9 SECTION 3 : THE INDIAN ARMY “My Indian Divisions after 1943 were among the best in the world. They go anywhere, do anything, go on doing it, and do it on very little”. – Field Marshal Sir William Slim, Defeat Into Victory, 1956. 1.13 Role of the Indian Army. The Indian Army is the land component of the Indian Armed Forces which exist to uphold the ideals of the Constitution of India. As a major component of national power, along with the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, the roles of the Indian Army are as follows :Primary Role. Preserve national interests and safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of India against any external threats by deterrence or by waging war. • Secondary Role. Assist Government agencies to cope with ‘proxy war’ and other internal threats and provide aid to civil authority when requisitioned for the purpose. • 1.14 Command and Control of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. As in all democracies, the Indian Armed Forces are controlled by the elected political leadership of the nation (Government of India). Executive control is exercised sequentially through the Union Cabinet, the Defence Minister, the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and the Chiefs of Army, Naval and Air Staff of their respective Services. The Ministry of Defence handles matters related to personnel, financial and resource management. 1.15 Tasks of the Indian Army. The Indian Army serves as the ultimate instrument for maintaining the unity and the integrity of the nation in the face of external threats and