Army Day is celebrated every year on 15th January, to honour the first Indian Army Chief, Lieutenant General KM Cariappa, who took over the post of Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army on January 15, 1949 from the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, General Sir Francis Butcher.
Lt General KM Cariappa adopted the slogan ‘Jai Hindi’ which means ‘Victory of India’. He is also one of the two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal; the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Lt Cariappa led the Indian Army on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistan War, 1947.
Army Day is celebrated at all the Army Command Headquarters every year. This year, Indian Army has organised marathon ‘Vijay Run’ to commemorate Swarnim Vijay Varsh to celebrate Indian Army’s victory over Pakistan in 1971. Every year Army Day is celebrated with different themes and ideas. In 2020, ‘Digital Transformation of Defence’ was the theme of Army Day.
The nation pays tribute to the soldiers for their valour and selfless service.
On the occasion of 73rd Army Day, Akshay Kumar played volleyball with the brave hearts of the country as a warm-up exercise.