India:World's 3rd largest Army,4th largest Air Force

[Guest guest]

US State Dept Bureau of South Asian Affairs March 2000

Background Note: India

 

DEFENSE

Supreme command of India's armed forces--the third-largest in the

world-- rests with the president, but actual responsibility for

national defense lies with the cabinet committee for political

affairs under the chairmanship of the prime minister. The minister of

defense is responsible to parliament for all defense matters. India's

military command structure has no joint defense staff or unified

command apparatus. The ministry of defense provides administrative

and operational control over the three services through their

respective chiefs of staff. The armed forces have always been loyal

to constitutional authority and maintain a tradition of non-

involvement in political affairs.

 

The army numbers about 1.1 million personnel and fields 34 divisions.

Designed primarily to defend the country's frontiers, the army has

become heavily committed to internal security duties in Kashmir and

the Northeast.

 

The navy is much smaller, but it is relatively well-armed among

Indian Ocean navies, operating one aircraft carrier, 41 surface

combatants, and 18 submarines. The fleet is aging, and replacement of

ships and aircraft has not been adequately funded. India's coast

guard is small and is organized along the lines of the U.S. Coast

Guard. With India's long coastline and extensive Exclusive Economic

Zone, the navy and coast guard work hard to patrol the waters

dictated by India's economic and strategic interests.

 

The air force, the world's fourth largest, has over 600 combat

aircraft and more than 500 transports and helicopters. The air force

takes pride in its ability to fly low and fast, as well as to operate

in the extremes of temperature and altitude ranging from the Thar

Desert to the Siachen Glacier. The air force has enhanced the

capability of its fighter force with the addition of the multi-role

Sukhoi 30, and it hopes to replace much of its Mig-21 fleet with the

indigenous Light Combat Aircraft currently under development.

 

U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS

India's nuclear tests in May 1998 seriously damaged Indo-American

relations. President Clinton imposed wideranging sanctions pursuant

to the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act. The United States

encouraged India to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

(CTBT) immediately and without condition. The U.S. also called for

restraint in missile and nuclear testing and deployment in both India

and Pakistan. The nonproliferation dialogue initiated after the 1998

nuclear tests has bridged many of the gaps in understanding between

the countries. However, India has yet to sign the CTBT, agree to a

fissile material production moratorium, or define its intentions on

acquiring a nuclear deterrent clearly. U.S. sanctions on Indian

entities involved in the nuclear industry and opposition to

international financial institution loans for non-humanitarian

assistance projects in India remain sources of friction.

 

 

CIA Facts on India

India

Military branches: Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, various

security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles,

Rashtriya Rifles, and National Security Guards)

Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 280,204,502 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 164,410,461

(2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 10,879,384 (2001

est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.02 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY00)

India Transnational Issues Top of Page

Disputes - international: boundary with China in dispute; status of Kashmir with

Pakistan; water-sharing problems with Pakistan over the Indus River (Wular

Barrage); a portion of the boundary with Bangladesh is indefinite; exchange of

151 enclaves along border with Bangladesh subject to ratification by Indian

parliament; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty Island