XXXIII Corps (India) - Revision history

CleanupBot: Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

2026-03-21T18:11:29Z

Robot: Replacing encoded entity with character

Budhu: Article enhanced with better details

2026-03-17T05:33:20Z

Article enhanced with better details

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:03, 17 March 2026
(No difference)

Budhu: Article enhanced with better details

2026-03-17T05:33:20Z

Article enhanced with better details

Show changes

Bot: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

2022-12-22T09:30:53Z

robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 22 December 2022
Line 168:		Line 168:
	\|19 November 2000		\|19 November 2000
	\|[[Brigade of the Guards]]		\|[[Brigade of the Guards]]
	\|<ref name="twitter.com">{{cite web \|last1=shabana \|first1=syeda \|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL CP MOHANTY TAKES OVER AS GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING TRISHAKTI CORPSpic.twitter.com/YykDEduFh0 \|url=https://twitter.com/shabana3637/status/1035175852923707397/photo/1 \|website=@shabana3637 \|language=en \|date=30 August ~~2022~~}}</ref>		\|<ref name="twitter.com">{{cite web \|last1=shabana \|first1=syeda \|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL CP MOHANTY TAKES OVER AS GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING TRISHAKTI CORPSpic.twitter.com/YykDEduFh0 \|url=https://twitter.com/shabana3637/status/1035175852923707397/photo/1 \|website=@shabana3637 \|language=en \|date=30 August 2018}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|Ashok Chaki		\|Ashok Chaki
Line 204:		Line 204:
	\|31 August 2008		\|31 August 2008
	\|[[Mechanised Infantry Regiment]]		\|[[Mechanised Infantry Regiment]]
	\|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior">{{cite web \|title=West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior military officials of Chinese People's Liberation Army, led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu Dy Commander of Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna y'day on a 2-day visit to Trishakti Corps. The visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.pic.twitter.com/yRIoWAaKDT \|url=https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1014460140689469440/photo/1 \|website=@ANI \|language=en \|date=4 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		\|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior">{{cite web \|title=West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior military officials of Chinese People's Liberation Army, led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu Dy Commander of Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna y'day on a 2-day visit to Trishakti Corps. The visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.pic.twitter.com/yRIoWAaKDT \|url=https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1014460140689469440/photo/1 \|website=@ANI \|language=en \|date=4 July 2018}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|Prashant Kumar Rath		\|Prashant Kumar Rath
Line 246:		Line 246:
	\|26 August 2016		\|26 August 2016
	\|\|[[Brigade of the Guards\|2nd Brigade of the Guards]]		\|\|[[Brigade of the Guards\|2nd Brigade of the Guards]]
	\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=Lt Gen Surinder Singh to be army’s Western Command chief \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/lt-gen-surinder-singh-to-be-army-s-western-command-chief/story-MxZ6wYzQEwT3hmy3uRhw2O.html \|website=Hindustan Times \|language=en \|date=9 August ~~2022~~}}</ref>		\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=Lt Gen Surinder Singh to be army’s Western Command chief \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/lt-gen-surinder-singh-to-be-army-s-western-command-chief/story-MxZ6wYzQEwT3hmy3uRhw2O.html \|website=Hindustan Times \|language=en \|date=9 August 2016}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|Sanjay Kumar Jha		\|Sanjay Kumar Jha
Line 252:		Line 252:
	\|27 August 2017		\|27 August 2017
	\|[[Sikh Regiment\|The Sikh Regiment]]		\|[[Sikh Regiment\|The Sikh Regiment]]
	\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=Army issues posting orders for four corps commanders \|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/army-issues-posting-orders-for-four-corps-commanders-4749549/ \|website=The Indian Express \|language=en \|date=14 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		\|<ref>{{cite web \|title=Army issues posting orders for four corps commanders \|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/army-issues-posting-orders-for-four-corps-commanders-4749549/ \|website=The Indian Express \|language=en \|date=14 July 2017}}</ref>
	\|-		\|-
	\|Pradeep M Bali		\|Pradeep M Bali

Bot: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

2022-12-22T09:30:53Z

robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

Show changes

imported>Firefly: Reverted 1 edit by 2402:3A80:135B:528A:494:A5D8:B9FA:9F44 (talk): Misspelling

2021-08-24T14:56:56Z

Reverted 1 edit by 2402:3A80:135B:528A:494:A5D8:B9FA:9F44 (talk): Misspelling

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:26, 24 August 2021
Line 8:		Line 8:
	\| allegiance =		\| allegiance =
	\| branch = [[Indian Army]]		\| branch = [[Indian Army]]
			\| type = Mountain troops
			\| role = [[Close-quarters combat]]<br>[[Cold-weather warfare]]<br>[[Combined arms]]<br>[[Counter-insurgency]]<br>[[Forward observer]]<br>[[Jungle warfare]]<br>[[Mountain warfare]]<br>[[Raid (military)\| Raiding]]<br>[[Reconnaissance]]<br>[[Urban warfare]]
	\| size = [[Corps]]		\| size = [[Corps]]
	\| command_structure = Army Eastern Command		\| command_structure = Army Eastern Command

Khan786: Created page with "{{About|the present-day formation of the Indian Army|British Indian formation of the Second World War|XXXIII Corps (British India)}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = XXXI..."

2021-08-05T16:00:55Z

Created page with "{{About|the present-day formation of the Indian Army|British Indian formation of the Second World War|XXXIII Corps (British India)}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = XXXI..."

New page

{{About|the present-day formation of the Indian Army|British Indian formation of the Second World War|XXXIII Corps (British India)}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = XXXIII Corps
| image =
| caption =
| dates = 1948-1949<br/>1960-Present
| country = [[India]]
| allegiance =
| branch = [[Indian Army]]
| size = [[Corps]]
| command_structure = Army Eastern Command
| garrison = [[Siliguri]]
| equipment = 
| current_commander = Lt General [[Ajai Kumar Singh]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rajbhavansikkim.gov.in/MessageDetl.aspx?MsgID=616 | title=Welcome to the official website of Rajbhavan, Gangtok, Sikkim}}</ref>
| ceremonial_chief =
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
| notable_commanders = [[General (India)|General]] [[Deepak Kapoor]]<br>[[General (India)|General]] [[Krishnaswamy Sundarji]]<br>[[General (India)|General]] [[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor]]
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_2 = 
| nickname = ''Trishakti Corps''
| patron =
| motto =
| colors =
| mascot =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
}}
'''XXXIII Corps''' is a [[corps]] of the [[Indian Army]]. It draws some of its heritage from the British Indian [[XXXIII Corps (British India)|XXXIII Corps]] which was formed in 1942, but disbanded in 1945. It was re-raised in 1960 at [[Shillong]].<ref name="Serving the nation for 46 years">{{cite web |title=Serving the nation for 46 years |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/serving-the-nation-for-46-years/cid/1077360 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Re-Raising==
The corps was re-raised by Lt Gen Umrao Singh on 1 November 1960.,<ref name="Serving the nation for 46 years"/> in order to reduce [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]]'s area of responsibilities. XXXIII Corps covered [[Sikkim]].

The Corps is based in Sukna, North [[Bengal]] near the city of [[Siliguri]]. Its area of responsibility includes North Bengal, [[Sikkim]] and if needed, [[Bhutan]], It comprises three mountain [[Division (military)|division]]s, 17th ([[Gangtok]]), 20th ([[Binnaguri]]), and 27th ([[Kalimpong]]).<ref>Kenneth Conboy, Elite Forces of India and Pakistan, Osprey</ref>
{{Indian Army Corps
|previous=[[XXI Corps (India)|XXI Corps]]
|next= -
}}
The coat of arms consists of a white horizontal band between two red bands (the standard formation sign background for corps in the [[Indian Army]]) with two crossed spears with wings in the foreground. The Corps HQ has an [[Indian Air Force]] air control unit attached to it, 3 TAC, commanded by a [[group captain]]. The corps has an organic Army Aviation Helicopter Squadron based at Sevoke flying the [[HAL Chetak]]. It is commanded by a full [[colonel]].

The Corps is commanded by a [[Three-star rank|Three Star]] officer of the rank of [[Lieutenant General]] and holds the title [[General Officer Commanding]] (GOC). His [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]] is a [[Two-star rank|Two Star]] officer of the rank of [[Major General]]. The total troop strength of the XXXIII corps is estimated to be between 45,000 and 60,000 soldiers.

The Indian Air Force bases at [[Bagdogra]] ([[Siliguri]]) and [[Hashimara]] are the air units co-tasked to the XXXIII Corps Area of Responsibility.

It currently consists of:

*[[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Mountain Division]] (Blackcat Division<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/17-div.htm|title=17 Mountain Division / Black Cat Division|last=Pike|first=John|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref>) headquartered at [[Gangtok]].
**It was raised in 1959 and converted to a mountain division in 1963.
**It is assigned to the Sikkim sector.<ref name=Conboy8>Conboy et al, p.8</ref>
*[[20th Infantry Division (India)|20th Mountain Division]] (Kirpan Division<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/20-div.htm|title=20 Infantry Division / Kirpan Division|last=Pike|first=John|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref>) headquartered at [[Binnaguri]].
**It was raised in 1963 and assigned to the Sikkim sector.<ref name=Conboy8 />
**Composed of 66, 165, and 202 Mountain Brigades in 1971.
*[[27th Infantry Division (India)|27th Mountain Division]] (Striking Lion Division<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/27-div.htm|title=27 Mountain Division / Striking Lion Division|last=Pike|first=John|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=2017-05-14}}</ref>) headquartered at [[Kalimpong]].
**It was converted to a mountain division in 1963.<ref name=Conboy8 />
*Artillery brigade

==XXXIII Corps in the India Pakistan War 1971==
The Siliguri-based XXXIII Corps handled the sensitive Indo-Tibetan border. XXXIII Corps, the formation that was responsible for the defence of the Macmahon line. The 33 Corps Operating Signal Regiment was a part of 14 Army during World War-II. The regiment moved to its present location along with the Corps HQ in 1962. It participated in the 1962 India-China war and captured some Chinese communication equipment. These equipment are kept in Corps of Signals Museum at Jabalpur to enable the future generations of soldiers know about the bravery and dedication shown by their predecessors.

The XXXIII Corps under Lieutenant General Mohan L. Thapan controlled 6 and 20 Mountain Divisions and 71 Mountain Brigade. While fighting the war to the south, however, the corps also had to look north and retained command of 17 and 27 Mountain Divisions on the Tibetan frontier. Furthermore, Thapan could not commit 6 Mountain Division without permission from New Delhi as it was to be held ready to move to the Bhutanese border in case China intervened in the war.

As elsewhere along the border, Indian forces in support of the Mukti Bahini made significant
in roads into East Pakistan prior to 3 December. Most notable was Brigadier Pran Nath Kathpalia’s 71 Mountain Brigade, which had pushed to the outskirts of Thakurgaon by the eve of war. Efforts to capture the heavily fortified border village of Hilli, however, failed repeatedly in a struggle that raged off and on from 24 November to 11 December. Resolutely defended by Pakistani 4 Frontier Force, Hilli blocked the proposed advance of 20 Division across the narrow “waist” of this sector.

After heavy losses in front of Hilli, the Indian division solved this problem by swinging around to the north and unleashing 340 Brigade under Brigadier Joginder Singh Bakshi. Bakshi moved swiftly to control the main north-south road, unhinging the defense of Hilli, splitting Pakistani 16 Division, and opening the way to Bogra, which town he effectively controlled by war’s end. The Pakistani division, despite continued resistance by isolated units, had ceased to exist as a coherent combat formation. Indicative of the chaotic situation, General Shah and the commander of 205 Brigade, Brigadier Tajammul Hussain Malik, were almost captured when Indian forces ambushed their convoy on 7 December. On the other hand, a last-minute Indian moves north by 66 and 202 Brigades to capture Rangpur proved unsuccessful.

In secondary actions, 9 Mountain Brigade secured most of the area north of the [[Tista River]] and an ad hoc command of Indian BSF and Mukti Bahini under Brigadier Prem Singh pushed out of Malda to capture Nawabganj in the extreme southeastern corner of the sector. Despite Bakshi’s performance and the generally successful advance of 71 Brigade, much of XXXIII Corps’ offensive power was allowed to lie idle far too long and Pakistani troops still held the major towns of the sector (Rangpur, Saidpur, Dinajpur, Nator, Rajshahi) when the cease-fire was announced. Likewise, the cease-fire intervened before the Indians could implement a hastily conceived plan to transfer 340 Brigade, a tank squadron, and an artillery battery across the Jamuna via the Phulchari ferry to take part in the advance on Dacca. With the exception of this squadron, all the armour was preparing to transfer to the west by the end of the war.

==General Officers Commanding==
{{Incomplete list|date=June 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Rank
!Name
!Appointment Date
!Left Office
!Unit of Commission
!References
|-
|rowspan=35|[[Lieutenant General]]
|Umrao Singh
|1 November 1960
|28 October 1962
|[[Rajputana Rifles]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/dhola-post-that-triggered-war-was-on-china-s-side-of-mcmahon-line-114032200030_1.html|title=Dhola Post that triggered war was on China's side of McMahon Line|date=2014-03-22|access-date=2021-07-01}}</ref>
|-
|[[Harbaksh Singh]]
|29 October 1962
|29 October 1964
|[[Sikh Regiment]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/16josy.htm|title=Lt General Harbaksh Singh: An officer and a gentleman|date=1999-11-06|access-date=2021-06-29}}</ref>
|-
|[[Gopal Gurunath Bewoor]]
|30 October 1964
|26 April 1967
|[[10th Baluch Regiment]]
|
|-
|[[Jagjit Singh Aurora]]
|27 April 1967
|March 1969
|[[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]]
|
|-
|Mohan L Thapan
|1969
|May 1972
|[[Jat Regiment]]
|
|-
|H C Rai
|June 1972
|July 1974
|[[Rajputana Rifles]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1974-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1974-07-20_175.pdf|title=Lt Gen Rai takes over Northern Command|date=1974-07-23|access-date=2021-06-29}}</ref>
|-
|[[WAG Pinto]]
|1976
|1978
|[[13th Frontier Force Rifles]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1982-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1982-06-30_270.pdf|title=PIB release|date=1920-06-30|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref>
|-
|[[Krishnaswamy Sundarji]]
|February 1979
|January 1980
|[[Mahar Regiment]]
|
|-
|Krishnaswami Balaram
|January 1980
|26 December 1981
|[[Indian Army Corps of Signals|Corps of Signals]]
|
|-
|S S Brar
|27 December 1981
|11 December 1983
|
|
|-
|J K Puri
|12 December 1983
|
|[[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1987-JULY-DEC-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1987-08-31_075.pdf|title=Lt Gen JK Puri Vice Chief Of The Army Staff Retires|date=1987-08-31|access-date=2021-06-30}}</ref>
|-
|M R Sharma
|
|
|[[Dogra Regiment]]
|
|-
|Arun Kumar Gautam
|July 1993
|April 1994
|[[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]]
|
|-
|A B Masih
|
|
|[[Kumaon Regiment]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/apr/11army.htm|title=General quits under cloud|date=2000-04-11|access-date=2021-06-29}}</ref>
|-
|H R S Mann
|4 October 1999
|19 November 2000
|[[Brigade of the Guards]]
|<ref name="twitter.com">{{cite web |last1=shabana |first1=syeda |title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL CP MOHANTY TAKES OVER AS GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING TRISHAKTI CORPSpic.twitter.com/YykDEduFh0 |url=https://twitter.com/shabana3637/status/1035175852923707397/photo/1 |website=@shabana3637 |language=en |date=30 August 2018}}</ref>
|-
|Ashok Chaki
|20 November 2000
|19 August 2002
|[[4th Gorkha Rifles|3/4 Gorkha Rifles]]
|<ref name="twitter.com"/>
|-
|Avtar Singh
|20 August 2002
|20 February 2004
|[[Jat Regiment]]
|<ref name="twitter.com"/>
|-
|[[Deepak Kapoor]]
|21 February 2004
|14 April 2005
|[[Regiment of Artillery]]
|<ref name="twitter.com"/>
|-
|Thomas Mathew
|15 April 2005
|25 August 2006
|[[Rajput Regiment]]
|<ref name="twitter.com"/>
|-
|C K S Sabu
|26 August 2006
|25 September 2007
|[[Regiment of Artillery]]
|<ref name="twitter.com"/>
|-
|Deepak Raj
|26 September 2007
|31 August 2008
|[[Mechanised Infantry Regiment]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior">{{cite web |title=West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior military officials of Chinese People's Liberation Army, led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu Dy Commander of Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna y'day on a 2-day visit to Trishakti Corps. The visit is aimed at enhancing bilateral defence cooperation.pic.twitter.com/yRIoWAaKDT |url=https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1014460140689469440/photo/1 |website=@ANI |language=en |date=4 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
|Prashant Kumar Rath
|1 September 2008
|25 November 2009
|[[Regiment of Artillery]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|D S Sidhu
|26 November 2009
|2 November 2010
|[[Poona Horse]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|Vinod Bhatia
|3 November 2010
|24 November 2011
|[[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|Kotheneth Surendranath
|25 November 2011
|31 January 2013
|[[71st Armoured Regiment (India)|71 Armoured Regiment]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|[[Kamal Jit Singh]]
|1 February 2013
|11 May 2014
|[[63rd Cavalry (India)|63rd Cavalry]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|G S Chandel
|12 May 2014
|25 July 2015
|[[Bihar Regiment]]
|<ref name="West Bengal: Delegation of 8 senior"/>
|-
|[[Surinder Singh (general)|Surinder Singh]]
|26 July 2015
|26 August 2016
||[[Brigade of the Guards|2nd Brigade of the Guards]]
|
|-
|Sanjay Kumar Jha
|27 August 2016
|27 August 2017
|[[Sikh Regiment|The Sikh Regiment]]
|
|-
|Pradeep M Bali
|28 August 2017
|29 August 2018
|[[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]]
|
|-
|[[Chandi Prasad Mohanty]]
|30 August 2018
|13 September 2019
|[[Rajput Regiment]]
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uniindia.com/lt-gen-cp-mohanty-takes-charge-of-sukna-based-trishakti-corps-of-indian-army/states/news/1335384.html|title=Army to debut its Mountain Strike Corps next month, at HimVijay exercise in Arunachal|date=2018-08-30|access-date=2020-12-20|website=www.uniindia.com|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Nav K Khanduri
|13 September 2019
|13 September 2020
|[[Corps of Army Air Defence]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/lt-gen-nav-k-khanduri-assumes-charge-as-commander-of-trishakti-corps20190913201530/|title=Lt. Gen Nav K Khanduri assumes charge as commander of Trishakti Corps|website=www.aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref>
|-
|Ajai Kumar Singh
|14 September 2020
|Present
|[[11th Gorkha Rifles]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/lieutenant-general-ajay-kumar-singh-calls-on-sikkim-chief-minister-ps-tamang/east/news/2259872.html|title=Lt Gen AK Singh calls on Sikkim CM|date=2020-12-10|access-date=2021-07-01}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
*Jane's World Armies, Issue 19, 2006
*Globalsecurity.org

{{Indian Army}}
{{Active_corps_of_the_Indian_Army}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xxxiii Corps (India)}}
[[Category:Corps of India|033]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1962]]