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on January 15, 1949. To commemorate this historic moment and to honor the army’s proud legacy, Army Day is celebrated on this day.
“Every year, 15 January is commemorated as ‘Army Day’ to remember the occasion when General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa took over the command of the Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of Independent India,” the Ministry of Defence in its press release said.
Army Day, observed annually on January 15, commemorates the historic day in 1949 when Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa was appointed as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. The day also underscores the vital contribution of the Indian Army in strengthening national security, promoting peace, and fostering unity across the nation.
On January 15, 1949, after nearly 200 years of British rule, India witnessed a historic moment when an Indian was appointed to lead the army. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa succeeded General Francis Butcher as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. General Butcher was the last British officer to hold this position, while General Cariappa became the first Commander-in-Chief of independent India.
According to the media reports, the Indian Armed Forces have a total of 1,455,550 active soldiers, with an additional 1,155,000 reserve soldiers. The Indian Army is equipped with 4,205 tanks, 148,594 armored vehicles, 3,975 towed artillery, and 264 rocket launchers.
On this significant occasion, the army will showcase its military strength by presenting a range of powerful weapons and advanced platforms. As per a report from zeenews Hindi, sources from the defense sector have stated that some of the platforms featured in the parade include the K9 Vajra self-propelled howitzer, BMP-2 Sarath infantry combat vehicle, T-90 tanks, Swathi weapon-locating radar, Sarvatra bridge system, multi-barrel rocket system, ATOR N 1200, anti-drone systems, and mobile communication nodes. A major highlight will be the display of the “robotic mule.”
According to the event details shared by army officials, marching contingents from the Madras Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, Artillery Regiment, Mechanized Infantry, Bombay Engineer Group, Army Ordnance Corps, and Army Service Corps will participate in the parade.
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