A division has roughly 14,000 to fifteen,000 troops. However, as an alternative of recruiting further manpower, the Army is prone to reorganise current personnel for deployment within the new division from different formations.

A strike corps is chargeable for offensive trans-border motion. Currently, the Army has 4 strike corps — the Mathura-based 1 Corps, Ambala-based 2 Corps, Bhopal-based 21 Corps, and 17 MSC in Panagarh.

However, until 2021, solely the 17 MSC — which was partially raised then — was targeted on China. The different three have been focussed on Pakistan.

But within the backdrop of the navy standoff with China which started in 2020, a restructuring was carried out in 2021 to maintain two of the strike corps for the mountains dealing with China. The 1 Corps and 17 Corps have been restructured to concentrate on the northern and japanese borders to deal with Chinese threats.

The function of the 1 Corps was reoriented to concentrate on the northern borders with China with two infantry divisions. The 17 Corps was given a further division from an current corps to concentrate on the japanese theatre. Some parts of the 17 Corps have been deployed in japanese Ladakh within the backdrop of the navy standoff with China.

When the 17 MSC was sanctioned in 2013, it was to have two divisions. However, solely the Panagarh-based 59 Division was raised; the 72 Division was among the many raisings shelved because of monetary constraints.

The plan to boost this division was mentioned by the Army high brass lately. However, as an alternative of functioning as a strike corps division beneath the 17 MSC, it was determined to convey it beneath the Northern Command for doable deployment in japanese Ladakh. Sources mentioned the brand new division could or might not be renamed.

According to sources, as soon as the brand new division is successfully deployed in japanese Ladakh, the long-term deployment of troops in all the Northern Command will probably be re-assessed.

While the safety scenario within the Valley is comparatively steady, the 16 Corps, which takes care of the areas south of the Pir Panjal vary, has seen a collection of excessive influence terror assaults within the final three years.

According to officers, the shifting of a Rashtriya Rifles pressure from the world to japanese Ladakh created a void, and this was subsequently addressed by transferring in troops from reserve formations and strike corps, thus affecting the coaching of troops in addition to their peacetime profile.

“If implemented, the exercise will aim at keeping a stable and balanced deployment in the entire command theatre and also keep the strike corps ready as per their roles,” an official mentioned, including that the reserve formations will proceed to coach and be accessible in situ for any emergent deployment inside a brief timeframe.

India and China pushed in almost 50,000-60,000 troops every alongside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) following the lethal clashes within the Galwan Valley in June 2020. Friction factors resembling Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso and the Gogra-Hot Springs space have seen some decision within the final three years with the creation of buffer zones. Legacy friction factors resembling Depsang Plains and Demchok are but to see any disengagement.