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Central Command

Central Command is headquartered in Lucknow and is responsible for the Western border.

In May 2001, India undertook its largest and most successful military exercises in 14 years. Codenamed Poorna Vijay(Complete Victory), the exercise aimed to train troops to face nuclear, biological and chemical weapons strikes. They also dovetailed the considerable capabilities of the Indian Air Force in launching fighter ground attack missions and deep insertion of airborne and helicopter-borne Army units. The Central command was in charge of the Corps-level exercise involving an entire corps of about 50,000 men, 1000 battle tanks and batteries of artillery backed by about 120 warplanes(fighter, transport aircraft and helicopters) from the IAF air bases at Bhatinda, Nal, Naliya, Uttarlai and Bhuj, among others. This was the first time after Exercise Brass Tacks that the Army and the Air Force had carried out EWT (exercises with troops) at a Corps level.

The movement of armored units is always closely watched because they are perceived to be assault forces in times of conflict in the plains. In 2001, the 1 corps concluded its exercise by May 11. That exercise, codenamed “Poorna Vijay” was crucial to the military’s strategic objectives because it factored in moves in the event of a nuclear strike and for a nuclear strike.

As of early 2002 the Northern Command units had been joined by Central Command's I Corps Strike Force consisting of three divisions.