The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India, an institution under the management of the Ministry of Defence. They consist of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force. The forces succeeded the military of British India following India's independence in 1947, having been forcibly partitioned between India and Pakistan on August 15, 1947. Their primary mission is to guarantee national security and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation from external aggression.
The legal framework for the forces is rooted in the Constitution of India, where Article 33 authorizes Parliament to restrict the application of fundamental rights to maintain discipline. The organization, discipline, and administration of each service are governed by specific parliamentary acts: the Army Act, 1950 (commenced July 22, 1950), the Air Force Act, 1950, and the Navy Act, 1957. These acts detail procedures for court-martials and define offenses. The President of India serves as the Supreme Commander, while the executive authority for national security rests with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
The Armed Forces connect to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Indian Coast Guard, which provide support and handle internal security and coastal defense. A significant recent change began in 2019 with the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the top uniformed military official, to unify the services. This transformation includes the ongoing process of establishing joint theatre commands to integrate the three services under a single commander for a specific geographical region, a reform expected to be operationalized before May 2026. The creation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) and a dedicated missile and rocket force are also part of the current restructuring.