Indian Army Day 2024: Date, History and celebrations

Indian Army Day 2024 commemorates 75 years of service, honoring brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for India's freedom and values, and recognizing their commitment to maintaining peace and stability.

Indian Army Day 2024, celebrated on January 15, 2024, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Indian Army in 1947. The day is a celebration of the nation’s progress and the dedication of soldiers to protecting freedom and defending values. The Indian Army has fought numerous battles and is an admirable force in maintaining peace, stability, and order in India. On this special day, we honor the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our safety and security.

What is Indian Army Day?

January 15th is celebrated as Indian Army Day every year. It marks the day when Field Marshal KM Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief, in 1949.

The day is celebrated to honour all those who have served and are serving in the Indian Army. It is also a day to remember all the brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the country.

Indian Army Day is celebrated with a grand parade at the Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi, which is attended by top military and political leaders, as well as families of soldiers. Other events include wreath-laying ceremonies, gun salutes, and Guard of Honour for veterans.

The History of Indian Army Day

The Indian Army came into being on 15 August 1947 with the independence of India from British rule. The first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army was field marshal General Sir Claude Auchinleck. The Indian Army has fought in a number of wars and battles, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Kargil War of 1999, and the Operation Vijay against Pakistan in 1999. It has also been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The Indian Army celebrates its Army Day on 15 January every year to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera M Cariappa became its first commander-in-chief. On this occasion, parades and other military shows are held at different locations across India.

Why We Celebrate Indian Army Day

The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and it is commanded by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four-star general.

Now that we know a little bit about the Indian Army, let’s find out why we celebrate Indian Army Day.

General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British commander, on 15th January 1949.

The day is also celebrated to honour all those brave soldiers who have sacrificed for their country. Many soldiers have sacrificed their lives defending our nation while serving in the Indian army since its formation.

We salute all those brave men and women who have served or are serving in the Indian Army on this day.

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How to Celebrate Indian Army Day

Indian Army Day is celebrated on 15th January every year to commemorate the day when General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera M. Cariappa took over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, in 1949.

The celebrations begin with a wreath laying ceremony at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate followed by Guard of Honour at Rajpath. A lot of functions are organized by various regimental centers and units of Indian Army all over the country which include exhibition, talks by veterans, open house, debates, symposiums, sports meet, cultural programmes etc.

The main aim behind celebrating this day is to pay tribute to all the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and also to spread awareness about the role and responsibilities of Indian Army among people.

Conclusion

Indian Army Day is a day to celebrate the brave and selfless service of Indian soldiers. It gives us an opportunity to honor their courage, dedication and sacrifice they have given for our country’s defense. We can remember all of their heroic deeds every January 15th by celebrating this special occasion. May we always be inspired by the spirit of patriotism that drives these brave men and women who risk everything in service of protecting India from all external threats. Salute to our soldiers!