South Western Command
As of mid-2004 the proposed formation of the South Western Command was awaiting financial concurrence fro the government. By early 2005 the Army worked to restructure formations based along the Indo-Pak border to carve out a new South-Western Command to bolster strike capabilities. The Army was working to establish its sixth operational command, the South-Western Command, which will operate in conjunction with the Udhampur-based Northern Command and Chandimandir-based Western Command.
The Indian Army announced the creation of its new command known as South Western Command with its Headquarters at Jaipur, which formally came into being on April 18, 2005. Lt. Gen K Nagraj became its first GOC-in-C.
“Future battle will be characterised by the synergic employment of all Arms and Services across the entire spectrum of conflict in a nuclear, biological and chemeical (NBC) backdrop. Jointmanship, interdependence, interoperability and compatibility among the Services shall remain key battle-winning factors. It is with this in focus that the Indian Army restructured to create its seventh command, namely South Western Command”, said Chief of the Army Staff, Gen JJ Singh while giving his consent to the formation sign for the newly raised South Western Command.
With the formation ofthe South-Western Command there are six operational command, and the seventh major command is Army Training Command (ARTRAC). The South Western Command with headquarters at Jaipur is poised to bolster the capabilities of Indian Army, especially on the western frontiers. The inaugural ceremony was held with much fanfare and enthusiasm at Gothic Lines, Jaipur Military Station. It saw the participation of a number of senior officials from Army. Lt Gen K Nagaraj has been appointed to head the command. After the customary fanfare and general salute, the command flag was ceremoniously trooped in and blessed by Religious Teachers. The flag was, thereafter, hoisted by Lt Gen K Nagaraj. He also addressed the serving and retired personnel present on the occasion. He exhorted all ranks to play a key-role in the fulfilment of the objectives of the command. “Though we may be seventh in the precedence of rising but we shall ever be better than the best”, he asserted. The reallocation of forces to the South-Western Command from Northern Command and Western Command was not immediately apparent.
