In a strategic move aimed at fortifying its defences and enhancing readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) adjoining China, the Indian Army has expanded the jurisdiction of its Northern Command. Previously confined to Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, the command’s footprint now extends to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, marking a significant shift in military deployment.
This expansion was underscored by the historic annual investiture ceremony held outside Udhampur for the first time, symbolizing the command’s renewed focus on strengthening its presence in crucial border regions. The ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Red Eagle Division in Prayagraj. The Indian Army has taken this important step with the intention of strengthening military deployment on the LAC adjacent to China.
According to the information, the Strike Corps (Strike 1) based in Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) has now come under the Northern Command. Earlier this corps was under the South-Western Command based in Jaipur. Its main charter was to attack the border with Pakistan during the war.
In recent years the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops continues in the eastern Ladakh region, Pakistan which is witnessing its internal crisis has been quiet. Due to the ongoing tension with China in Eastern Ladakh, this Strike Corps has now been put under Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir). Since the Red Eagle Division (4 Div) is a part of this Strike Corps, the Northern Command organized its investiture ceremony in Prayagraj earlier this week.
From the anti-terror operation in the Kashmir Valley to the monitoring and security of the Line of Control (LOC) adjacent to Pakistan, Kargil, Siachen and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) adjacent to Eastern Ladakh, the motto of the Northern Command is `Always in Combat’.
Apart from the Mathura-based Strike Corps, the Indian Army is now preparing to convert the North India (UB) Area Formation based in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh into a complete corps. Until now the UB area was a one-piece formation. But now an entire corps is being raised in Bareilly with the intention of deploying more troops on the LAC adjoining Uttarakhand and Himachal. Till now, separate independent brigades were deployed in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. But now all these brigades will be under this new corps.
Areas like Barahoti (Garhwal Range), Kala-Pani and Lipulekh (Kumaon) of Uttarakhand are such areas where India has a long-standing dispute with China. In such a situation, the Indian Army is not at all ready for any kind of mistake like the dispute in Eastern Ladakh.
Recently it was reported that 10 thousand soldiers deployed on the border with Pakistan have been deployed on the LC adjacent to Himachal. This deployment is being considered under the new corps. The new corps based in Bareilly will remain under the existing Central Command of the Army whose headquarters is in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. Till now there was no corps under this command.