XI Corps (India)

Last updated

XI Corps
Vajra Corps.png
Vajra Corps formation sign
Active1950 - present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
RoleStrike Corps
Size Army Corps
Part of Western Command
Garrison/HQ Jalandhar
Nickname(s)Vajra Corps
Defenders of Punjab [1]
Battle honours Theatre Honour:
Punjab
Battle Honours:
Dograi
Barki
Asal Uttar
Sehjra
Dera Baba Nanak [2]
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt Gen Ajay Chandpuria
AVSM , VSM [3]
Notable
commanders
General Ved Prakash Malik
General Om Prakash Malhotra
Lt Gen Naveen Chand Rawlley
Lt Gen J S Dhillon
Lt Gen T B Henderson Brooks

The XI Corps of the Indian Army is based in Jalandhar and is a part of Western Command. XI Corps is also known as Vajra Corps.

Contents

History

XI Corps was raised to take command of the formations in the Punjab in 1950 [4] as India reorganised its post-1947 army to meet the new threat of Pakistan. [5] It was raised on March 1, 1950 at Ambala under the command of Lieutenant General Kalwant Singh. [6] The corps headquarters was relocated to Jalandhar in July 1951. [2]

To reduce the load of XI Corps, X Corps was formed at Bathinda on 1 July 1979, taking over south Punjab and north Rajasthan. [7]

Formation sign

The Corps formation sign consists of the 'red-white-red background' depicting a corps of the Indian Army overlaid by a Vajra , the powerful thunderbolt weapon of Lord Indra, the symbol of sacrifice of the great sage Dadhichi, who voluntarily sacrificed his body to make the fiercest weapon from his thighbone. [6]

Vajra Corps Platinum Jubilee, 1 March 2020 Vajra platinum jubilee.jpg
Vajra Corps Platinum Jubilee, 1 March 2020

Organisation

The corps consists of: [8]

Vajra Shaurya Sthal, Jalandhar Cantonment - the Corps war memorial Vajra Shaurya Sthal.jpg
Vajra Shaurya Sthal, Jalandhar Cantonment - the Corps war memorial

Operations

List of Commanders

Vajra Museum, Jalandhar Vajra Museum.jpg
Vajra Museum, Jalandhar
RankNameAppointment DateLeft OfficeUnit of CommissionReferences
Lieutenant General Kalwant Singh1 March 1950 1st Punjab Regiment [6]
S P P Thorat 1955May 1957 1/14 Punjab Regiment [21] [6]
T B Henderson Brooks 19621963 5th Maratha Light Infantry [22]
Joginder Singh Dhillon November 1963August 1966 Bengal Sappers [23]
Premindra Singh Bhagat August 1966August 1970 Bombay Sappers
Naveen Chand Rawlley 19701972 12th Frontier Force Regiment [24]
Om Prakash Malhotra May 1972July 1974 Regiment of Artillery [25]
Krishnaswamy Gowri Shankar19841985 Corps of Signals [26]
V K Nayar 198531 October 1987 Parachute Regiment [nb 1] [28]
Bakshi Krishan Nath Chhibber July 1990September 1992 9th Gorkha Rifles [29]
Ved Prakash Malik August 1992March 1994 Sikh Light Infantry [30] [6]
H B KalaApril 1994 Jat Regiment [31]
Virendra Kumar Sewal Armoured Corps
Kamal Davar March 2000April 2001 7th Light Cavalry [32]
Shantonu ChoudhryApril 2001April 2002 Regiment of Artillery [33]
Krishnamurthy NagarajApr 2002May 2003 Maratha Light Infantry [34]
S PattabhiramanMay 2003May 2004 Bombay Sappers [35] [6]
Parmendra Kumar SinghMay 2004May 2005 Regiment of Artillery [36]
Mandhata SinghMay 2005April 2006 9th Gorkha Rifles [36]
Noble ThamburajMay 2006September 2007 Bombay Sappers [37]
S S KumarOctober 2007August 2008 Brigade of the Guards [38]
Virender Singh TonkAugust 2008July 2009 Rajput Regiment [39]
Ramesh Halgali 24 July 2009August 2010 Sikh Light Infantry [40]
Munish SibalAugust 2010November 2011 Rajputana Rifles [41] [42]
Sanjeev MadhokNovember 2011March 2013 Brigade of the Guards [43]
Ashwini Kumar BakshiMarch 2013July 2014 Bihar Regiment [44]
N P S HiraAugust 201431 July 2015 Sikh Light Infantry [45]
Jagbir Singh Cheema21 August 201531 August 2016 Sikh Regiment [46] [47]
B S Sahrawat1 September 20162 November 2017 Kumaon Regiment [48]
Dushyant Singh2 November 20174 November 2018 Maratha Light Infantry [49]
Arvind Dutta5 November 20185 November 2019 Dogra Regiment [50]
Sanjeev Sharma6 November 20192 December 2020 Rajputana Rifles [51]
C B Ponnappa 2 December 202010 February 2022 Mahar Regiment [52]
Devendra Sharma 11 February 202215 May 2023 14th Horse (Scinde Horse) [53]
Vijay B Nair15 May 202330 June 2024 Punjab Regiment [54]
Ajay Chandpuria1 July 2024Incumbent Dogra Regiment [55]

Notes

  1. Originally a Signals officer, General Nayar, after persistent pestering of his bosses, managed a transfer to his desired regiment — the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI), securing a billet with 2 Para (3rd battalion, MLI, converted to paratroop infantry). [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">III Corps (India)</span> Military unit

The III Corps is a formation of the Indian Army that was formed during World War I in Mesopotamia during its respective campaign. Prior to the reorganization of the British and Indian forces in Mesopotamia, it was designated as the Tigris Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XV Corps (India)</span> Military unit

XV Corps, or 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, is a Corps of the Indian Army which is presently located in Srinagar and responsible for military operations in the Kashmir Valley. It has participated in all military conflicts with Pakistan and China till date. Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai is its current Corps Commander since 14 June 2023 taking over from Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Aujla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Corps (India)</span> Military unit

I Corps is a military field formation of the Indian Army. The Corps is headquartered at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. It was raised on 1 April 1965. It was still being raised when it was despatched to the front in 1965. Raised as the First Strike Corps of the Indian Army, it was launched into operations in the Sialkot sector. The Corps conducted a counteroffensive during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. In the 1971 war against Pakistan, it took part in the Battle of Basantar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">23rd Indian Infantry Division</span> Military unit

The 23rd Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Burma Campaign. It was then reformed as a division of the independent Indian Army in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harbaksh Singh</span> Recipient of Vir Chakra

Lieutenant General Harbaksh Singh, VrC was an Indian senior military officer. As the commander of the Western Command, Singh commanded the Indian Army and played a key role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. For his role in the war, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IV Corps (India)</span> Military field formation of the Indian Army

The IV Corps, or the Gajraj Corps, is a corps of the Indian Army headquartered in Tezpur, Assam. The corps was raised in 1942 for the defence of Assam and was demobilised in 1945. It was re-raised in October 1962 just before the Sino-Indian War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">II Corps (India)</span> Military unit

II Corps is a corps of the Indian Army, based in Ambala and known as Kharga Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IX Corps (India)</span> Military unit

9 Corps, also known as Rising Star Corps was raised in 2005 and is Indian Army's youngest corps

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XIV Corps (India)</span> Indian Army formation

The XIV Corps or The Fire and Fury Corps is a corps of the Indian Army. It is the Army's Udhampur-based part of the Northern Command. The 14th Corps forms a military deployment in the Kargil-Leh area guarding the frontiers with China and Pakistan. It also guards the Siachen Glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XXI Corps (India)</span> Military unit

XXI Corps is a strike corps of the Indian Army and is headquartered at Bhopal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XII Corps (India)</span> Military unit

XII Corps is a corps of the Indian Army and one of the two corps of the Pune-based Southern Command. XII Corps is also known as Konark Corps/Desert Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X Corps (India)</span> Military unit

X Corps is a corps of the Indian Army. It is based in Bathinda and is a part of South Western Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Command (India)</span> Indian Army command

Southern Command is a formation of the Indian Army, active since 1895. It has seen action during the integration of several Princely States into modern India, during the 1961 Indian liberation of Goa, and during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani Wars. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth is the present Southern Army Commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Command (India)</span> Indian Army regional command

The Northern Command is a Command of the Indian Army. It was originally formed as the Northern Army of the British Indian Army in 1908. It was scrapped upon India's independence in 1947 and later re-raised in 1972. Currently, the XIV Corps (Leh), XV Corps (Srinagar), I Corps (Mathura) and XVI Corps (Nagrota) are under its control. Its present commander is Lieutenant General M. V. Suchindra Kumar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XVI Corps (India)</span> Military unit

The XVI Corps is a corps of the Indian Army raised on 1 June 1972 with Lieutenant General J F R Jacob as its first General Officer Commanding (GOC). It has its headquarters at Nagrota Cantonment,, Jammu and Kashmir. In 2005, IX Corps was raised in southern part of the XVI Corps' area, taking over two of its divisions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Command (India)</span> Indian army command

Western Command is a Command-level formation of the Indian Army. It was formed in 1920. It was disbanded following its demotion to an independent district and eventual merge with Northern Command to form the North-western Army. It was re-raised in 1947 following the transfer of Northern Command HQ to Pakistan. Until 1972, it was responsible for India's border with Pakistan in the North and West and the Chinese border in the North. The Command HQ is located at Chandimandir, Haryana, about 5 km east of Chandigarh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Western Command (India)</span> Indian army command

The South Western Command of the Indian Army was established on 15 April 2005 and became fully operational on 15 August 2005. It was in response to the emerging threats and opportunities on the Western Indo-Pak border. It is headquartered at Jaipur, Rajasthan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Command (India)</span> Indian army command

The Eastern Command is one of the six operational commands of the Indian Army. It is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal. The Eastern Command was formed on 1 November 1920. The Command is commanded by a three-star rank officer with the title General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C).

Indian order of battle during the 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes:

Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Aujla, UYSM,YSM, SM, VSM is a serving general officer of the Indian Army. He currently serves as the Master General Sustenance (MGS). He earlier served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps(XV).

References

  1. "Vajra Corps celebrates 71st Raising Day". 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Vajra Corps - 'Defenders of Punjab' - celebrates Platinum Jubilee". The Times of India . 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  3. "Lt Gen Ajay Chandpuria takes over command of the Vajra Corps from Lt Gen Vijay B Nair". x (formerly twitter). 1 July 2024.
  4. Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 26.
  5. "IPS Driver Error". Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Vajra Corps celebrates Raising Day". 17 March 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  7. "Commands of the Indian Army, South Western (Sapta Shakti) Command: Forever Victorious". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. "Vajra Corps celebrates Infantry Day". 28 October 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  9. Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 40
  10. "Golden moments at Pine Division". 9 August 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  11. "15 Infantry division celebrates its raising day". 1 October 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  12. Renaldi & Rikhye 2011, 166.
  13. "Army Commander Western Command visits Khasa Military station". 18 July 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  14. Renaldi & Rikhye 2011.
  15. "War Disabled Soldiers and Veer Naris Meet Organised at Beas". 16 January 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  16. "Vajra Corps organises Veer Nari meet". 4 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  17. "Vajra Air Defence felicitates veer naris at annual event". 17 December 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  18. "Vajra Air Defence Brigade organises Veer Nari meet". The Times of India. 23 February 2020. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Saluting 'Defenders of Punjab'". 7 March 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  20. "Vajra Museum inaugurated". 6 October 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  21. Singh, VK (2005). Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers. SAGE India. p. 140. ISBN   978-0761933229.
  22. "1962 war report: When Nehru stepped on the Dragon's tail". The Times of India . 19 March 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  23. "Last salute to the lion of 1965". 19 December 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  24. "1971 operations - Case West - I" . Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  25. "COAS pays Tribute to Former COAS Gen Om Prakash Malhotra". 31 December 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  26. "Examples of Learning in Counter-Insurgency" . Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  27. "Unforgiving take on past". 11 August 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  28. "PIB Release" (PDF). 27 October 1987. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  29. "Souvenir 1995" (PDF). Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  30. "COVER STORY: DECORATED DUO". 16 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  31. "About Us" . Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  32. "Golden jubilee of Vajra Corps". 4 March 2000. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  33. "Lt Gen Shantonu Choudhry appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff". 14 December 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  34. "Vajra Corps celebrates Raising Day". 1 March 2003. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  35. "Pattabhiraman takes over as GOC-in-C, Western Command". 3 February 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  36. 1 2 "Lieut-Gen Mandhata Singh is new GOC of Vajra Corps". 22 May 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  37. "Lt Gen Kumar takes over as GOC of Vajra Corps". 29 September 2007. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  38. "Vajra Celebrations". 8 April 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  39. "Lt Gen VS Tonk takes command of Vajra Corps". 21 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  40. "K'taka man to head military training". 17 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  41. "Lt.Gen. Sibal to head Vajra Corps". 18 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  42. "Appointment". 17 August 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  43. "BriefLt Gen Madhok takes over Vajra Corps Command". The Times of India . 12 November 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  44. "Lieutant general AK Bakshi assumes command of Vajra Corps". 13 March 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  45. "Lt Gen Hira to take over as new Northern Command Chief of Staff today". 1 August 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  46. "LT GEN JS CHEEMA, PVSM, AVSM (RETD)" . Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  47. "Deadlock over Army postings: GOC 11 Corps appointed officiating Western Army Commander". 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  48. "Lt Gen BS Sahrawat takes over as commanding officer of Vajra Corps". Chandigarh. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  49. "Vajra Corps GOC". 3 November 2017.
  50. "Lt Gen Arvind Dutta takes over command of Vajra Corps". Jalandhar. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  51. "Lt Gen sharma is Goc vajra corps". Jalandhar. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  52. Service, Tribune News. "Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa is new GOC Vajra Corps". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  53. "Lieut Gen Devendra Sharma is new Vajra Corps commander". 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  54. "Lt Gen Sharma to take over as Western Command chief of staff". 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  55. "Lt Gen Ajay Chandpuria takes over command of the Vajra Corps from Lt Gen Vijay B Nair". x (formerly twitter). 1 July 2024.