Vijay Diwas 2025: 7 Unheard Facts About the Indian Army You Must Know

Vijay Diwas 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the courage of the armed forces on Vijay Diwas . He wished Vijay Diwas to Indian army for its unforgettable courage during 1971 war, December 16, the day when the Indian Army defeated Pakistan in the 1971 War. 

"On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history," PM Modi said.

"This day stands as a salute to their valour and a reminder of their unmatched spirit. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians," he said.

Significance of Vijay Diwas

Vijay Diwas is celebrated on December 16 every year to honour the soldiers who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which forced to Pakistan's Army to surrender. Around 3,900 Indian soldiers were martyred, and nearly 10,000 were injured during the conflict. The surrender of over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in Dhaka marked the end of the 1971 conflict and the creation of Bangladesh.

7 Unheard Facts about Indian Army on Vijay Diwas 2025

This shows the unpredicatable valour of Indian Army and their dicsipline and training. Let's explore 7 unheard facts about Indian Army.

• The Indian Army is the world’s largest standing all-volunteer army in the world, with more than 1.2 million active soldiers and almost 0.9 million reserve army.
• India is among the largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 6,000 personnel currently deployed in missions worldwide.
• After Operation Sindoor, the army established Rudra combined arm brigades, Bhairav battalions, and Ashini platoons. The two newly established Rudra brigades are deployed under the Eastern and Northern Commands. The brigades are based on the concept of having a quick reaction force in each sector, able not only to launch  swift incursion into adversary territory but to halt a sudden intrusion by the adversary as well.
• The Indian Army is recognised for its high standards of discipline and combat capability, ranking fourth in the world, after the US, Russia, and China.
• Indian Army Newly formed Ashni Platoon which is a specialized drone unit integrated into every infantry battalion to modernise tactical combat, surveillance, loitering, medical delivery & FPV drones.
• The 61st Cavalry Regiment is one of the largest horse-mounted cavalry units in the Indian Army. It is also among the last operational and unmechanised horse cavalry units in the world.

• The Indian Army was also the part of Operation Rahat which is one of the largest civilian rescue ever and relief operation during the 2013 North India floods. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) airlifted over 19,600 stranded in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the Indian Army rescued over 10,500 persons by road and army helicopters.