Below you will find essential General Knowledge information about the Defence forces of India, particularly relevant for examinations like ADRE. This includes recent key appointments, static GK, and important historical aspects. Prepare well!
1. Current Affairs and Key Appointments
Staying updated with the latest happenings in the armed forces is crucial.
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS):General Anil Chauhan
- Chief of Army Staff: General Upendra Dwivedi
- Vice Chief of Army Staff: Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh
- Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi
- Vice Chief of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsyan
- Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
- Vice Chief of the Air Staff: Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari
- Major Military Exercises:Recent Military exercises and the Countries involved:
- Exercise Sampriti: India and Bangladesh
- Exercise Indra: India and Russia
2. Static GK about the Armed Forces
Foundational knowledge about the structure and ethos of the armed forces.
- Mottos:
- Indian Army: "Service Before Self"
- Indian Navy: "Sham No Varunah" (May the Lord of the Water be auspicious unto us)
- Indian Air Force: "Nabhah Sparsham Deeptam" (Touch the Sky with Glory)
- Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) Mottos:
- Ranks: Familiarize yourself with the rank structure in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Commands and Headquarters:
- Indian Army Commands:
- Northern Command (Udhampur)
- Eastern Command (Kolkata)
- Western Command (Chandimandir)
- Southern Command (Pune)
- Central Command (Lucknow)
- South-Western Command (Jaipur)
- Training Command (Shimla)
- Indian Navy Commands:
- Western Naval Command (Mumbai)
- Eastern Naval Command (Visakhapatnam)
- Southern Naval Command (Kochi)
- Indian Air Force Commands:
- Western Air Command (Delhi)
- Eastern Air Command (Shillong)
- Southern Air Command (Thiruvananthapuram)
- Central Air Command (Prayagraj)
- Training Command (Bengaluru)
- Maintenance Command (Nagpur)
- Indian Army Commands:
- Medals and Awards:
- Highest Gallantry Awards: Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), Vir Chakra (VrC)
- Highest Peacetime Gallantry Awards: Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra
- Important Institutions:
- National Defence Academy (NDA): Khadakwasla, Pune
- Indian Military Academy (IMA): Dehradun
- Officers Training Academy (OTA): Chennai & Gaya
India's security is safeguarded by various forces, and a key component of this is the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). There are seven such forces, each with a specific mission and a powerful motto that reflects its dedication to the nation. Here are their names and mottos:
| Force Name | Motto |
|---|---|
| Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) | "Seva Aur Nishtha" (Service and Loyalty) |
| Border Security Force (BSF) | "Jeevan Paryant Kartavya" (Duty Unto Death) |
| Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) | "Sanrakshan Aur Suraksha" (Protection and Security) |
| Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) | "Shaurya – Dridhata – Karm Nishtha" (Valour – Steadfastness and Commitment) |
| Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) | "Seva, Suraksha, Bandhutva" (Service, Security and Brotherhood) |
| National Security Guard (NSG) | "Sarvatra Sarvottam Suraksha" (Best Security Everywhere) |
| Assam Rifles (AR) | "Sentinels of the North East" |
The ranks of commissioned officers in the Indian Armed Forces are categorized into three groups: general/flag/air officers, field-grade officers and junior-grade officers. While the names differ across the services, the pay scales and responsibilities are generally equivalent.
| Indian Army | Indian Navy | Indian Air Force |
|---|---|---|
| General/Flag/Air Officers | ||
| Field Marshal (Honorary) | Admiral of the Fleet (Honorary) | Marshal of the Air Force (Honorary) |
| General | Admiral | Air Chief Marshal |
| Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Air Marshal |
| Major General | Rear Admiral | Air Vice Marshal |
| Brigadier | Commodore | Air Commodore |
| Field-Grade Officers | ||
| Colonel | Captain | Group Captain |
| Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Wing Commander |
| Major | Lieutenant Commander | Squadron Leader |
| Junior-Grade Officers | ||
| Captain | Lieutenant | Flight Lieutenant |
| Lieutenant | Sub Lieutenant | Flying Officer |
| Second Lieutenant | Midshipman | |
3. Historical Information and Key Operations
Understanding India's military history is essential.
- Important Days:
- Indian Army Day: January 15
- Indian Navy Day: December 4
- Indian Air Force Day: October 8
- Major Wars:
- Indo-Pak War of 1965: A significant conflict over Kashmir.
- Indo-Pak War of 1971: Led to the liberation of Bangladesh.
- Kargil War (1999): Conflict in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Important Military Operations:
- Operation Vijay (1961): Liberation of Goa, Daman and Diu.
- Operation Vijay (1999): Response to Pakistani incursions during the Kargil War.
- Operation Meghdoot (1984): Securing the Siachen Glacier.
- Founders/Firsts:
- First Chief of Army Staff of Independent India: General (later Field Marshal) Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
- First Field Marshal of India: General Sam Manekshaw
4. Awards and Honours (2025)
On the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day, the President of India approved several gallantry awards to members of the armed forces and other security personnel.
- Kirti Chakra recipients (2025):
- Major Malla Rama Gopal Naidu, The Maratha Light Infantry
- Major Manjit, The Punjab Regiment
- Rifleman Ravi Kumar, The Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (posthumous)
- Colonel Manpreet Singh, SM, The Sikh Light Infantry (posthumous)
- Naik Dilwar Khan, The Regiment of Artillery (posthumous)
- Deputy Superintendent of Police Himayun Muzzammil Bhat, Jammu and Kashmir Police (posthumous)
- Shaurya Chakra recipients (2025):
- A total of 33 Shaurya Chakras were awarded, including seven posthumous awards, to personnel from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and State/UT Police.
