XVII Corps is the first mountain strike corps of India which has been built as a quick reaction force and as well as counter offensive force against China along LAC. Its headquarters are located at Panagarh in West Bengal under Eastern Command.[1] It is also known as Brahmastra Corps.
Republic of India shares a boundary (LAC) of length 4,057km[2] with Tibet autonomous region. The two countries still have not resolved their disagreement about where exactly the border lies; specially over two regions – Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Intrusion of troops of PLA into Indian territory,[3] construction of watch tower close to the mutually-accepted "border patrolling line" near Burtse,[4] "standardization" of the names of six towns in Arunachal Pradesh[5] (China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is integral part of China) enhanced the tension.
In addition, China has developed a rail network and five fully operational airbases in Tibet Autonomous Region. Key airfields include those at Hoping, Pangta and Kong Ka.[2][6] In Tibet and Yunan, roads are extended over 58,000km (in 2010)[2] up to the border, at an approximate cost of about $325 billion. As a result of all these buildout of infrastructures, China can mobilize 30 divisions (over 15,000 soldiers each)[7] aside heading to the LAC within 48 hours. Moreover, about 300,011 PLA troops and six Rapid Reaction Forces are placed at Chengdu.[8]
To reinforce defensive power across the border in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Army raised two new infantry divisions (1,260 officers and 35,000 soldiers) at Likapani[9] and Missamari (Assam)[2] in 2009-2010. However PLA outnumbered Indian army near border by three to one.[10]
The formation of a Mountain Strike Corps was first proposed in the year 2000.[11]
On 13 January 2013, the Indian Army put forward a proposal to raise the Corps. The proposal also included raising two additional independent infantry divisions as well as two armoured division (including mechanised infantry units) which overall would cost around ₹81,000 crore (equivalent to ₹1.4trillionorUS$16billion in 2023) to be spent within seven years (12th Plan period (2012–17), with a little spillover into the 13th plan if necessary). The 12th Plan had already been allocated ₹62,000 crore (equivalent to ₹1.1trillionorUS$12billion in 2023) for the Corps and the Army had asked for additional ₹19,000 crore (equivalent to ₹320billionorUS$3.8billion in 2023) in the proposal. The Corps would reportedly give the Army offensive capabilities across the Tibet Autonomous Region. The proposal had been approved by the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC), a committee composed of the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The proposal then headed for the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by the Prime Minister and including the Defence Minister and the Finance Minister among others. The Corps was referred to the by the government earlier in 2012 for further thinking and refinement of the proposal. Two high-altitude divisions would be formed under the Corps.[12]
On 13 July 2013, the Cabinet Committee on Security gave the in principle approval for raising of the Corps at the cost of ₹64,678 crore (equivalent to ₹1.1trillionorUS$13billion in 2023) to be spent throughout the 12th Plan period. The overall budget included ₹39,209 crore (equivalent to ₹670billionorUS$7.9billion in 2023) for capital expenditure. The Corps will have a strength of 90,274 soldiers and based at Panagarh (West Bengal).[13][14][10]
From October 2013, the army started posting key officers in Ranchi, Jharkhand. On 1 January 2014, Lieutenant General Raymond Joseph Noronha, the first commander of 17 Corps, raised the flag of the XVII Corps for the first time in Ranchi, the temporary headquarters. The raising cost was ₹26,155 crore (equivalent to ₹420billionorUS$4.9billion in 2023). The headquarters would be permanently shifted to Panagarh in around 2015.[9][15]
In 2015, the raising of the Corps came to a halt due to financial constraints. As the government reportedly allocate the required funds for raising the Corps while the plans were approved in 2013. The final Corps size was planned to be "trimmed" as this was not a financially viable project. The Army had to utilise funds from its critical War Wastage Reserves (WWR) due to lack of funds.[10]
As of May 2017, the Army had started raising of the second division (72 Division) under the XVII Corps after the formation of 59 Division was almost completed. The new Division, to be based at Pathankot, would initially consist of one Brigade with plans to increase the strength to three Brigades. Raising of the Division was o be completed in three years.[16]
The corps was relocated from Ranchi to Panagarh in 2019.[17]
As of 2021, only one Division was raised under 17 MSC with a strength of 16,000 personnel while the raising of another division at Pathankot was shelved. After 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, 10,000 soldiers were reportedly added. The Corps Area of Responsibility was restricted to Sikkim and the Northeast India from the earlier responsibility if entire Northern borders. This was as part of Army's overall restructuring after the clashes.[11][18]
As of April 2024, the raising of the 72 Division was stopped midway due to "paucity of funds".[19] In March 2025, a report suggested that the 72 Division was now being raised under the aegis of XIV Corps and would support the existing 3 Division with the Area of Responsibility of Eastern Ladakh. The HQ along with one Brigade was already deployed while the larger elements were being trained in western parts of India.[20]
Order of Battle (ORBAT)
17 Corps War Memorial at Panagarh.
The initial plan at the time of raising was to have the corps with two infantry divisions, two independent armoured brigades and artillery, engineer, air defence and aviation brigades. Because of budgetary constraints, the raising was halted in 2018, leaving a truncated force comprising the Corps HQ, one infantry division and specific other combat and combat support elements. The 17 Corps was also expected to have 30 infantry brigades and 2 Para SF brigades.[21]
59 Infantry Division - Established at Panagarh. It consists of six Brigades, of which three are Infantry and one each of Engineers, Air Defence and Artillery.[23]
17 Artillery Brigade - Raised in 2020-21. Includes multiple guns including M777 howitzer (Ultra Light Howitzers).[11][22]
The Corps also deploy 5 Integrated Battle Groups (IBG) as of 2024.
The Integrated Battle Groups are Brigade-sized, self-sufficient combined arms formations commanded by an officer of the rank Major General. The IBGs are meant to transform the overall field formation of the Indian Army. As of July 2019, the new concept of formations has been test-bedded with the IX Corps and were being reorganised based on the basis of feedbacks. The formation of a specific IBG shall depend on three T's – Threat, Terrain and Task. The resources will be allocated based on the same conditions. The formations will be organised so that they can be mobilised within 12-48 hours of notice. The traditional field formation of the Indian Army includes Commands (largest static formation spread across a defined geography) which consists of Corps (largest mobile formation). A Corps typically consists of 3 Divisions which in turn is composed of 3 or more Brigades. This structure is to be replaced by IBG structure. Each IBG, as of 2019, deploys 5,000 troops and includes infantry, armoured, artillery and air defence units. The composition of IBG also depends on its nature – offensive or defensive. While Offensive IBG will be designed to be mobilised instantly and thrust into enemy territory for strike operations, the Defensive IBG will be tasked to hold ground at vulnerable points where enemy action is expected.[25]
In October 2019, the XVII Corps conducted the first edition of Exercise Him Vijay which included three Integrated Battle Groups from the 59 Infantry Division each including 5,000 troops along with a combination of tanks, artillery and other assets. This was the first field implementation of such a formation. The new restructuring will further reduce the 72-hours response time determined in the Cold Start Doctrine to under 24 hours.[26]
As of May 2022, the IBGs were test-bedded by IX Corps and further validated by the XVII Corps. The Army identified these Holding Coprs in the Western Front and the Strike Corps in the Northern/Eastern Front for total 'IBG-isation'. The 'IBG-isation' is being done parallel to the formation of Integrated Theatre Commands to integrate the Armed Forces into larger theatres. The IBGs will replace the traditional Brigades (3,000-3,500 troops) and Divisions (10,000 to 12,000 troops) existing in the Army.[27][28]
As of June 2024, 2 IBGs under 9 Corps and 5 IBGs under 17 Corps has been raised under Phase-1 and 2, respectively. These formations were war-gamed and validated in multiple exercises. The Army HQ had earlier submitted the report on Phase-1 of 'IBG-isation' to the Defence Ministry while the same for Phase 2 is to be submitted before issuing the official Government Sanction Letter (GSL). The original plan was to first carve out 8-10 IBGs (5,000 to 6,000 troops each) initially and then create more over the years. As of now, the Army has 14 Corps (40,000 to 70,000 troops each), with four of them being strike formations.[29]
By November 2024, the Army submitted a draft Government Sanction Letter seeking official approval for the establishment of these IBGs. The issuing of the GSL will imply the approval for the implementation of IBGs. Post approval, the Army aims to have the IBGs operational by 2025.[30][31]
During the annual press conference on 15 January 2025, on the occasion of the Army Day, the Chief of the Army StaffGeneralUpendra Dwivedi said that the Integrated Battle Groups will be either implemented if approval is granted in 2025 else the project will be totally abandoned. The proposals are in the final stages of approval and has financial as well as equipment and human resources implications. "It is the first Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as far as the restructuring is concerned. If it goes through, others will also follow suit," as per the COAS stated by a report. Some top-of-the-rack changes in the Northern Theatre Command has been identified to implement the IBGs and will incorporate lessons learnt from Exercise Himvijay 2019. The IBGs will be equipped to lead surgical strike-like operations in case of a war unlike the current structure of the Army where the same role is carried out by Strike Corps.[32][33]
Mascot
The corps mascot is the Snow leopard, signifying strength, resolve and bravery - traits associated with the predator, with which it shares its geographical habitat.
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