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Rashtriya Indian Military College

2022-11-19T06:51:00Z

117.219.2.83:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Coord|30|20|54|N|78|1|29|E|display=title}}

{{Infobox school
| name = RIMC
| image = newcrest.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption =
| motto = ''Bal Vivek''<br />(''Strength and Conscience'')
| mottoes =
| founder = [[Prince of Wales]] [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|Edward VIII]]
| established = 13 March 1922
| type = [[Military academies in India|Military College]]
| feeder_to = [[National Defence Academy]], [[Indian Naval Academy]]
| affiliation =
| grades = Classes 8–12
| president =
| principal = Colonel Vikram Kadian
| head_label = Commandant
| head of school =
| dean =
| faculty =
| staff =
| enrollment = 250 cadets
| gender = Boys and Girls
| lower_age = 11.5 years
| upper_age = 13
years
| free_label_2 = Sections
| free_2 = Pratap, Ranjit, Shivaji and Chandragupta
| colours = Light blue and dark blue
{{color box|Lightblue}}{{color box|Darkblue}}
| campus type =
| campus size = {{convert|138|acre|km2|adj=on}}
| location = [[Dehradun]]
| country = [[India]]
| free_label_1 = Former pupils
| free_1 = [[Rimcollians]]
| information =
| website = http://www.rimc.gov.in
}}

The '''Rashtriya Indian Military College''' (abbreviated '''RIMC'''; formerly known as '''Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College''') is a military school for boys and girls situated in [[Doon Valley]], [[Dehradun]] in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euttaranchal.com/education/schools/rashtriya-indian-military-college.php |title=www.euttaranchal.com |publisher=www.euttaranchal.com |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref> The RIMC is a feeder institution for the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Indian Naval Academy]] and subsequently the Indian Armed Forces. [[Rimcollians]], the name by which alumni of the RIMC are usually denoted, have gone on to hold the highest ranks in the Army, Navy and the Air Force of [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Pages 22 and 23, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

==History==
The origins of RIMC, formerly the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, lie in the long-pending demand of Indian nationalists to Indianise the officer cadre of [[British Indian Army]]. The first concrete step towards Indianisation of the officer cadre came from Viceroy [[Lord Curzon]], in his "Memorandum on Commissions for Indians" on 4 June 1900. Against much opposition he had established the [[Imperial Cadet Corps]] first at Meerut and then at Dehradun in 1901. This Imperial Cadet Corps (ICC), popularly known in the [[Doon Valley]] as the Rajwada Camp, was the forerunner to the present day RIMC.

During the recruiting drives, especially in Punjab, which was the main recruiting area and provided one third of the strength of the Army, people were cajoled and even threatened to join the Army. Sir [[Michael O'Dwyer]], the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab during the World War I had toured from district to district exhorting the martial races to come forward. The promise of commission was the most effective way to get more Indians to join the Army. On 4 May 1918 he reiterated, " As regards the further grant of King's Commissions the Government of India have already made their proposals before the Home Government and we may be sure they will receive early and sympathetic consideration."The demand to Indianise the officer cadre grew more strong in the post World War I years, and finally resulted in the formation of the Military Requirements Committee by [[Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson|Lord Rawlinson]], the Commander-in-Chief in 1921. Based on the recommendations of this committee and the proposal by Lt Gen Sir [[John Shea (Indian Army officer)|John Shea]], it was decided to open a pre-Sandhurst institution in the old campus of the Imperial Cadet College with a capacity of 27 cadets. It was meant as a military school for training the Indian boys for an entry into the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]]. The British believed that to be officers in the British Indian Army, the Indian boys had to be first given British public school education before sending them for pre-commission training.

Finally, the PWRIMC was inaugurated in March 1922. [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|The Prince Edward]], [[Prince of Wales|The Prince of Wales]], inaugurated the school on 13 March 1922, naming it the '''Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (PWRIMC)'''.<ref>"The Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun, was established in 1922....", Page 223, Defence Organisation in India, By A. L. Venkateswaran, Published 1967, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting</ref> The name was changed in 1947 to RIMC when India became independent. The prefix of Prince of Wales was dropped, and Royal Indian Military College became Rashtriya Indian Military College, and thus the PWRIMC became RIMC, retaining the essence of the original name and the spirit of the name.

It was located on the premises of the [[Imperial Cadet Corps]] (also called Rajwada Camp), set amidst {{convert|55|ha|acre}} of lush-green countryside adjacent to the Garhi Village in [[Dehradun Cantonment]]. The purpose of the school was to provide boys with education and training for the Indians being sent to the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], as part of the Empire's policy to make the officer cadre of the Indian Army more indigenous. RIMC was intended as a feeder institution to [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] along the lines of an English Public School.<ref>"RIMC, whether it was to prepare the boys for the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, the Joint Services Wing or the National Defence Academy, has always stood as the premier feeder institution", Page 3, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

The government order appointed a military Commandant of the rank of Lt Colonel, a civilian Headmaster, senior or junior British Masters and Indian Masters. The first commandant was Lt Col H.L. Haughton of the [[Sikh Regiment]] who took charge of the College on 22 February 1922. JGC Scott was appointed headmaster and the first group of British masters were JM Allen, CA Phillips and Kitter-master. The First Adjutant & Quarter Master was Risaldar (Honorary Captain) Sardar Khan of [[20 Lancers (India)|20 Lancers]]. The first mess contractors were MS Hazir and Co and the mess staff consisted mostly of Goans. Later the mess was taken over by the Army Service Corps. [[Hira Lal Atal]] was the first Cadet Captain and later as Adjutant General of the Indian Army, He was responsible for designing India’s highest award for bravery in combat, the [[Param Vir Chakra]], of which the first recipient was another Old Boy of the College [[Somnath Sharma|Maj Somnath Sharma]]. Among the early cadets were [[K.S. Thimayya]], [[Asghar Khan]] and others, who had illustrious military careers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

An excellent account of the life in early days of RIMC can be found in book [[Thimayya of India]] by Humphrey Evans, while accounts of the Imperial Cadet Corps can be found in numerous books written by ex Royals, particularly from [[Rajputana]].

After India gained independence in 1947, the school continued to train young men to become a part of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. The major difference is that instead of serving as a public school whose boys joined the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|RMA]], RIMC now offers an excellent public school life, oriented towards joining the [[National Defence Academy (India)|NDA]] and [[Indian Naval Academy|INA]].

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun (1922-1997) 2.00 "Cradle of Excellence" stamps were produced; The First Day Covers were issued on 13 March 1997. The College celebrated its Centenary on 13 March 2022, making it the oldest officer training institution of [[Indian Armed Forces]].[[File:Nehru Addressing Cadets of RIMC.jpg|thumb|Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at RIMC]]

==Institutional framework==
The school is spread over 54 hectares (139 acres) and has an enrollment of 250 cadets. A [[Hawker Hunter]] jet aircraft gifted to the College by The Air Chief Marshal N.C. Suri is placed in front of the Cadet Mess. Recently a [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]] presented to RIMC by the navy was inaugurated by the CINCAN [[Bimal Verma]].It is located in front of the Thimayya auditorium.

RIMC has a 1:14 teacher student ratio. Candidates for the school are selected from all over India through a national level competitive exam, the RIMC Entrance Exam that is held twice a year in each state. Successful candidates in the entrance exam have to go through a medical fitness test to be admitted to the school. Every year about 50 students are selected in two intakes from all over India and admitted into Standard VIII at the RIMC.

The PWRIMC in 1922 was run on the lines of an English public school - Wellock College, a feeder to [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst]]. The 37 cadets forming the first batch were divided into three Houses, called Sections at the RIMC, These were called [[Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson|Rawlinson]], [[Earl Roberts|Roberts]] and [[Earl Kitchener|Kitchener]] named after the three Commander-in-Chiefs of [[India]].

[[Hira Lal Atal]] who was also the first cadet at RIMC was appointed the first College Cadet Captain with Ali Asghar Khan, Tara Singh and Sheikh Hussain the first Section Commanders, or House Captains, of the three Sections. After Independence in 1948, the names of the three Sections were changed to Pratap, Ranjit and Shivaji from the former Rawlinson, Roberts and Kitchener. The new names represented the three great Indian warriors [[Maharana Pratap]], [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji]]. Strength of the College increased significantly in 1960 and it was decided to keep the new entrants in a Holding Section to give them a chance to settle down.

In 1965, the strength of the College rose to 200 and it became necessary to turn the Holding Section into a new House, which was called the Chandragupta Section after the Indian Emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]].<ref>Page 30, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

Cadets at the RIMC follow the [[10+2]] pattern curriculum of Indian [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), New Delhi over the next five years. A cadet, during his stay at the RIMC, gets a full glimpse of the life of an Indian Armed forces Officer. The hallowed portals of RIMC is the only School to hold Boards exams twice a year.

Cadets sports include [[Field hockey|hockey]], [[association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[basketball]], [[Volleyball]], [[Squash (sport)|squash]], [[boxing]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[sport of athletics|athletics]], [[tennis]] and [[gymnastics]]. Horse riding and rifle shooting are other popular activities. After the cadets complete the 12th grade, they graduate from the RIMC and most of them join the Indian Armed Forces by entering the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Pune]].

The cadets then spend three years at the NDA with other students from the rest of the country and eventually get commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

== Academic ==
[[File:Rashtriya Indian Military College Academic Block.jpg|thumb|Sketch of Academic Block]]
Rashtriya Indian Military college is administered by the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Union Ministry of Defence]], through the Army Training Command, Shimla. RIMC (Limca Book of Records confirm) is perhaps the only institution in the country where exams for Class X and XII are conducted twice a year, in May and November. These exams/certifications are recognized by CBSE. The college offers only the science stream at the +2 level along with Informatics Practices. However, to prepare cadets for the UPSC examination for entry into NDA, Social Sciences are also taught.

After the term end examination, each Cadets position in class is decided; both curricular and extracurricular achievements of a term are recorded in his dossier. Weightage is given to the sessional work done by a cadet both in terms of class work and homework for his promotion to the next class. Cadets are prepared for the UPSC Examination for entry to the NDA.On Average RIMC has sent between 70-80% cadets to NDA from each course (as compared to the national average which stands at 0.6%).RIMC has two terms both of which run on the same syllabus line and has remedial quid pro quo for qualifying measures.

== Admission ==
25 Cadets are admitted every six months. Rashtriya Indian Military College conducts an admission process in Class VIII. Candidates are studying in Class VII and the age of the candidate must be between 11.5 and 13 years at the time of commencement of term. The written examination consists of a test paper consisting of three parts: English (125 Marks), Mathematics (200 Marks), and General Knowledge (75 marks). Candidates have to score at least 50% in each subject to qualify. Candidates are then shortlisted through the written test and called for Viva-Voce which is of 50 marks, and have to pass a medical test.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimc.org/admission.html |title=Official website |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref>

==Alumni==
[[File:VCPremindraSinghBhagat.jpg|thumb|right|Lt.Gen. Premindra Singh Bhagat, recipient of [[Victoria Cross]]]]

{{Main|List of Rimcollians}}
{{See also|Category:Rashtriya Indian Military College alumni}}
Alumni of the RIMC are called "[[List of Rimcollians|Rimcollians]]". Rimcollians have held exalted positions in the Armed Forces, many becoming the Chiefs of Staff in the Indian and Pakistani Armed Forces. The cadets enrolled at RIMC are known as "Rimcos" to distinguish them from the alumni. A rare distinction of the RIMC is that some of its alumni have also headed the Armed Forces of [[Pakistan]], a feat made possible by [[Rimcollians]] of the pre-partition Subcontinent era.

The RIMC has produced five Army Chiefs, four of the [[Indian Army]] - [[General (India)|General]] [[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya|K. S. Thimayya]], General [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]], General [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor|G. G. Bewoor]], General [[Vishwa Nath Sharma]], and one of the [[Pakistan Army]] - General [[Gul Hassan Khan]]. It has also produced four Air Chiefs, two of the [[Indian Air Force]] - [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Nirmal Chandra Suri|N.C. Suri]], Air Chief Marshal [[Birender Singh Dhanoa|B. S. Dhanoa]], and two of the [[Pakistan Air Force]] - Air Marshal [[Asghar Khan]] and Air Marshal [[Nur Khan]].

Other senior officer include Lt. Gen [[Khwaja Wasiuddin]] ([[Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)|MGO]] Pakistan Army), Maj General [[Muhammad Anwar Khan]] (Pakistan Army Engineer), Lt. General [[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan]] (Indian army Later Pakistan Army), Lt. Gen. Fazle Haq (former Governor North West Frontier Province, Pakistan), Air Marshal D.C.Kumaria, Maj Gen Balbir Singh Malik (Sword of Honour 1955 IMA, former commandent Armoured Corps of Indian Army), Maj Gen Dewan Misri Chand, Maj Gen [[Kanwar Zorawar Singh|Kunwar Zorawar Singh]], Maj Gen M R Rajwade, Maj Gen Karam Singh, (Indian Army, Dogra Regt, Ex - Dy Adjutant General), Lt Gen H M Khanna, (Indian Army - GOC-in-C Command), Lt Gen N S Brar, (Indian Army - Artillery, GOC Corps; Administrative Member Armed Forces Tribunal), Lt Gen S.K.Singh, (Indian Army - Infantry, VCOAS), Lt Gen Gautam Dutt, (Indian Army - Engineers, Engineer-in-Chief), [[Chandi Prasad Mohanty|Lt Gen CP Mohanty]](Indian Army, VCOAS), [[Amardeep Singh Bhinder|Lt Gen AS Bhinder]](Indian Army, GOC-in-c),
Lt Gen JS Varma (Indian Army, GOC-in-c).

Gallantry awards have been awarded to Rimcollians including the [[Victoria Cross]] to [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Premindra Singh Bhagat]], [[Distinguished Service Order]] to [[General (India)|General]] [[K. S. Thimayya]] and the [[Param Vir Chakra]] to [[Major]] [[Som Nath Sharma]].

[[Royal family|Royals]] were highly inspired by the College and most royals from [[Indian Princely States]] joined the College. [[Jagaddipendra Narayan|Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, K.C.I.E]] (15 December 1915 – 11 April 1970), Maharaja of Cooch-Behar was an alumnus of the College. The [[Colonel]] [[Sawai (title)|Sawai]] [[Maharaj]] Sahib Shri [[List of Rimcollians|Deshpal Singh]] Ju Deo of [[Ajaigarh]] cousin of H.H. [[Sawai Maharaja]] Punya Pratap Singh Sahib Bahadur of [[Ajaigarh]] passed out from the same and was classmate of General [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor|GG Bewoor]].

Cadets namely Piyush Sunil Deshmukh (Equestrian), Jaikant Mishra (Mountaineering), Praveen Kumar (Mountaineering) have earned the "Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card" for achievements in their fields respectively during their tenure at the school itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimcollians.org/military-civilian.php |title=Rashtriya Indian Military College |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-12-12}}</ref> The school has an alumni network called the Rimcollian Old Boys Association (ROBA). The alumni also have mailing groups on the internet through which they interact.

==Sports==
Sports and games played at RIMC include boxing, football, cricket, athletics, horse riding, hockey, squash, swimming and shooting. RIMC has produced International level sports persons in the games of squash, shooting and horse riding.

It has produced great squash players like [[Ritwik Bhattacharya|Ritwik Bhatacharya]], Brig. Raj Manchanda and Lt Col Shakti Singh. Alumni Poshuk Aluwalia has represented India in shooting in 2010 SAF games at Dhaka where he won a medal.

RIMC alumni Piyush Sunil Deshmukh also represented India in an International Horse Show at Sydney, Australia. He fetched four medals at a young age of just 16 years. Achudev S an alumnus of RIMC and a cadet at NDA had represented India in International Services Athletic Meet in Turkey.

Not only this but RIMC is adjudged India's best school in sports education by ''[[The Times Magazine]]''.

RIMC has a 50-metre [[Olympic-size swimming pool]], an indoor swimming pool, five basketball courts, three squash courts, and numerous football and hockey fields.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimc.org/facultylist.html |title=Rashtriya Indian Military College |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref>

Major Ashish Malik also represented India at the [[2018 Asian Games|2018 Asian games]] and won a team silver medal there

==Section system==
The school is divided into four houses. Each cadet is assigned a house at the start of his time in the school and will remain in that house for the whole of their school career. These houses were earlier called Rawlinson, Kitchner and Roberts and the new names were given in the post-independence years. Each house is looked after by one House Master (called Section Master) who is assisted by one or two Section Tutors. There is fierce competition between the houses which well continues for the rest of the life among the Old Boys or the Rimcollians.

The houses are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-

! House

! House colour
|-
!Pratap
!|{{color box|yellow}}
|-
!Ranjit
!|{{color box|red}}
|-
!Shivaji
!|{{color box|Blue}}
|-
! Chandragupta
!|{{color box|Green}}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Rimcollians]]
* [[National Cadet Corps (India)]] (NCC)
* [[National Police Cadet Corps (India)]] (NPCC)
* [[National Service Scheme]] (NSS)
* [[Chail Military School#RIM|Rashtriya Military Schools]] (RMS)
* [[Sainik School]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://rimc.gov.in/rimcindex.aspx Official website]
*[http://www.rimc.org/admission.as Admissions]
*[http://www.rimcollians.org/ Alumni]

{{Dehradun}}
{{Indian military academies and colleges}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rashtriya Indian Military College}}
[[Category:Schools in Colonial India]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in India]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Indian Military College alumni|*]]
[[Category:Military schools in India]]
[[Category:Military of British India]]
[[Category:High schools and secondary schools in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Schools in Dehradun]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1922]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in India]]

Rashtriya Indian Military College

2022-11-19T06:51:00Z

117.219.2.83:

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Coord|30|20|54|N|78|1|29|E|display=title}}

{{Infobox school
| name = RIMC
| image = newcrest.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| caption =
| motto = ''Bal Vivek''<br />(''Strength and Conscience'')
| mottoes =
| founder = [[Prince of Wales]] [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|Edward VIII]]
| established = 13 March 1922
| type = [[Military academies in India|Military College]]
| feeder_to = [[National Defence Academy]], [[Indian Naval Academy]]
| affiliation =
| grades = Classes 8–12
| president =
| principal = Colonel Vikram Kadian
| head_label = Commandant
| head of school =
| dean =
| faculty =
| staff =
| enrollment = 250 cadets
| gender = Boys and Girls
| lower_age = 11.5 years
| upper_age = 13
years
| free_label_2 = Sections
| free_2 = Pratap, Ranjit, Shivaji and Chandragupta
| colours = Light blue and dark blue
{{color box|Lightblue}}{{color box|Darkblue}}
| campus type =
| campus size = {{convert|138|acre|km2|adj=on}}
| location = [[Dehradun]]
| country = [[India]]
| free_label_1 = Former pupils
| free_1 = [[Rimcollians]]
| information =
| website = http://www.rimc.gov.in
}}

The '''Rashtriya Indian Military College''' (abbreviated '''RIMC'''; formerly known as '''Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College''') is a military school for boys and girls situated in [[Doon Valley]], [[Dehradun]] in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euttaranchal.com/education/schools/rashtriya-indian-military-college.php |title=www.euttaranchal.com |publisher=www.euttaranchal.com |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref> The RIMC is a feeder institution for the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Indian Naval Academy]] and subsequently the Indian Armed Forces. [[Rimcollians]], the name by which alumni of the RIMC are usually denoted, have gone on to hold the highest ranks in the Army, Navy and the Air Force of [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Pages 22 and 23, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

==History==
The origins of RIMC, formerly the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, lie in the long-pending demand of Indian nationalists to Indianise the officer cadre of [[British Indian Army]]. The first concrete step towards Indianisation of the officer cadre came from Viceroy [[Lord Curzon]], in his "Memorandum on Commissions for Indians" on 4 June 1900. Against much opposition he had established the [[Imperial Cadet Corps]] first at Meerut and then at Dehradun in 1901. This Imperial Cadet Corps (ICC), popularly known in the [[Doon Valley]] as the Rajwada Camp, was the forerunner to the present day RIMC.

During the recruiting drives, especially in Punjab, which was the main recruiting area and provided one third of the strength of the Army, people were cajoled and even threatened to join the Army. Sir [[Michael O'Dwyer]], the Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab during the World War I had toured from district to district exhorting the martial races to come forward. The promise of commission was the most effective way to get more Indians to join the Army. On 4 May 1918 he reiterated, " As regards the further grant of King's Commissions the Government of India have already made their proposals before the Home Government and we may be sure they will receive early and sympathetic consideration."The demand to Indianise the officer cadre grew more strong in the post World War I years, and finally resulted in the formation of the Military Requirements Committee by [[Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson|Lord Rawlinson]], the Commander-in-Chief in 1921. Based on the recommendations of this committee and the proposal by Lt Gen Sir [[John Shea (Indian Army officer)|John Shea]], it was decided to open a pre-Sandhurst institution in the old campus of the Imperial Cadet College with a capacity of 27 cadets. It was meant as a military school for training the Indian boys for an entry into the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]]. The British believed that to be officers in the British Indian Army, the Indian boys had to be first given British public school education before sending them for pre-commission training.

Finally, the PWRIMC was inaugurated in March 1922. [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|The Prince Edward]], [[Prince of Wales|The Prince of Wales]], inaugurated the school on 13 March 1922, naming it the '''Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (PWRIMC)'''.<ref>"The Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, Dehradun, was established in 1922....", Page 223, Defence Organisation in India, By A. L. Venkateswaran, Published 1967, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting</ref> The name was changed in 1947 to RIMC when India became independent. The prefix of Prince of Wales was dropped, and Royal Indian Military College became Rashtriya Indian Military College, and thus the PWRIMC became RIMC, retaining the essence of the original name and the spirit of the name.

It was located on the premises of the [[Imperial Cadet Corps]] (also called Rajwada Camp), set amidst {{convert|55|ha|acre}} of lush-green countryside adjacent to the Garhi Village in [[Dehradun Cantonment]]. The purpose of the school was to provide boys with education and training for the Indians being sent to the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], as part of the Empire's policy to make the officer cadre of the Indian Army more indigenous. RIMC was intended as a feeder institution to [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] along the lines of an English Public School.<ref>"RIMC, whether it was to prepare the boys for the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, the Joint Services Wing or the National Defence Academy, has always stood as the premier feeder institution", Page 3, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

The government order appointed a military Commandant of the rank of Lt Colonel, a civilian Headmaster, senior or junior British Masters and Indian Masters. The first commandant was Lt Col H.L. Haughton of the [[Sikh Regiment]] who took charge of the College on 22 February 1922. JGC Scott was appointed headmaster and the first group of British masters were JM Allen, CA Phillips and Kitter-master. The First Adjutant & Quarter Master was Risaldar (Honorary Captain) Sardar Khan of [[20 Lancers (India)|20 Lancers]]. The first mess contractors were MS Hazir and Co and the mess staff consisted mostly of Goans. Later the mess was taken over by the Army Service Corps. [[Hira Lal Atal]] was the first Cadet Captain and later as Adjutant General of the Indian Army, He was responsible for designing India’s highest award for bravery in combat, the [[Param Vir Chakra]], of which the first recipient was another Old Boy of the College [[Somnath Sharma|Maj Somnath Sharma]]. Among the early cadets were [[K.S. Thimayya]], [[Asghar Khan]] and others, who had illustrious military careers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

An excellent account of the life in early days of RIMC can be found in book [[Thimayya of India]] by Humphrey Evans, while accounts of the Imperial Cadet Corps can be found in numerous books written by ex Royals, particularly from [[Rajputana]].

After India gained independence in 1947, the school continued to train young men to become a part of the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. The major difference is that instead of serving as a public school whose boys joined the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|RMA]], RIMC now offers an excellent public school life, oriented towards joining the [[National Defence Academy (India)|NDA]] and [[Indian Naval Academy|INA]].

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehra Dun (1922-1997) 2.00 "Cradle of Excellence" stamps were produced; The First Day Covers were issued on 13 March 1997. The College celebrated its Centenary on 13 March 2022, making it the oldest officer training institution of [[Indian Armed Forces]].[[File:Nehru Addressing Cadets of RIMC.jpg|thumb|Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at RIMC]]

==Institutional framework==
The school is spread over 54 hectares (139 acres) and has an enrollment of 250 cadets. A [[Hawker Hunter]] jet aircraft gifted to the College by The Air Chief Marshal N.C. Suri is placed in front of the Cadet Mess. Recently a [[British Aerospace Sea Harrier|Sea Harrier]] presented to RIMC by the navy was inaugurated by the CINCAN [[Bimal Verma]].It is located in front of the Thimayya auditorium.

RIMC has a 1:14 teacher student ratio. Candidates for the school are selected from all over India through a national level competitive exam, the RIMC Entrance Exam that is held twice a year in each state. Successful candidates in the entrance exam have to go through a medical fitness test to be admitted to the school. Every year about 50 students are selected in two intakes from all over India and admitted into Standard VIII at the RIMC.

The PWRIMC in 1922 was run on the lines of an English public school - Wellock College, a feeder to [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst]]. The 37 cadets forming the first batch were divided into three Houses, called Sections at the RIMC, These were called [[Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson|Rawlinson]], [[Earl Roberts|Roberts]] and [[Earl Kitchener|Kitchener]] named after the three Commander-in-Chiefs of [[India]].

[[Hira Lal Atal]] who was also the first cadet at RIMC was appointed the first College Cadet Captain with Ali Asghar Khan, Tara Singh and Sheikh Hussain the first Section Commanders, or House Captains, of the three Sections. After Independence in 1948, the names of the three Sections were changed to Pratap, Ranjit and Shivaji from the former Rawlinson, Roberts and Kitchener. The new names represented the three great Indian warriors [[Maharana Pratap]], [[Ranjit Singh|Maharaja Ranjit Singh]] and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji]]. Strength of the College increased significantly in 1960 and it was decided to keep the new entrants in a Holding Section to give them a chance to settle down.

In 1965, the strength of the College rose to 200 and it became necessary to turn the Holding Section into a new House, which was called the Chandragupta Section after the Indian Emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya]].<ref>Page 30, Where Gallantry is Tradition: Saga of Rashtriya Indian Military College, By Bikram Singh, Sidharth Mishra, Contributor Rashtriya Indian Military College, Published 1997 by Allied Publishers, {{ISBN|81-7023-649-5}}</ref>

Cadets at the RIMC follow the [[10+2]] pattern curriculum of Indian [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), New Delhi over the next five years. A cadet, during his stay at the RIMC, gets a full glimpse of the life of an Indian Armed forces Officer. The hallowed portals of RIMC is the only School to hold Boards exams twice a year.

Cadets sports include [[Field hockey|hockey]], [[association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[basketball]], [[Volleyball]], [[Squash (sport)|squash]], [[boxing]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[sport of athletics|athletics]], [[tennis]] and [[gymnastics]]. Horse riding and rifle shooting are other popular activities. After the cadets complete the 12th grade, they graduate from the RIMC and most of them join the Indian Armed Forces by entering the [[National Defence Academy (India)|National Defence Academy]], [[Pune]].

The cadets then spend three years at the NDA with other students from the rest of the country and eventually get commissioned as officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

== Academic ==
[[File:Rashtriya Indian Military College Academic Block.jpg|thumb|Sketch of Academic Block]]
Rashtriya Indian Military college is administered by the [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Union Ministry of Defence]], through the Army Training Command, Shimla. RIMC (Limca Book of Records confirm) is perhaps the only institution in the country where exams for Class X and XII are conducted twice a year, in May and November. These exams/certifications are recognized by CBSE. The college offers only the science stream at the +2 level along with Informatics Practices. However, to prepare cadets for the UPSC examination for entry into NDA, Social Sciences are also taught.

After the term end examination, each Cadets position in class is decided; both curricular and extracurricular achievements of a term are recorded in his dossier. Weightage is given to the sessional work done by a cadet both in terms of class work and homework for his promotion to the next class. Cadets are prepared for the UPSC Examination for entry to the NDA.On Average RIMC has sent between 70-80% cadets to NDA from each course (as compared to the national average which stands at 0.6%).RIMC has two terms both of which run on the same syllabus line and has remedial quid pro quo for qualifying measures.

== Admission ==
25 Cadets are admitted every six months. Rashtriya Indian Military College conducts an admission process in Class VIII. Candidates are studying in Class VII and the age of the candidate must be between 11.5 and 13 years at the time of commencement of term. The written examination consists of a test paper consisting of three parts: English (125 Marks), Mathematics (200 Marks), and General Knowledge (75 marks). Candidates have to score at least 50% in each subject to qualify. Candidates are then shortlisted through the written test and called for Viva-Voce which is of 50 marks, and have to pass a medical test.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimc.org/admission.html |title=Official website |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref>

==Alumni==
[[File:VCPremindraSinghBhagat.jpg|thumb|right|Lt.Gen. Premindra Singh Bhagat, recipient of [[Victoria Cross]]]]

{{Main|List of Rimcollians}}
{{See also|Category:Rashtriya Indian Military College alumni}}
Alumni of the RIMC are called "[[List of Rimcollians|Rimcollians]]". Rimcollians have held exalted positions in the Armed Forces, many becoming the Chiefs of Staff in the Indian and Pakistani Armed Forces. The cadets enrolled at RIMC are known as "Rimcos" to distinguish them from the alumni. A rare distinction of the RIMC is that some of its alumni have also headed the Armed Forces of [[Pakistan]], a feat made possible by [[Rimcollians]] of the pre-partition Subcontinent era.

The RIMC has produced five Army Chiefs, four of the [[Indian Army]] - [[General (India)|General]] [[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya|K. S. Thimayya]], General [[Sundararajan Padmanabhan]], General [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor|G. G. Bewoor]], General [[Vishwa Nath Sharma]], and one of the [[Pakistan Army]] - General [[Gul Hassan Khan]]. It has also produced four Air Chiefs, two of the [[Indian Air Force]] - [[Air Chief Marshal (India)|Air Chief Marshal]] [[Nirmal Chandra Suri|N.C. Suri]], Air Chief Marshal [[Birender Singh Dhanoa|B. S. Dhanoa]], and two of the [[Pakistan Air Force]] - Air Marshal [[Asghar Khan]] and Air Marshal [[Nur Khan]].

Other senior officer include Lt. Gen [[Khwaja Wasiuddin]] ([[Master General of Ordnance (Pakistan)|MGO]] Pakistan Army), Maj General [[Muhammad Anwar Khan]] (Pakistan Army Engineer), Lt. General [[Sahabzada Yaqub Khan]] (Indian army Later Pakistan Army), Lt. Gen. Fazle Haq (former Governor North West Frontier Province, Pakistan), Air Marshal D.C.Kumaria, Maj Gen Balbir Singh Malik (Sword of Honour 1955 IMA, former commandent Armoured Corps of Indian Army), Maj Gen Dewan Misri Chand, Maj Gen [[Kanwar Zorawar Singh|Kunwar Zorawar Singh]], Maj Gen M R Rajwade, Maj Gen Karam Singh, (Indian Army, Dogra Regt, Ex - Dy Adjutant General), Lt Gen H M Khanna, (Indian Army - GOC-in-C Command), Lt Gen N S Brar, (Indian Army - Artillery, GOC Corps; Administrative Member Armed Forces Tribunal), Lt Gen S.K.Singh, (Indian Army - Infantry, VCOAS), Lt Gen Gautam Dutt, (Indian Army - Engineers, Engineer-in-Chief), [[Chandi Prasad Mohanty|Lt Gen CP Mohanty]](Indian Army, VCOAS), [[Amardeep Singh Bhinder|Lt Gen AS Bhinder]](Indian Army, GOC-in-c),
Lt Gen JS Varma (Indian Army, GOC-in-c).

Gallantry awards have been awarded to Rimcollians including the [[Victoria Cross]] to [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Premindra Singh Bhagat]], [[Distinguished Service Order]] to [[General (India)|General]] [[K. S. Thimayya]] and the [[Param Vir Chakra]] to [[Major]] [[Som Nath Sharma]].

[[Royal family|Royals]] were highly inspired by the College and most royals from [[Indian Princely States]] joined the College. [[Jagaddipendra Narayan|Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, K.C.I.E]] (15 December 1915 – 11 April 1970), Maharaja of Cooch-Behar was an alumnus of the College. The [[Colonel]] [[Sawai (title)|Sawai]] [[Maharaj]] Sahib Shri [[List of Rimcollians|Deshpal Singh]] Ju Deo of [[Ajaigarh]] cousin of H.H. [[Sawai Maharaja]] Punya Pratap Singh Sahib Bahadur of [[Ajaigarh]] passed out from the same and was classmate of General [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor|GG Bewoor]].

Cadets namely Piyush Sunil Deshmukh (Equestrian), Jaikant Mishra (Mountaineering), Praveen Kumar (Mountaineering) have earned the "Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card" for achievements in their fields respectively during their tenure at the school itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimcollians.org/military-civilian.php |title=Rashtriya Indian Military College |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-12-12}}</ref> The school has an alumni network called the Rimcollian Old Boys Association (ROBA). The alumni also have mailing groups on the internet through which they interact.

==Sports==
Sports and games played at RIMC include boxing, football, cricket, athletics, horse riding, hockey, squash, swimming and shooting. RIMC has produced International level sports persons in the games of squash, shooting and horse riding.

It has produced great squash players like [[Ritwik Bhattacharya|Ritwik Bhatacharya]], Brig. Raj Manchanda and Lt Col Shakti Singh. Alumni Poshuk Aluwalia has represented India in shooting in 2010 SAF games at Dhaka where he won a medal.

RIMC alumni Piyush Sunil Deshmukh also represented India in an International Horse Show at Sydney, Australia. He fetched four medals at a young age of just 16 years. Achudev S an alumnus of RIMC and a cadet at NDA had represented India in International Services Athletic Meet in Turkey.

Not only this but RIMC is adjudged India's best school in sports education by ''[[The Times Magazine]]''.

RIMC has a 50-metre [[Olympic-size swimming pool]], an indoor swimming pool, five basketball courts, three squash courts, and numerous football and hockey fields.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rimc.org/facultylist.html |title=Rashtriya Indian Military College |publisher=Rimc.org |access-date=2011-02-11}}</ref>

Major Ashish Malik also represented India at the [[2018 Asian Games|2018 Asian games]] and won a team silver medal there

==Section system==
The school is divided into four houses. Each cadet is assigned a house at the start of his time in the school and will remain in that house for the whole of their school career. These houses were earlier called Rawlinson, Kitchner and Roberts and the new names were given in the post-independence years. Each house is looked after by one House Master (called Section Master) who is assisted by one or two Section Tutors. There is fierce competition between the houses which well continues for the rest of the life among the Old Boys or the Rimcollians.

The houses are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-

! House

! House colour
|-
!Pratap
!|{{color box|yellow}}
|-
!Ranjit
!|{{color box|red}}
|-
!Shivaji
!|{{color box|Blue}}
|-
! Chandragupta
!|{{color box|Green}}
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Rimcollians]]
* [[National Cadet Corps (India)]] (NCC)
* [[National Police Cadet Corps (India)]] (NPCC)
* [[National Service Scheme]] (NSS)
* [[Chail Military School#RIM|Rashtriya Military Schools]] (RMS)
* [[Sainik School]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://rimc.gov.in/rimcindex.aspx Official website]
*[http://www.rimc.org/admission.as Admissions]
*[http://www.rimcollians.org/ Alumni]

{{Dehradun}}
{{Indian military academies and colleges}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Indian Air Force}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rashtriya Indian Military College}}
[[Category:Schools in Colonial India]]
[[Category:Boys' schools in India]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Indian Military College alumni|*]]
[[Category:Military schools in India]]
[[Category:Military of British India]]
[[Category:High schools and secondary schools in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Boarding schools in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Schools in Dehradun]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1922]]
[[Category:1922 establishments in India]]