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| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| battles                      = [[World War II]]<br/>[[Sino-Indian War]]<br/>[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]<br>[[2020 China–India skirmishes]]
| battles                      = [[World War II]]<br/>[[Sino-Indian War]]<br/>[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]<br>[[2020 China–India skirmishes]]
| notable_commanders            = [[Field Marshal (India)|Field Marshal]] [[Sam Manekshaw]] <br/>[[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam|Gen P. P. Kumaramangalan]]<br/> [[Lieutenant General|Lt Gen]] [[S. P. P. Thorat]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya|A. S. Vaidya ]] <br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Vishwa Nath Sharma|V. N. Sharma]]
| notable_commanders            = [[Field Marshal (India)|Field Marshal]] [[K. M. Cariappa|Kodandera Madappa Cariappa]] <br/>[[General (India)|Gen]] [[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]] <br/>[[General (India)|Gen]] [[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya|K S Thimayya]]<br/> [[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam|Gen P. P. Kumaramangalan]] <br/>[[Field Marshal (India)|Field Marshal]] [[Sam Manekshaw]] <br/> [[Lieutenant General|Lt Gen]] [[S. P. P. Thorat]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya|A. S. Vaidya ]] <br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Vishwa Nath Sharma|V. N. Sharma]] <br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Vijay Kumar Singh|V. K. Singh]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Bikram Singh (general)|Bikram Singh]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Dalbir Singh Suhag]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Manoj Mukund Naravane|M. M. Naravane]]<br/> [[General (India)|Gen]] [[Manoj Pande (general)|Manoj Pande]]
| specialization                =  
| specialization                =  
| current_commander            = [[Lt Gen]] [[Manoj Pande (general)|Manoj Pande]]
| current_commander            = [[Lt Gen]] [[Rana Pratap Kalita]] [[UYSM]], [[AVSM]], [[Sena Medal|SM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]]
}}
}}
The '''Eastern Command''' is one of the six operational commands of the [[Indian Army]]. It is headquartered in [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] in the city of [[Kolkata]] in the state of [[West Bengal]].  
The '''Eastern Command''' is one of the six operational commands of the [[Indian Army]]. It is headquartered in [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] in the city of [[Kolkata]] in the state of [[West Bengal]]. The Eastern Command was formed on 1 November 1920.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Official Home Page of the Indian Army |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimpleWithThreePara.aspx?MnId=8jGnSJ57mq03+5W9c7vruQ==&ParentID=DxLpe+oV7ObwSwswneBKcA==&flag=1vtK1PU7TieYjqT1MPMHPA== |website=www.indianarmy.nic.in}}</ref> The Command is commanded by a [[Three-star rank|three-star rank officer]] with the title [[General_officer_commanding#Usage_in_the_Indian_Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GOC-in-C).  


The Eastern Command was formed on 01 November 1920.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Official Home Page of the Indian Army |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimpleWithThreePara.aspx?MnId=8jGnSJ57mq03+5W9c7vruQ==&ParentID=DxLpe+oV7ObwSwswneBKcA==&flag=1vtK1PU7TieYjqT1MPMHPA== |website=www.indianarmy.nic.in}}</ref> The Command is commanded by a [[Three-star rank|three-star rank officer]] with the title [[General_officer_commanding#Usage_in_the_Indian_Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]](GOC-in-C). [[Lieutenant General]] [[Manoj Pande (general)|Manoj Pande]] is the current GOC-in-C, who took over on 1 June 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/lt-gen-manoj-pande-to-take-charge-of-the-eastern-command/cid/1817337|title=Lieutenant General Manoj Pande to take charge of Eastern Command|publisher=Telegraph India}}</ref>
[[Lieutenant General]] [[Rana Pratap Kalita]] is the current GOC-in-C of Eastern Command.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-01|title=China-facing Northern, Eastern Commands to get new chiefs today|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-facing-northern-eastern-commands-to-get-new-chiefs-today-7750451/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
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The [[Presidency armies]] were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies of [[Bengal Army|Bengal]], [[Bombay Army|Bombay]], and [[Madras Army|Madras]] became the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]].<ref name="IA">{{cite web|title=Northern Army|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212442/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=4 January 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Indian Army was divided into four Commands: Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command, each under a [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]].<ref name="IA" />
The [[Presidency armies]] were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies of [[Bengal Army|Bengal]], [[Bombay Army|Bombay]], and [[Madras Army|Madras]] became the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]].<ref name="IA">{{cite web|title=Northern Army|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212442/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=rOVaZ1oDN4Y+6g+B7wVzFA==&ParentID=pR6rWvPTFCtsMyihEuBwFg==|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=4 January 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Indian Army was divided into four Commands: Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command, each under a [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]].<ref name="IA" />


Between 1904-08, the Bengal Command became the Eastern Command. In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies :- Northern Army and Southern Army as recommended by then [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army]] [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener#India|Lord Kitchener]]. This system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again: Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command.<ref name="IA"/>
Between 1904 and 1908, the Bengal Command became the Eastern Command. In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies – Northern Army and Southern Army – as recommended by the then [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army]], [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener#India|Lord Kitchener]]. This system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again: Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command.<ref name="IA"/>


On 1 November 1920, the Eastern Command was formed, with its summer headquarters in [[Nainital]] and winter headquarters in [[Lucknow]]. [[General]] [[Havelock Hudson|Sir Havelock Hudson]], become its first Commander.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3h5DAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA20-PA21|title=Sir Havelock Hudson|publisher=Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News|volume=47|date=26 November 1920|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>
On 1 November 1920, the Eastern Command was formed, with its summer headquarters in [[Nainital]] and winter headquarters in [[Lucknow]]. [[General]] [[Havelock Hudson|Sir Havelock Hudson]], become its first Commander.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3h5DAQAAIAAJ&pg=RA20-PA21|title=Sir Havelock Hudson|publisher=Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News|volume=47|date=26 November 1920|access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>
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* [[70th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|70th British Division]] and [[50th Indian Tank Brigade]] in reserve.
* [[70th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|70th British Division]] and [[50th Indian Tank Brigade]] in reserve.


In Apr 1942, the command was re-designated as Eastern Army and its headquarters moved to [[Barrackpore]] to fight the [[World War II]]. The [[Chindits]] were raised and launched into operations in 1943, by the [[77th Indian Infantry Brigade]], a unit of the Eastern Command.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=Order of Battle|title=77 Brigade|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6171&Tab=Uhi|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070706171348/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6171&Tab=Uhi|archive-date=6 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In Apr 1942, the command was re-designated as Eastern Army and its headquarters moved to [[Barrackpore]] to fight the [[World War II]]. The [[Chindits]] were raised and launched into operations in 1943, by the [[77th Indian Infantry Brigade]], a unit of the Eastern Command.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=Order of Battle|title=77 Brigade|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6171&Tab=Uhi|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070706171348/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6171&Tab=Uhi|archive-date=6 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>


In October 1943, the [[Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourteenth Army]] was formed and was given responsibility of the area east of the [[Meghna River]]. With this, the Eastern Army retained responsibility of the area west of the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/vj-day/remembering-the-forgotten/why-is-the-fourteenth-army-known-as-the-forgotten-army|title=Why is the Fourteenth Army known as the Forgotten Army? |publisher=Royal British Legion|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
In October 1943, the [[Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourteenth Army]] was formed and was given responsibility of the area east of the [[Meghna River]]. With this, the Eastern Army retained responsibility of the area west of the river.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/vj-day/remembering-the-forgotten/why-is-the-fourteenth-army-known-as-the-forgotten-army|title=Why is the Fourteenth Army known as the Forgotten Army? |publisher=Royal British Legion|access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref>
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===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
===Indo-Pakistani War of 1971===
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
{{Main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
[[File:1971 Instrument of Surrender.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Pakistan's Lt. Gen. [[A. A. K. Niazi]] signing the [[Pakistani Instrument of Surrender|Instrument of Surrender]] under the gaze of [[Jagjit Singh Aurora|Lt. Gen. J. S. Aurora]], the head of Indian Army's Eastern Command, on 16 Dec' 1971, in [[Dhaka]].]]
[[File:1971 Instrument of Surrender.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Pakistan's Lt. Gen. [[A. A. K. Niazi]] signing the [[Pakistani Instrument of Surrender|Instrument of Surrender]] under the gaze of [[Jagjit Singh Aurora|Lt. Gen. J. S. Aurora]], the head of Indian Army's Eastern Command, on 16 December 1971, in [[Dhaka]].]]
The Command had the overall responsibility of the eastern theatre of the 13-day war. The command had the two existing infantry corps - [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] and [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] and raised another - [[II Corps (India)|II Corps]]. Apart from this, the 101 Communication Zone was re-organised as a [[Division (military)|Division]]-sized combat formation.
The Command had the overall responsibility of the eastern theatre of the 13-day war. The command had the two existing infantry corps – [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] and [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] and raised another – [[II Corps (India)|II Corps]]. Apart from this, the 101 Communication Zone was re-organised as a [[Division (military)|Division]]-sized combat formation.
[[Lieutenant General]] [[Jagjit Singh Aurora|J S Arora]], as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, commanded all Indian and Bangladesh Forces in the eastern theatre.  
[[Lieutenant General]] [[Jagjit Singh Aurora|J S Arora]], as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, commanded all Indian and Bangladesh Forces in the eastern theatre.  
The Order of Battle of the Eastern Command during the war was:
The Order of Battle of the Eastern Command during the war was:
Line 56: Line 56:


* 50th Independent Parachute Brigade (less 2 Para Bn Gp) – Brigadier M Thomas
* 50th Independent Parachute Brigade (less 2 Para Bn Gp) – Brigadier M Thomas
* 8th Mountain Artillery Brigade
* 8th Mountain Artillery Brigade
* 58th, 68th and 263rd Engineering Regiments
* 58th, 68th and 263rd Engineering Regiments


Line 132: Line 132:


==Structure==
==Structure==
The Command's Area Of Responsibility (AOR) covers nine states of India:<ref name=ecmain>{{cite web|url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ==&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw==&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk/3YA==|title=Eastern Command|publisher=Indian Army|access-date=25 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502204330/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ%3D%3D&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw%3D%3D&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk%2F3YA%3D%3D|archive-date=2 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The Command's Area Of Responsibility (AOR)<ref name="ecmain">{{cite web |title=Eastern Command |url=http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ==&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw==&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk/3YA== |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502204330/http://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=pC9iLNHPobfraCwHDbsbhQ%3D%3D&ParentID=eRqrP8krXrNy3r72MZN5Aw%3D%3D&flag=KtJBzTi+5a+TlAfPOk%2F3YA%3D%3D |archive-date=2 May 2014 |access-date=25 June 2012 |publisher=Indian Army |df=dmy-all}}</ref> covers folllowing states of India:
#[[West Bengal]]  
*[[West Bengal]]
#[[Sikkim]]
*[[Sikkim]]
#[[Assam]]
*[[Assam]]
#[[Arunachal Pradesh]]  
*[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
#[[Nagaland]]  
*[[Nagaland]]
#[[Manipur]]
*[[Manipur]]
#[[Mizoram]]  
*[[Mizoram]]
#[[Tripura]]
*[[Tripura]]
#[[Meghalaya]]
*[[Meghalaya]]
 
*[[Jharkhand]]
The Eastern Command has been assigned operational units under: [[III Corps (India)|III Corps]], [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]], [[XVII Corps (India)|XVII Corps]], [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] and a [[23rd Infantry Division (India)|23rd Infantry Division]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-03-17|title=Eye on China, India to raise second division for mountain corps|language=en-US|work=The Indian Express|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-army-eye-on-china-india-to-raise-second-division-for-mountain-corps-4572493/|url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317013100/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-army-eye-on-china-india-to-raise-second-division-for-mountain-corps-4572493/|archive-date=17 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=The mountain is now a molehill|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-mountain-chinese-territory-general-dalbir-singh-arun-jaitley-budget/1/604583.html|url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119181816/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-mountain-chinese-territory-general-dalbir-singh-arun-jaitley-budget/1/604583.html|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  
The Eastern Command has been assigned operational units under: [[III Corps (India)|III Corps]], [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]], [[XVII Corps (India)|XVII Corps]], [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]] and a [[23rd Infantry Division (India)|23rd Infantry Division]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-03-17|title=Eye on China, India to raise second division for mountain corps|language=en-US|work=The Indian Express|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-army-eye-on-china-india-to-raise-second-division-for-mountain-corps-4572493/|url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317013100/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-army-eye-on-china-india-to-raise-second-division-for-mountain-corps-4572493/|archive-date=17 March 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=The mountain is now a molehill|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-mountain-chinese-territory-general-dalbir-singh-arun-jaitley-budget/1/604583.html|url-status=live|access-date=2017-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119181816/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-army-mountain-chinese-territory-general-dalbir-singh-arun-jaitley-budget/1/604583.html|archive-date=19 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" |Structure of Eastern Command
! colspan="6" |Structure of Eastern Command
|-
|-
!Corps
! colspan="2" |Corps
!Corps HQ
!Corps HQ
!GOC of Corps
!GOC of Corps
Line 155: Line 155:
!Unit HQ
!Unit HQ
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Spear corps.jpg|frameless|87x87px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[III Corps (India)|III Corps]]
| rowspan="3" |[[III Corps (India)|III Corps]]
''<small>(Spear Corps)</small>''
''<small>(Spear Corps)</small>''
| rowspan="3" |[[Dimapur|Rangapahar]], [[Nagaland]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Dimapur|Rangapahar]], [[Nagaland]]
| rowspan="3" |Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita
| rowspan="3" |[[Lieutenant general|Lt Gen]] R. C. Tiwari<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021-03-08 |title=Bank's Functions - PNG Division - Educational Facilities for Indigens - PNG Bankers College - PNG Bankers College Course 5 - 12 February 1968 - 1 March 1968 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.47688/rba_archives_pn-006420}}</ref>
|[[2nd Infantry Division (India)|2nd Mountain Division]]
|[[2nd Infantry Division (India)|2 Mountain Division]]
|[[Dibrugarh]], [[Assam]]
|[[Dinjan]], [[Assam]]
|-
|-
|56th Mountain Division
|56 Mountain Division
|[[Likabali]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|-
|57 Mountain Division
|[[Leimakhong]], [[Manipur]]
|[[Leimakhong]], [[Manipur]]
|-
|-
|57th Mountain Division
|
|[[Likabali]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|-
| colspan="5" |
| colspan="5" |
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[File:Gajraj corps.png|frameless|93x93px]]
| rowspan="3" |[[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]]  
| rowspan="3" |[[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]]  
''<small>(Gajraj Corps)</small>''
''<small>(Gajraj Corps)</small>''
| rowspan="3" |[[Tezpur]], [[Assam]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Tezpur]], [[Assam]]
| rowspan="3" |Lt Gen Ravin Khosla
| rowspan="3" |Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-21 |title=Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana assumes charge as GOC of Gajraj Corps |url=https://theprint.in/india/lt-gen-dinesh-singh-rana-assumes-charge-as-goc-of-gajraj-corps/882425/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
|[[5th Infantry Division (India)|5th Mountain Division]]
|[[5th Infantry Division (India)|5 Mountain Division]]
|[[Bomdila]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|[[Bomdila]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|-
|-
|[[21st Infantry Division (India)|21st Mountain Division]]
|[[21st Infantry Division (India)|21 Mountain Division]]
|[[Rangiya|Rangia]], [[Assam]]
|[[Rangiya|Rangia]], [[Assam]]
|-
|-
|71st Mountain Division
|71 Mountain Division
|[[Assam|Missa Mari, Assam]]
|[[Assam|Missa Mari, Assam]]
|-
|-
|
| colspan="5" |
| colspan="5" |
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[XVII Corps (India)|XVII Corps]]
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |[[XVII Corps (India)|XVII Corps]]
''<small>(Brahmastra Corps)</small>''
''<small>(Brahmastra Corps)</small>''
| rowspan="2" |[[Panagarh]], [[West Bengal]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Panagarh]], [[West Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" |Lt Gen Rajinder Dewan
| rowspan="3" |Lt Gen Savneet Singh<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1355858689756979202 |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>
|59th Mountain Division
|59 Mountain Division
|[[Panagarh]], [[West Bengal]]
|[[Panagarh]], [[West Bengal]]
|-
|-
|72nd Mountain Division
|23 Infantry Division
|[[Ranchi]], [[Jharkhand]]
|-
|72 Mountain Division
|[[Pathankot]], [[Punjab]]
|[[Pathankot]], [[Punjab]]
|-
|-
|
| colspan="5" |
| colspan="5" |
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |
| rowspan="3" |[[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]]  
| rowspan="3" |[[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]]  
''<small>(Trishakti Corps)</small>''
''<small>(Trishakti Corps)</small>''
| rowspan="3" |[[Siliguri]], [[West Bengal]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Siliguri]], [[West Bengal]]
| rowspan="3" | Lt General AK Singh
| rowspan="3" | Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich<ref>{{Cite web |title=GOC of Trishakti Corps inaugurates oxygen generation plant in Siliguri |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/goc-of-trishakti-corps-inaugurates-oxygen-generation-plant-in-siliguri/cid/1842800 |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>
|[[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Mountain Division]]
|[[17th Infantry Division (India)|17 Mountain Division]]
|[[Gangtok]], [[Sikkim]]
|[[Gangtok]], [[Sikkim]]
|-
|-
|[[20th Infantry Division (India)|20th Mountain Division]]
|[[20th Infantry Division (India)|20 Mountain Division]]
|[[Binnaguri]], [[West Bengal]]
|[[Binnaguri]], [[West Bengal]]
|-
|-
|27th Mountain Division
|27 Mountain Division
|[[Kalimpong]], [[West Bengal]]
|[[Kalimpong]], [[West Bengal]]
|}
== Precursors (1902–1947) ==
Following is the list of precursors to the Eastern Command and their commanders:<ref>[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf Army Commands] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|date=5 July 2015}}</ref>
=== Eastern Command (1902–1907) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |'''General Officer Commanding Eastern Command'''
|-
|-
| colspan="5" |
!Rank
!Name
!Appointment date
!Left office
!Unit of commission
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Alfred Gaselee|Sir Alfred Gaselee]]
|October 1904
|June 1907
|[[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot]]
|}
|}


== List of Commanders ==
=== Eastern Command (1920–1940) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |'''General Officer Commanding Eastern Command'''
|-
!Rank
!Rank
!Name
!Name
!Appointment Date
!Appointment date
!Left Office
!Left office
!Unit of Commission
!Unit of commission
!References
|-
|-
| colspan="6" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command'''
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Havelock Hudson|Sir Havelock Hudson]]
|[[Havelock Hudson|Sir Havelock Hudson]]
|November 1920
|November 1920
|February 1924
|February 1924
|[[Northamptonshire Regiment]], 19th Lancers
|[[Northamptonshire Regiment]]
|<ref>[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf Army Commands] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf|date=5 July 2015}}</ref>
|-
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[George Barrow (Indian Army officer)|Sir George de S. Barrow]]
|[[George Barrow (Indian Army officer)|Sir George Barrow]]
|February 1924
|February 1924
|April 1928  
|April 1928
|[[Connaught Rangers]], [[35th Scinde Horse]]
|[[Connaught Rangers]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[John Shea (Indian Army officer)|Sir John Shea]]
|[[John Shea (Indian Army officer)|Sir John S. M. Shea]]
|April 1928
|April 1928
|April 1932  
|April 1932
|[[Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922)|Royal Irish Regiment]], 5th Bengal Lancers
|[[Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922)|Royal Irish Regiment]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Norman MacMullen|Sir Norman MacMullen]]
|[[Norman MacMullen|Sir C. Norman MacMullen]]
|April 1932
|April 1932
|April 1936
|April 1936
|Unattached
|Unattached
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Douglas Baird (Indian Army officer)|Sir Douglas Baird]]
|[[Douglas Baird (Indian Army officer)|Sir H. B. Douglas Baird]]
|April 1936
|April 1936
|April 1940
|April 1940
|Unattached
|Unattached
|
|-
| colspan="6" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Army'''
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Charles Broad (British Army officer)|Sir Charles Broad]]
|[[Charles Broad (British Army officer)|Sir Charles N. F. Broad]]
|April 1940
|April 1940
|July 1942
|July 1942
|[[Royal Field Artillery]]
|[[Royal Field Artillery]]
|
|}
 
=== Eastern Army (1942–1943) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |'''General Officer Commanding Eastern Army'''
|-
!Rank
!Name
!Appointment date
!Left office
!Unit of commission
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Noel Irwin]]
|[[Noel Irwin|Noel M. S. Irwin]]
|Jul 1942
|Jul 1942
|May 1943
|May 1943
|[[Essex Regiment]]
|[[Essex Regiment]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[George Giffard|Sir George Giffard]]
|[[George Giffard|Sir George J. Giffard]]
|May 1943
|May 1943
|October 1943
|October 1943
|[[Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment]]
|[[Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment]]
|
|}
 
=== Eastern Command (1943–1947) ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command'''
|-
|-
| colspan="6" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command'''
!Rank
!Name
!Appointment date
!Left office
!Unit of commission
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Mosley Mayne|Sir Mosley Mayne]]
|[[Mosley Mayne|Sir A. G. O. Mosley Mayne]]
|October 1943
|October 1943
|December 1944
|December 1944
|[[6th Lancers (Pakistan)|13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]]
|[[6th Lancers (Pakistan)|13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General|General]]
|[[Richard O'Connor|Sir Richard O'Connor]]
|[[Richard O'Connor|Sir Richard N. O'Connor]]
|January 1945
|January 1945
|October 1945
|October 1945
|[[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)|Cameronians]]
|[[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Arthur Smith (British Army officer)|Sir Arthur Smith]]
|[[Arthur Smith (British Army officer)|Sir Arthur F. Smith]]
|October 1945
|October 1945
|January 1946
|January 1946
|[[Coldstream Guards]]
|[[Coldstream Guards]]
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Francis Tuker|Sir Francis Tuker]]
|[[Francis Tuker|Sir Francis I. S. Tuker]]
|January 1946
|January 1946
|November 1947
|November 1947
|[[Royal Sussex Regiment]],  [[2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)|2nd Gurkha Rifles]]
|[[Royal Sussex Regiment]]
|
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Roy Bucher|F. R. Roy Bucher]]<small>(acting)</small>
|August 1946
|August 1947
|[[Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)]]
|}
 
== List of GOC-in-C of Eastern Command (1947–present) ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="6" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command'''
|-
|-
| colspan="6" |'''General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command (Indian Army)'''
!Rank
!Name
!Appointment Date
!Left Office
!Unit of Commission
!References
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
Line 324: Line 371:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]]
|[[Maharaj]] [[Shri]] [[Rajendrasinhji Jadeja]]
|January 1948
|January 1948
|November 1948
|November 1948
Line 345: Line 392:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya|K S Thimayya]]
|[[Kodandera Subayya Thimayya]]
|October 1956
|October 1956
|March 1957
|March 1957
|[[19th Hyderabad Regiment]] ([[Kumaon Regiment]])
|[[19th Hyderabad Regiment]]  
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[S. P. P. Thorat|S P P Thorat]]
|[[S. P. P. Thorat|Shankarrao Pandurang Patil Thorat]]
|May 1957
|May 1957
|May 1961
|May 1961
Line 366: Line 413:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam|P P Kumaramangalam]]
|[[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam]]
|May 1963
|May 1963
|November 1963
|November 1963
Line 373: Line 420:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[T. B. Henderson Brooks]]
|[[T. B. Henderson Brooks|Thomas Bryan Henderson Brooks]]
|November 1963
|November 1963
|March 1964
|March 1964
Line 380: Line 427:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam|P P Kumaramangalam]]
|[[Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam]]
|April 1964
|April 1964
|November 1964
|November 1964
Line 390: Line 437:
|November 1964
|November 1964
|June 1969
|June 1969
|[[12th Frontier Force Regiment]], [[8 Gorkha Rifles]]
|[[12th Frontier Force Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Jagjit Singh Aurora|J S Arora]]
|[[Jagjit Singh Aurora|Jagjit Singh Arora]]
|June 1969
|June 1969
|February 1973
|February 1973
|[[2nd Punjab Regiment]], [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]]
|[[2nd Punjab Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[N. C. Rawlley]]
|[[N. C. Rawlley|Naveen Chand Rawlley]]
|February 1973
|February 1973
|July 1974
|July 1974
Line 408: Line 455:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[J. F. R. Jacob| J F R Jacob]]
|[[J. F. R. Jacob|Jack Farj Rafael Jacob]]
|August 1974
|August 1974
|July 1978
|July 1978
Line 415: Line 462:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|E A Vas
|E.  A. Vas
|August 1978
|August 1978
|May 1981
|May 1981
Line 422: Line 469:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Arun Shridhar Vaidya|A S Vaidya]]
|[[Arun Shridhar Vaidya]]
|June 1981
|June 1981
|Aug 1983
|Aug 1983
Line 429: Line 476:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|K Chiman Singh
|K. Chiman Singh
|August 1983
|August 1983
|January 1986
|January 1986
Line 436: Line 483:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|J K Puri
|J. K. Puri
|February 1986
|February 1986
|May 1987
|May 1987
Line 443: Line 490:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Vishwa Nath Sharma|V N Sharma]]
|[[Vishwa Nath Sharma]]
|June 1987
|June 1987
|April 1988
|April 1988
|[[16th Light Cavalry]], [[66th Armoured Regiment]]
|[[16th Light Cavalry]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/index.htm?http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/vnsharma.htm|title=Somnath Sharma, Sam Manekshaw, Amitabh Bachchan, Old Sherwoodians Sherwood College, Nainital - Alumni|last=India|first=Anuj Bhargava - World Information Pages (Website Designing, Creation, Maintenance, Hosting, Search Engine Submission, Promotion), Indore, MP|website=www.oldsherwoodians.com|access-date=2017-10-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043047/http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/index.htm?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oldsherwoodians.com%2Fgreats%2Fvnsharma.htm|archive-date=24 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/index.htm?http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/vnsharma.htm|title=Somnath Sharma, Sam Manekshaw, Amitabh Bachchan, Old Sherwoodians Sherwood College, Nainital - Alumni|last=India|first=Anuj Bhargava - World Information Pages (Website Designing, Creation, Maintenance, Hosting, Search Engine Submission, Promotion), Indore, MP|website=www.oldsherwoodians.com|access-date=2017-10-23|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024043047/http://www.oldsherwoodians.com/greats/index.htm?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oldsherwoodians.com%2Fgreats%2Fvnsharma.htm|archive-date=24 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Raj Mohan Vohra|R M Vohra]]
|[[Raj Mohan Vohra]]
|May 1988
|May 1988
|May 1990
|May 1990
Line 457: Line 504:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Kuldip Singh Brar|K S Brar]]
|[[Kuldip Singh Brar]]
|June 1990
|June 1990
|September 1992
|September 1992
Line 471: Line 518:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[R N Batra]]
|R. N. Batra
|June 1993
|June 1993
|February 1996
|February 1996
Line 478: Line 525:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Ravi Eipe]]
|Ravi Eipe
|March 1996
|March 1996
|February 1998
|February 1998
Line 485: Line 532:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[H R S Kalkat]]
|H. R. S. Kalkat
|April 1998
|April 1998
|July 2002
|July 2002
Line 492: Line 539:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[J S Verma (general) | J S Verma]]
|J. S. Verma
|August 2002
|August 2002
|December 2004
|December 2004
Line 499: Line 546:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Arvind Sharma (general) | Arvind Sharma]]
|Arvind Sharma
|January 2005
|January 2005
|December 2006
|December 2006
Line 506: Line 553:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[K S Jamwal]]
|K. S. Jamwal
|January 2007
|January 2007
|February 2008
|February 2008
Line 513: Line 560:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Vijay Kumar Singh|V K Singh]]
|[[Vijay Kumar Singh]]
|1 March 2008
|1 March 2008
|31 March 2010
|31 March 2010
Line 534: Line 581:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Man Mohan Singh Rai|M M S Rai]]
|[[Man Mohan Singh Rai]]
|1 January 2014  
|1 January 2014  
|31 July 2015
|31 July 2015
Line 555: Line 602:
|-
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|[[Manoj_Mukund_Naravane|M M Naravane]]
|[[Manoj Mukund Naravane]]
|25 September 2018
|25 September 2018
|31 August 2019
|31 August 2019
Line 572: Line 619:
|[[Manoj Pande (general)|Manoj Pande]]
|[[Manoj Pande (general)|Manoj Pande]]
|1 June 2021
|1 June 2021
|''Incumbent''
|31 January 2022
|[[Bombay Sappers]]
|[[Bombay Sappers]]
|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pande |first1=Manoj |title=Manoj Pande to take over Eastern Command |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/lt-gen-manoj-pande-to-take-charge-of-the-eastern-command/cid/1817337}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pande |first1=Manoj |title=Manoj Pande to take over Eastern Command |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/lt-gen-manoj-pande-to-take-charge-of-the-eastern-command/cid/1817337}}</ref>
|-
|[[Lieutenant General]]
|'''[[Rana Pratap Kalita]]'''
|1 February 2022
|''Incumbent''
|[[Kumaon Regiment]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/lt-gen-rana-p-kalita-takes-charge-as-general-officer-commanding-in-chief-in-kolkata-574830|title=Lt. Gen. Rana P Kalita Takes Charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief in Kolkata|publisher=Sentinel Assam|date=2022-01-25}}</ref>
|}
|}


Revision as of 21:09, 16 June 2022


Eastern Command
Insignia of the Eastern Command
Active1920–present
Country India
Branch British Indian Army
 Indian Army
TypeCommand
HeadquartersKolkata
EngagementsWorld War II
Sino-Indian War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
2020 China–India skirmishes
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM
Notable
commanders		Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa
Gen Rajendrasinhji Jadeja
Gen K S Thimayya
Gen P. P. Kumaramangalan
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
Lt Gen S. P. P. Thorat
Gen A. S. Vaidya
Gen V. N. Sharma
Gen V. K. Singh
Gen Bikram Singh
Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag
Gen M. M. Naravane
Gen Manoj Pande

The Eastern Command is one of the six operational commands of the Indian Army. It is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal. The Eastern Command was formed on 1 November 1920.[1] The Command is commanded by a three-star rank officer with the title General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C).

Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita is the current GOC-in-C of Eastern Command.[2]

History

Early history

The Presidency armies were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies of Bengal, Bombay, and Madras became the Indian Army.[3] The Indian Army was divided into four Commands: Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command, each under a lieutenant general.[3]

Between 1904 and 1908, the Bengal Command became the Eastern Command. In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies – Northern Army and Southern Army – as recommended by the then Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army, Lord Kitchener. This system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again: Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command.[3]

On 1 November 1920, the Eastern Command was formed, with its summer headquarters in Nainital and winter headquarters in Lucknow. General Sir Havelock Hudson, become its first Commander.[4]

Second World War

In 1942, the command had the following formations under it:

In Apr 1942, the command was re-designated as Eastern Army and its headquarters moved to Barrackpore to fight the World War II. The Chindits were raised and launched into operations in 1943, by the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, a unit of the Eastern Command.[5]

In October 1943, the Fourteenth Army was formed and was given responsibility of the area east of the Meghna River. With this, the Eastern Army retained responsibility of the area west of the river.[6]

After the war, on 23 March 1947, the Command HQ moved to Ranchi. The HQ was later moved to Lucknow in 1955. However on 1 May 1963, post Sino-Indian War; the Central Command was re-raised and Lucknow was made its HQ, while Kolkata was made HQ Eastern Command.[7]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Pakistan's Lt. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi signing the Instrument of Surrender under the gaze of Lt. Gen. J. S. Aurora, the head of Indian Army's Eastern Command, on 16 December 1971, in Dhaka.

The Command had the overall responsibility of the eastern theatre of the 13-day war. The command had the two existing infantry corps – IV Corps and XXXIII Corps and raised another – II Corps. Apart from this, the 101 Communication Zone was re-organised as a Division-sized combat formation. Lieutenant General J S Arora, as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command, commanded all Indian and Bangladesh Forces in the eastern theatre. The Order of Battle of the Eastern Command during the war was:

II Corps (HQ - Krishnanagar) (GOC - Lieutenant General T N Raina)

  • 50th Independent Parachute Brigade (less 2 Para Bn Gp) – Brigadier M Thomas
  • 8th Mountain Artillery Brigade
  • 58th, 68th and 263rd Engineering Regiments
  • 9th Infantry Division (GOC - Major General Dalbir Singh)
    • 32 Infantry Brigade – Brigadier M Tewari
    • 42 Infantry Brigade – Brigadier J. M. Jhoria
    • 350 Infantry Brigade – Brigadier H. S. Sandhu
    • 9th Artillery Brigade
  • 4th Mountain Division (HQ - Krishnanagar) (GOC - Major General M S Barar)
    • 7th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Zail Singh
    • 41st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Tony Michigan
    • 62nd Mountain Brigade - Brigadier Rajinder Nath
    • 4th Mountain Artillery Brigade

IV Corps (HQ - Agartala) GOC - Lieutenant General Sagat Singh

  • Corps Artillery Brigade
  • Three Independent Tank Squadrons
  • 8th Mountain Division (GOC - Major General K. V. Krishna Rao)
    • Echo Force Brigade – Brigadier Wadeker
    • 59th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier C. A. Quinn
    • 81st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier R. C. V. Apte
    • 2nd Mountain Artillery Brigade
  • 57th Mountain Division (GOC - Major General B.F. Gonsalves)
    • 311th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Mishra
    • 73rd Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Tuli
    • 61st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Tom Pande
    • 57th Mountain Artillery Brigade
  • 23rd Mountain Division (GOC - Major General R.D. Hira)
    • 301st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier H. S. Sodhi
    • 181st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Y. C. Bakshi
    • 83rd Mountain Brigade – Brigadier B. S. Sandhu
    • 23rd Mountain Artillery Brigade
    • Kilo Force Brigade – Brigadier Ananda Swaroop[8] containing:
    • Mizo Range Hills Brigade[9]

XXXIII Corps (HQ - Siliguri) (GOC - Lieutenant General M L Thapan)

  • Corps Artillery Brigade
  • 471st Engineering Brigade – Colonel Suri
  • 235th Army Engineering Regiment
  • 2 Para Bn Gp
  • MF Brigade – Brigadier Prem Singh
  • 71st Mountain Brigade – Brigadier P. N. Kathpalia
  • 20th Mountain Division (HQ - Balurghat) (GOC - Major General Lachhman Singh)
    • 66th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier G. S. Sharma
    • 165th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier R. S. Pannu
    • 202nd Mountain Brigade – Brigadier F. P. Bhatty
    • 3rd Armoured Brigade – Brigadier G. Singh Sidhu
    • 20th Mountain Artillery Brigade
    • 340th Mountain Brigade Group – Brigadier Joginder Singh
  • 6th Mountain Division ( HQ - Cooch Behar) (Eastern Command HQ Reserve) (GOC - Major General P C Reddy)
    • 9th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Tirit Varma
    • 99th Mountain Brigade
    • 6th Mountain Artillery Brigade

101st Communication Zone (HQ: Guwahati) (GOC - Major General Gurbax Singh Gill)

  • 312 Air Defence Brigade
  • 342 Ind. Air Defence Brigade
  • 95th Mountain Brigade – Brigadier Hardev Singh Kler
  • FJ Sector Brigade – Brigadier Sant Singh[10]
  • 167th Infantry Brigade – Brigadier Irani (allotted after 8 December 1971)
  • 5th Mountain Brigade (allotted after 8 December 1971)

On 16 December 1971, the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Armed Forces surrendered at Dhaka. East Pakistan ceased to exist and Bangladesh was born. Lt Gen J S Arora accepted the Pakistani Instrument of Surrender, signed by Lt Gen A. A. K. Niazi at Dacca Racecourse. Approximately 90,000[11] to 93,000 Pakistani servicemen were taken prisoner by the Indian Army, which included 79,676 to 81,000 uniformed personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces, including some Bengali soldiers who had remained loyal to Pakistan.[11][12][13]

Structure

The Command's Area Of Responsibility (AOR)[14] covers folllowing states of India:

The Eastern Command has been assigned operational units under: III Corps, IV Corps, XVII Corps, XXXIII Corps and a 23rd Infantry Division.[15][16]

Structure of Eastern Command
Corps Corps HQ GOC of Corps

(Corps Commander)

Assigned Units Unit HQ
III Corps

(Spear Corps)

Rangapahar, Nagaland Lt Gen R. C. Tiwari[17] 2 Mountain Division Dinjan, Assam
56 Mountain Division Likabali, Arunachal Pradesh
57 Mountain Division Leimakhong, Manipur
IV Corps

(Gajraj Corps)

Tezpur, Assam Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana[18] 5 Mountain Division Bomdila, Arunachal Pradesh
21 Mountain Division Rangia, Assam
71 Mountain Division Missa Mari, Assam
XVII Corps

(Brahmastra Corps)

Panagarh, West Bengal Lt Gen Savneet Singh[19] 59 Mountain Division Panagarh, West Bengal
23 Infantry Division Ranchi, Jharkhand
72 Mountain Division Pathankot, Punjab
XXXIII Corps

(Trishakti Corps)

Siliguri, West Bengal Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich[20] 17 Mountain Division Gangtok, Sikkim
20 Mountain Division Binnaguri, West Bengal
27 Mountain Division Kalimpong, West Bengal

Precursors (1902–1947)

Following is the list of precursors to the Eastern Command and their commanders:[21]

Eastern Command (1902–1907)

General Officer Commanding Eastern Command
Rank Name Appointment date Left office Unit of commission
General Sir Alfred Gaselee October 1904 June 1907 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot

Eastern Command (1920–1940)

General Officer Commanding Eastern Command
Rank Name Appointment date Left office Unit of commission
General Sir Havelock Hudson November 1920 February 1924 Northamptonshire Regiment
General Sir George de S. Barrow February 1924 April 1928 Connaught Rangers
General Sir John S. M. Shea April 1928 April 1932 Royal Irish Regiment
General Sir C. Norman MacMullen April 1932 April 1936 Unattached
General Sir H. B. Douglas Baird April 1936 April 1940 Unattached
Lieutenant General Sir Charles N. F. Broad April 1940 July 1942 Royal Field Artillery

Eastern Army (1942–1943)

General Officer Commanding Eastern Army
Rank Name Appointment date Left office Unit of commission
Lieutenant General Noel M. S. Irwin Jul 1942 May 1943 Essex Regiment
General Sir George J. Giffard May 1943 October 1943 Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment

Eastern Command (1943–1947)

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
Rank Name Appointment date Left office Unit of commission
General Sir A. G. O. Mosley Mayne October 1943 December 1944 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers
General Sir Richard N. O'Connor January 1945 October 1945 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur F. Smith October 1945 January 1946 Coldstream Guards
Lieutenant General Sir Francis I. S. Tuker January 1946 November 1947 Royal Sussex Regiment
Lieutenant General F. R. Roy Bucher(acting) August 1946 August 1947 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

List of GOC-in-C of Eastern Command (1947–present)

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command
Rank Name Appointment Date Left Office Unit of Commission References
Lieutenant General Kodandera Madappa Cariappa November 1947 January 1948 88th Carnatic Infantry [22]
Lieutenant General Maharaj Shri Rajendrasinhji Jadeja January 1948 November 1948 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) [23]
Lieutenant General Thakur Nathu Singh November 1948 January 1953 Rajput Regiment [24]
Lieutenant General Sant Singh January 1953 September 1956 1/14th Punjab [25]
Lieutenant General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya October 1956 March 1957 19th Hyderabad Regiment
Lieutenant General Shankarrao Pandurang Patil Thorat May 1957 May 1961 1/14 Punjab [26][27]
Lieutenant General Lionel Protip Sen May 1961 April 1963 10th Baluch Regiment
Lieutenant General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam May 1963 November 1963 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General Thomas Bryan Henderson Brooks November 1963 March 1964 Maratha Light Infantry
Lieutenant General Paramasiva Prabhakar Kumaramangalam April 1964 November 1964 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General Sam Manekshaw November 1964 June 1969 12th Frontier Force Regiment
Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Arora June 1969 February 1973 2nd Punjab Regiment
Lieutenant General Naveen Chand Rawlley February 1973 July 1974 Brigade of the Guards
Lieutenant General Jack Farj Rafael Jacob August 1974 July 1978 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General E. A. Vas August 1978 May 1981 9 Gorkha Rifles
Lieutenant General Arun Shridhar Vaidya June 1981 Aug 1983 9th Deccan Horse
Lieutenant General K. Chiman Singh August 1983 January 1986 Rajputana Rifles
Lieutenant General J. K. Puri February 1986 May 1987 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General Vishwa Nath Sharma June 1987 April 1988 16th Light Cavalry [28]
Lieutenant General Raj Mohan Vohra May 1988 May 1990 4th Horse (Hodson's Horse)
Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar June 1990 September 1992 Maratha Light Infantry [29]
Lieutenant General Jameel Mahmood October 1992 May 1993 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General R. N. Batra June 1993 February 1996 Regiment of Artillery
Lieutenant General Ravi Eipe March 1996 February 1998 Rajput Regiment
Lieutenant General H. R. S. Kalkat April 1998 July 2002 Maratha Light Infantry [30]
Lieutenant General J. S. Verma August 2002 December 2004 63rd Cavalry (India)
Lieutenant General Arvind Sharma January 2005 December 2006 4th Gorkha Rifles [31][32][33]
Lieutenant General K. S. Jamwal January 2007 February 2008 Regiment of Artillery [34][35]
Lieutenant General Vijay Kumar Singh 1 March 2008 31 March 2010 Rajput Regiment [36]
Lieutenant General Bikram Singh 1 April 2010 30 April 2012 Sikh Light Infantry [37]
Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh Suhag 16 June 2012 31 December 2013 4/5 Gorkha Rifles
Lieutenant General Man Mohan Singh Rai 1 January 2014 31 July 2015 Bombay Sappers
Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi 1 August 2015 31 July 2017 Skinner's Horse
Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna 1 August 2017 25 September 2018 Rajputana Rifles [38]
Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane 25 September 2018 31 August 2019 Sikh Light Infantry [39]
Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan 01 September 2019 31 May 2021 11 Gorkha Rifles [40]
Lieutenant General Manoj Pande 1 June 2021 31 January 2022 Bombay Sappers [41]
Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita 1 February 2022 Incumbent Kumaon Regiment [42]

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Official Home Page of the Indian Army". www.indianarmy.nic.in.
  2. ↑ "China-facing Northern, Eastern Commands to get new chiefs today". The Indian Express. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Northern Army". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Sir Havelock Hudson". Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News. 26 November 1920. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "77 Brigade". Order of Battle. Retrieved 19 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ↑ "Why is the Fourteenth Army known as the Forgotten Army?". Royal British Legion. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Central Command Raising Day concludes". The Times of India. 3 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, A Tale of Millions, p318
  9. ↑ Jacob, Lt. Gen. JFR, Surrender at Dacca: Birth of A Nation, p196
  10. ↑ Islam, Maj. Rafiqul, A Tale of Millions, p313
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Orton, Anna (2010). India's Borderland Disputes: China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Epitome Books. p. 117. ISBN 9789380297156. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  12. ↑ Burke, S. M (1974). Mainsprings of Indian and Pakistani Foreign Policies – S. M. Burke. ISBN 9780816607204. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Bose, Sarmila (November 2011). "The question of genocide and the quest for justice in the 1971 war" (PDF). Journal of Genocide Research. 13 (4): 398. doi:10.1080/14623528.2011.625750. S2CID 38668401.
  14. ↑ "Eastern Command". Indian Army. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "Eye on China, India to raise second division for mountain corps". The Indian Express. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "The mountain is now a molehill". Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Bank's Functions - PNG Division - Educational Facilities for Indigens - PNG Bankers College - PNG Bankers College Course 5 - 12 February 1968 - 1 March 1968". 8 March 2021. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ "Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana assumes charge as GOC of Gajraj Corps". ThePrint. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  19. ↑ Twitter https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1355858689756979202. Retrieved 8 June 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ "GOC of Trishakti Corps inaugurates oxygen generation plant in Siliguri". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  21. ↑ Army Commands Archived 5 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ↑ "Gen Cariappa Becomes Eastern Army Commander" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 21 November 1947. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Changes in Army Commands" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 20 January 1948. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Eastern Command History".
  25. ↑ "Promotions in the Indian Army" (PDF). Press Information Bureau of India - Archive. 15 October 1952. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  26. ↑ "From Henderson to Subrahmanyam: Army to be Blamed. And Political Leaders". www.satp.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  27. ↑ "The Two Myths of 1962 | Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses". idsa.in. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  28. ↑ India, Anuj Bhargava - World Information Pages (Website Designing, Creation, Maintenance, Hosting, Search Engine Submission, Promotion), Indore, MP. "Somnath Sharma, Sam Manekshaw, Amitabh Bachchan, Old Sherwoodians Sherwood College, Nainital - Alumni". www.oldsherwoodians.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  29. ↑ "Indian Army: Charges of incompetence among senior officers undermined the Eastern Command". Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  30. ↑ "Eastern Army ex-Commander Kalkat passes away". The Tribune. 28 January 2021.
  31. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "New Vice Chief of Army Staff Appointed in India". Arab News. 1 January 2005. Archived from the original on 17 December 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  33. ↑ "National : New Vice-Chief of Army Staff". The Hindu. 1 January 2005. Archived from the original on 16 February 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  34. ↑ "K S Jamwal is new GoC-in-C, Eastern Command". Zee News. 4 January 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  35. ↑ "Lt Gen Kapoor to be new VCOAS; Panag, Jamwal to head N, E Cmds". www.oneindia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  36. ↑ "Army chief gets his way, Panag shifted out of J&K - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  37. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Press Information Bureau". Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  39. ↑ "Lt. Gen. Naravane appointed Eastern Army Commander". The Hindu. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  40. ↑ "Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan takes over as Eastern Army Commander".
  41. ↑ Pande, Manoj. "Manoj Pande to take over Eastern Command".
  42. ↑ "Lt. Gen. Rana P Kalita Takes Charge as General Officer Commanding in Chief in Kolkata". Sentinel Assam. 25 January 2022.

Further reading

  • Richard A. Renaldi and Ravi Rikhe, 'Indian Army Order of Battle,' Orbat.com for Tiger Lily Books: A division of General Data LLC, ISBN 978-0-9820541-7-8, 2011.
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