Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (IAF; Devanāgarī: Bhartiya Vāyu Senā) is the air arm of the armed forces of India. Its primary responsibility is to secure and preserve peace whithin Indian airspace, and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. The Indian Air Force was officially established on October 8, 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire. In 1945, King George VI conferred the prefix Royal in recognition of its services during the World War II. After India achieved its independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, the Royal Indian Air Force served the Union of India and after India became a republic in 1950, the prefix was dropped.

Since independence the Air Force had been involved in several conflicts with neighbouring Pakistan and in 1962 with China. In 1961, the IAF played a crucial role during liberation of Goa and in 1971, during the Bangladesh liberation war. Apart from combat operations during war, the IAF is often called upon during natural disasters to provide relief to victims.

The President of India is Commander in Chief of the Air Force. Chief of the air staff, an Air Chief Marshal, is the commander of the Air Force. In 2002, for his service during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war as Air Chief Marshal, Arjan Singh was given the honorary rank of Marshal of the Air Force. Officers holding this rank never retires and is the ceremonial chief of the Airforce. Approximately 170,000 men and women serve in the Air Force and with over 1,500 aircraft in active service, it is the world's fourth largest. Other than the officers and airmen, the IAF employs a large number of non-combat and civilian personnel for day to day affairs.

Large number of aircraft in the Air Force's inventory are aging Soviet era MiGs and due to their ongoing decomissioning, the IAF fleet is shrinking. Therefore, in recent years, the IAF has undertaken an ambitious expansion and modernization program. With lengthy delays in the development of an indigenous replacement fighter, Indian launched the Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) program. Under this program the IAF plans to induct 126 fighter jets at a cost of US$12 billion. India is increasingly projecting its power beyond South Asia. To assist its foreign policy, Government of India has authorized to increase the force level from 39.5 squadrons in present to 42 squadrons in 2022

Indian Navy

The Indian Navy (Bhartiya Nāu Senā) is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. It currently has approximately 55,000 personnel on active duty, including 5,000 members of the naval aviation branch and 2,000 marine commandos, making it the world's fifth largest navy.The Indian Navy currently operates more than 155 vessels, including the INS Viraat, the only full-deck aircraft carrier operated by a country in Asia or the Western Pacific, along with operational jet fighters.
Though the primary objective of the navy is to secure national maritime borders, India also uses its navy to enhance its international relations through joint exercises, port visits and humanitarian missions, including disaster relief. In recent years, the Indian Navy has undergone extensive modernization and expansion with an intention to increase its capabilities as a recognized blue-water navy. By 2020, the Navy is expected to operate three aircraft carriers and three nuclear submarines.

Indian Army

The Indian Army (Bharatiya Thalsena) is the largest branch of the armed forces of India and has the responsibility for land-based military operations. Its primary objectives include defending India from external aggression, maintaining peace and security within the country, patrolling borders and conducting counter-terrorist operations. It also conducts rescue and humanitarian operations during calamities and disturbances. The President of India is the Commander in Chief of the Indian Army.
With more than 1,130,000 soldiers in active service[1] and about 1,800,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's second largest.[2] It is a completely voluntary service and though there is a provision for military draft in the Indian constitution, it has never been imposed.
The Indian Army was formed soon after India gained independence in 1947 and retained most of the regiments of the British Indian Army. The Army is deployed in many of the world's conflict zones as a part of the United Nations Peacekeeping forces. The force is currently headed by the Chief of Army Staff, General Deepak Kapoor. The Field Marshal is the highest attainable rank in the Indian Army and it is awarded by the President of India, on advise of the Union Government, only in exceptional circumstances. So far, only two officers have attained this rank.

Indian Airlines

Indian Airlines is an airline based in Delhi, India and focuses primarily on domestic routes, along with several international services to neighbouring countries in Asia. Indian Airlines is state-owned, and is administered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Its main bases are Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Chennai International Airport and Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport[1].
Though the company that owns and operates the airline continues to be named Indian Airlines Limited, on 7 December 2005, the airline was rebranded as Indian for advertising purposes as a part of a program to revamp its image in preparation for an initial public offering (IPO).[2] The airline operates closely with Air India, India's national carrier. Alliance Air, a fully-owned subsidiary of Indian Airlines, was renamed Air India Regional.[3]
In February 2007, the Government of India approved plans to merge Indian Airlines with Air India. The merger process is currently underway.

Services
Indian serves its customers through inbound call centres based at Delhi and outbound call centers at major metropolitan areas. Accessible through a toll free number from all parts of the country, arrival-departure information, reservations, promotional schemes, telephone check-in and booking (Dial-a-Ticket) are a few of the services rendered to fliers and travel agents.