69th Army Day celebrated on 15 January

15 January: Army Day

Indian Army on 15 January 2017 celebrated the 69th Army Day.

The Army Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the day, when Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa became the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in post independence period. He took over the command of the Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief on 15 January 1949.

The day is celebrated in the form of parades and other military shows in the National Capital as well as in all headquarters.

To mark the occasion, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, reviewed the Army Day Parade at the Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment. The parade was commanded by Major Geneal Rajesh Sahai, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area.

General Rawat also awarded fifteen Sena Medals (including five posthumously) for individual acts of Gallantry and thirteen COAS Unit Citations for commendable performance of their respective units.

Earlier in the day, the three Service Chiefs laid the wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate, to commemorate the day.