XVII Corps (India)

XVII Corps of the Indian army is the first mountain strike corps of India which has been built as a quick reaction force and as well as counter offensive force against China along LAC. Its headquarters are located at Panagarh in West Bengal under Eastern Command.[3] It is also known as Brahmastra Corps.

XVII Corps
Active1946-1947
1963- ?
2013-Present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
RoleStrike Corps
Part ofEastern Command (India)
Garrison/HQPanagarh
Nickname(s)Brahmastra Corps
Commanders
Current
commander		Lt Gen S.S Mishra VSM [1]
Notable
commanders		Major General Raymond Joseph Noronha[2]
Indian Army Corps (1947 - Present)
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XVI Corps XXI Corps

History

Republic of India shares a boundary (LAC) of length 4,057 km[4] with People's Republic of China. Although, even the exchange of a single bullet has not been reported here since decades, the two countries still have not resolved their disagreement about where exactly the border lies; specially over two regions – Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. Intrusion of troops of PLA into Indian territory,[5] construction of watch tower close to the mutually-accepted "border patrolling line" near Burtse,[6] "standardisation" of the names of six towns in Arunachal Pradesh[7] (China claims that Arunachal Pradesh is integral part of china) enhanced the tension.

In addition, China has developed rail network and five fully operational airbases in Tibet Autonomous Region. Key airfields include those at Hoping, Pangta and Kong Ka.[4][8] In Tibet and Yunan, roads are extended over 58,000 km (in 2010)[4] up to the border, at an approximate cost of about $325 billion. As a result of all these buildout of infrastructures, China can mobilize 30 divisions (each with over 15,000 soldiers)[9] aside heading to the LAC within 48 hours. Moreover, about 300,011 PLA troops and six Rapid Reaction Forces are placed at Chengdu.[10]

To reinforce defensive power across the border in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian army raised two new infantry divisions (1,260 officers and 35,000 soldiers) at Likapani[11] and Missamari (Assam)[4] in 2009-2010. However PLA outnumbered Indian army near border by three to one.[12]

To overcome the gap, in July 2013, the cabinet committee, under the UPA government, sanctioned the proposal, which had been already approved by Chiefs of Staff Committee or CoSC, a committee composed of the chiefs of Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, to build the new mountain strike corps over a time span of seven years (12th plan period (2012–17), with a little spillover into the 13th plan if necessary).[13] The cop was planned to be raised to 90, 274 soldiers and thus Rs 64,678 crore had been sanctioned. Out of this budget, around Rs 39,000 crore[12] had been earmarked for capital expenditure. Addition Rs 19,000 crore was also demanded for further development.

From October 2013, army started posting the key officers in Ranchi. On January 1, 2014, Major General Raymond Joseph Noronha, the first commander of 17 Corps,[11] raised the flag of this corps for the first time in Ranchi.[2]

Strength

59 Division has already been established at Panagarh.

72 Division is now in the process of establishment at Pathankot.[14]

Exercise
Name Date Location Notes, References
HimVijay October 2019 High Altitude Areas of Arunachal Pradesh along LAC


List of Commanders
Name Rank Appointment Date Left Office Unit of Commission
Raymond Joseph Noronha Major General Rajput Regiment
Rajeev Chopra Lieutenant General Madras Regiment
SS Hasabnis Bombay Engineer Group [17] [18]
Pandala Nagesh Rao 15 June 2019 Parachute Regiment [19]
Shashank Shekhar Mishra 15 June 2019 Kumaon Regiment [20]

References
  1. "Army chief visits Brahmastra Corps in Panagarh | India News - Times of India".
  2. Chauhan, R S (3 January 2014). "Finally, an army strike corps aimed at China". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  3. "Indian Army Is Fully Ready For A Two-And-A-Half Front War, Says Army Chief General Bipin Rawat". HuffPost. New Delhi. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  4. Pandit, Rajat (8 March 2011). "China has five airbases, extensive rail-road networks in Tibet: Antony". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. WATTS, JAKE MAXWELL (2 May 2013). "Are China and India About to Fight Over Their Border?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. Pandit, Rajat (12 September 2015). "Indian, Chinese troops in another face-off in Ladakh". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. Joshua, Anita (19 April 2017). "How to decipher China's answer". The Telegraph (Calcutta), Guwahati Bureau. Guwahati. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  8. Girdhar, Manish. "PLAAF Deployments in Tibet". Centre for Land Warfare Studies. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  9. Pandit, Rajat (9 January 2014). "Army kicks off raising new mountain strike corps against China". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  10. Sen, Sudhi Ranjan (27 February 2015). "Only 20 Per Cent of India-China Strategic Border Roads Ready Till Now". NDTV. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  11. "Indian Army raises new mountain strike corps against China". India TV News Desk. New Delhi. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  12. Pandit, Rajat (8 March 2011). "Fund crunch hits Army's new strike corps". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  13. Pandit, Rajat (13 June 2013). "China-wary Army for mountain strike corps". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  14. "Army kicks off raising of 2nd division under Mountain Strike Corps, plans exercise in Ladakh | India News - Times of India".
  15. "Indian Army's Mountain Strike Corps, Air Force to carry out war games near China border". The Economic Times. 2019-09-11. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  16. https://theprint.in/defence/army-to-debut-its-mountain-strike-corps-next-month-at-himvijay-exercise-in-arunachal/289902/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. "Bombay Sappers Celebrates Its Reunion 2018".
  18. "Dipatoli Cantonment celebrates 18th Kargil Vijay Diwas".
  19. "Maj Gen P Nagesh Rao takes over command at Red Shield Div".
  20. EasternCommand_IA (2019-06-16). "Lt Gen Shashank Shekhar Mishra, VSM took over took as GOC Brahmashtra Corps on 15 June 2019 from Lt Gen Pandala Nagesh Rao, YSM, SM. The Gen Officer has held several distinguished appointments during his career spanning 36 years @adgpi @SpokespersonMoDpic.twitter.com/rSL70d1lAn". @easterncomd. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
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