By Col Manoj Batra (Retd) · SSB faculty, The Cavalier · Senior GTO (retd), 20 SSB
A corps is the formation in which the Army actually fights a campaign. It brings together three to four divisions and a set of corps troops under a Lieutenant General, who is called the GOC. Above it sits a command; below it, the divisions you will meet on the divisions page. Each corps has a number, a nickname, a headquarters town and one parent command, and "match the corps to its nickname or city" is a standard defence GK question.
This page sits under the Army hierarchy section of our Defence GK library. It gives the table of all 14 field corps, strike versus holding corps, the mountain strike corps, and the corps commander talks with China.
What a Corps Is, and the Other Meaning of the Word
- Who commands it. A Lieutenant General, the General Officer Commanding (GOC). A command's head, the GOC-in-C, holds the same rank. We do not list current corps commanders, because they change often; PIB announces each change.
- What it holds. Three to four divisions, plus corps troops: units kept at corps level, such as artillery, engineers, signals and logistics, which the corps commander can use wherever the battle needs them.
- How big. It varies. The Army publishes no strength for a corps, and a strike corps with tanks differs from a mountain corps strung along a border. Books say "tens of thousands"; learn that, not a precise number.
- Where it sits. Under one of the Army commands; the hierarchy page has the whole ladder.
The Corps of Signals, Corps of Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Medical Corps and the Armoured Corps are arms and services, not formations. They have no divisions under them and no GOC. A "corps" in this page's sense, such as the Chinar Corps, is a formation. The National Cadet Corps is neither: it is a youth organisation under the Ministry of Defence. Our combat arms and services pages cover the arms and services.
The Field Corps at a Glance
This is the table to learn. Nicknames and headquarters are those used in PIB releases, the Army's own pages and established press; where we found no official statement of a corps's role we write a dash, not a guess. Books write the numbers in Roman, so "XV Corps" is 15 Corps.
| Corps | Nickname | Headquarters | Parent command | Role or area (as reported) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Corps | Strike One | Mathura | Northern | Strike corps; reoriented north since 2021 |
| 2 Corps | Kharga | Ambala | Western | Strike corps in the Western Sector |
| 3 Corps | Spear | Rangapahar, Dimapur | Eastern | North-East; border management and hinterland operations (PIB) |
| 4 Corps | Gajraj | Tezpur | Eastern | Line of Actual Control (LAC), Arunachal |
| 9 Corps | Rising Star | Yol | Western | Operational role along the Western borders (PIB); raised 2005 (press) |
| 10 Corps | Chetak | Bathinda | South Western | — |
| 11 Corps | Vajra | Jalandhar | Western | — |
| 12 Corps | Konark | Jodhpur | Southern | Desert sector |
| 14 Corps | Fire and Fury | Leh | Northern | Eastern Ladakh and Siachen |
| 15 Corps | Chinar | Srinagar | Northern | Kashmir Valley; Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir |
| 16 Corps | White Knight | Nagrota (Jammu) | Northern | Jammu region; LoC in the Rajouri and Naushera sectors |
| 17 Corps | Brahmastra | Panagarh | Eastern | Mountain strike corps |
| 21 Corps | Sudarshan Chakra | Bhopal | Southern | Strike corps |
| 33 Corps | Trishakti | Sukna, West Bengal | Eastern | North Bengal and Sikkim |
By command: Northern holds 1, 14, 15 and 16; Western 2, 9 and 11; Eastern 3, 4, 17 and 33; Southern 12 and 21; South Western 10. Central Command and ARTRAC hold no field corps in this list. The numbers are not continuous, so learn the 14 as pairs of number and nickname. The command pages hold the headquarters and raising dates.
The count. The Army's public pages that we could find give no total, and press and reference lists give 14, which is the 14 in the table. In February 2024 ThePrint reported that the Army had decided to turn Headquarters Uttar Bharat Area, under Central Command, into an 18 Corps for the central sector of the LAC. PIB, in a release of 17 November 2025, still names a "General Officer Commanding, Uttar Bharat Area", so we keep the count at 14 and treat 18 Corps as reported, not confirmed.
1 Corps. Many books still put 1 Corps under the South Western or Western Command. The Army's own page for Northern Command says Strike One was reorganised into Northern Command to strengthen operations in Eastern Ladakh, and press reports date the shift to 2021. UPSC follows official figures, so for a recent paper choose Northern.
Strike, Holding and Pivot Corps
Not every corps does the same job. Defence writers sort them by role, and the words below are in wide use, though the Army publishes no official list of which corps is which. Treat the roles as widely described, not as official labels.
| Type | Idea |
|---|---|
| Strike corps | Held back from the border, with armour and heavy artillery, ready to move into enemy territory in a counter-offensive |
| Holding corps | Deployed on or near the border to hold ground until the strike corps are committed |
| Pivot corps | A holding corps with some capacity to attack on its own |
| Mountain strike corps | A strike corps designed for high ground, where tanks and long road moves are limited |
PIB uses the same vocabulary in its biographies of senior generals, such as "a Pivot Corps in Northern Command" and "a premier Strike Corps in the Western Sector", without naming the numbered corps, so we do not assign them.
Analysts also use "Cold Start" for a concept of quick, limited offensives from the border that would use the strike corps. We found no official publication that uses that name, so learn it only as a term from the press. The official 2025 and 2026 reforms are described in other words: PIB's note of 18 May 2025, "Forging One Force", lists Integrated Battle Groups and theatre commands among the changes under way.
The Strike Corps and the Mountain Strike Corps
Three corps are described as strike corps in every list: 1 Corps at Mathura, 2 Corps at Ambala and 21 Corps at Bhopal. The Army's own records use the phrase for 21 Corps: PIB's profile of the Army chief (Gen Dhiraj Seth) says that, as a Lieutenant General, he commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, "one of the Indian Army's premier strike formations".
- 1 Corps (Strike One). Long described as a strike corps facing west. The Army's Northern Command page records that Strike One was reorganised into Northern Command to raise operations in Eastern Ladakh.
- 2 Corps (Kharga). The Ambala corps. PIB's profile of the GOC-in-C of Southern Command, issued on 1 July 2026, records that he commanded 2 Corps during Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
- 21 Corps (Sudarshan Chakra). The Bhopal corps, the one strike corps in the Southern Command.
17 Corps (Brahmastra) is the exception: the mountain strike corps. The Cabinet Committee on Security cleared it in July 2013, and press and reference accounts have it formally raised in early 2014 at Ranchi, with the headquarters later at Panagarh, West Bengal, under Eastern Command. Reports differ on how large it was meant to be, so do not memorise a strength. What exams ask is the label: 17 Corps is the Army's mountain strike corps. PIB also names a "Brahmastra Corps" in the biography of an Army commander, so the nickname is in official use.
Where the Corps Headquarters Sit, and Why
The table shows a pattern with no map needed.
- Plains, far from the line: the strike corps. Mathura, Ambala and Bhopal sit on good road and rail links, so armoured columns can assemble and move.
- Near the frontier: the western corps. Jalandhar, Bathinda, Jodhpur and Yol lie along the western border and its approaches. PIB places the Konark Corps in the desert sector.
- Mountain towns: the Himalayan corps. Leh, Srinagar, Nagrota, Tezpur, Dimapur and Sukna are bases from which a corps controls a mountain front, with roads and airfields behind it.
In the north the corps zones follow the LoC (15 and 16 Corps) and the LAC (14 Corps, and 1 Corps, which has had a northern task since 2021). In the east they follow the LAC and the North-East (3, 4, 33 and 17 Corps). Our LAC and LoC page separates these lines; for a war fought across these zones, see Kargil 1999 and the wars and operations hub.
Some corps histories are on record. The Army's account, summarised in our note on the Trishakti Corps, has 33 Corps re-raised at Shillong in 1960 and based at Sukna from 1962. Press reports say the Gajraj Corps was raised at Tezpur on 4 October 1962, in the war with China, and 9 Corps in 2005.
Below the Corps: Integrated Battle Groups
The corps is where the Army has begun its biggest change. An Integrated Battle Group (IBG) is a brigade-sized force that mixes infantry, armour, artillery and support under one commander, built to move faster than a division. The divisions page explains the idea.
ThePrint reported on 13 January 2026 that the government had approved the IBG plan, and that the first to be made would be in 17 Corps, where two divisions would become four IBGs, each under a Major General. PIB's release of 9 April 2026 records the Army chief saying that IBGs had been operationalised. The Army has published no order of battle, so treat all details as reported.
Our note on Yudh Abhyas 2026 covers an exercise aimed at using IBGs in mountain terrain. The plan for joint theatre commands, which would regroup the Army's commands, is on the theatre commands page.
- 24 Oct 2025: the Raksha Mantri virtually inaugurates Edge Data Centres of the Konark and Fire and Fury Corps, and says that by next year all corps will have them (PIB).
- 13 Nov 2025: the Konark Corps is validated for full-spectrum operations in Exercise Akhand Prahaar in the Desert Sector, including land operations by a Rudra Brigade (PIB).
- 13 Jan 2026: the first Integrated Battle Groups are reported cleared for 17 Corps (ThePrint).
- 9 Apr 2026: the Army chief says IBGs are operationalised (PIB).
- 6 and 7 Sep 2026: the first India-China Corps Commander-level meeting in the eastern sector is held (press, citing the Ministry of External Affairs).
- 7 and 8 Nov 2026: the Raksha Mantri reviews LAC infrastructure at the headquarters of the Trishakti Corps at Sukna, and spends Diwali with its troops in Sikkim (PIB).
Corps Commander Talks with China
"Corps commander-level talks" is a military dialogue, not a formation. After the 2020 clashes in Ladakh, senior commanders of the two armies met repeatedly to discuss disengagement along the LAC. PIB published a release on the rounds, usually a "Joint Press Release": the 10th round was held on 20 February 2021 and the 17th on 20 December 2022, both at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point, on the Chinese side. PIB's Defence Ministry year-end review records a 23rd round in eastern Ladakh on 25 and 26 October 2025.
Press reports in these years described the Indian delegation as led by the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, whose zone covers eastern Ladakh, although the joint press releases themselves do not name the delegation. The talks stayed tied to the Western Sector. In September 2026, press reports citing the Ministry of External Affairs said the first Corps Commander-level meeting in the eastern sector was held at Vacha on the Indian side and Damai on the Chinese side in Arunachal Pradesh, with the commander of 3 Corps, the Spear Corps, representing India. For the exam, it is a mechanism for talks between commanders of the troops on the line.
Exam pins
- A corps is commanded by a Lieutenant General (GOC) and holds 3 to 4 divisions plus corps troops; it sits between a division and a command.
- "Corps" has two meanings: a formation (Chinar Corps) and an arm or service (Corps of Signals, Army Service Corps).
- The 14 field corps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 33.
- Strike corps: 1 Corps (Mathura), 2 Corps "Kharga" (Ambala) and 21 Corps "Sudarshan Chakra" (Bhopal). 17 Corps "Brahmastra" (Panagarh) is the mountain strike corps.
- Northern Command's corps: 14 "Fire and Fury" (Leh), 15 "Chinar" (Srinagar), 16 "White Knight" (Nagrota) and, since 2021, 1 "Strike One".
- Eastern Command's corps: 3 "Spear", 4 "Gajraj", 17 "Brahmastra" and 33 "Trishakti" (Sukna).
- Konark Corps (Jodhpur) holds the desert sector; the Trishakti Corps holds Sikkim and North Bengal.
- 17 Corps was cleared in July 2013; the first Integrated Battle Groups are reported in 17 Corps.
- Corps commander-level talks with China are held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point; the first eastern-sector round was in September 2026.
Asked in past papers
No official paper we checked asks for a corps headquarters outright, so these questions train the neighbouring habits: ranks, the word "corps", and which body belongs to which ministry.
Which of the following are administered under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India? 1. Territorial Army 2. Hydrographic surveys and preparation of navigational charts 3. National Cadet Corps 4. All matters relating to Coast Guard Organization
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (a). All four are in the Ministry of Defence's allocation of business. The National Cadet Corps is a youth body under the Ministry, not an Army corps; this is the second meaning of the word in a different form.
Which one of the following is not a correct ascending order of commissioned ranks in the defence forces of India?
(a) Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier, Major General, Lieutenant General, General (b) Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, Group Captain, Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Chief Marshal (c) Flying Officer, Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Group Captain, Wing Commander, Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Chief Marshal (d) Sub Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Commodore, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral, Admiral
Answer: (c). It puts Group Captain below Wing Commander; the right order is Wing Commander, then Group Captain. The Army option (a) is correct and shows the corps commander's place: Lieutenant General, one step below General.
The equivalent rank of Commodore of Indian Navy in the Indian Army is
(a) Brigadier (b) Lieutenant Colonel (c) Colonel (d) Major General
Answer: (a). A Commodore matches a Brigadier. We hold no official key for this question; the answer follows the standard equivalence table, and Colonel tempts because the Navy "Captain" matches it. See ranks equivalence.
Practice MCQs (with answers)
- Which officer commands an Army corps?
- A Major General
- A Brigadier
- A Lieutenant General
- A General
- Which of the following is an arm of the Army, not a formation of divisions?
- Corps of Signals
- Chinar Corps
- Trishakti Corps
- Konark Corps
- The Kharga Corps (2 Corps) is headquartered at
- Mathura
- Bhopal
- Jalandhar
- Ambala
- Which corps is described as the Army's mountain strike corps?
- 14 Corps
- 17 Corps
- 21 Corps
- 33 Corps
- Which corps and nickname pair is correct?
- 14 Corps : Chinar
- 15 Corps : Fire and Fury
- 15 Corps : Chinar
- 33 Corps : Spear
- Which of the following is NOT described as a strike corps?
- 1 Corps
- 2 Corps
- 21 Corps
- 14 Corps
1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b, 5-c, 6-d. Q1: Major General commands a division, a Brigadier a brigade. Q2 is the corps trap: Chinar, Trishakti and Konark are formations, the Corps of Signals is an arm. Q3: Mathura is 1 Corps, Bhopal 21 Corps and Jalandhar 11 Corps. Q4: 14 Corps holds Ladakh, 21 Corps is a plains strike corps, and 33 Corps holds Sikkim and North Bengal. Q5: 15 Corps is the Chinar Corps at Srinagar; "Fire and Fury" is 14 Corps at Leh and "Spear" is 3 Corps. Q6: 14 Corps guards Ladakh and Siachen; the other three are the strike corps.
Where to Go Next
From here, go up to the commands or down to the divisions, then the brigades and battalions. Infantry battalions come from the regiments, and each rank sits on the ranks and insignia page. Our notes on the Army chief and the command structure show how the top of the chain moves. See the career in the Indian Army for where a commission begins. Boards ask "know your service", so read our SSB interview tips with this page open, and the NDA study material and CDS and OTA study material carry the same ladder. Our CDS coaching batches cover Army structure with weekly tests and SSB training.
Frequently asked questions
How many corps does the Indian Army have?
The Army's public pages that we could find give no total, but press and reference lists give 14 field corps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 33. In February 2024 the press reported a plan to raise an 18 Corps in Central Command, but PIB still names the Uttar Bharat Area in November 2025, so it is not counted. A corps is commanded by a Lieutenant General.
Which are the strike corps of the Indian Army?
The strike corps are 1 Corps at Mathura, 2 Corps (Kharga) at Ambala and 21 Corps (Sudarshan Chakra) at Bhopal. 17 Corps (Brahmastra) at Panagarh is the mountain strike corps, cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in July 2013. The Army publishes no official list of corps roles, so these labels come from PIB biographies and press.
What is the difference between a corps and a command in the Army?
A command is the largest field headquarters, headed by a Lieutenant General called the GOC-in-C, and it holds several corps. A corps is smaller: three to four divisions plus corps troops under a Lieutenant General called the GOC. The word corps is also used for arms and services such as the Corps of Signals, which have no divisions.
Which corps guards Ladakh and Kashmir?
The 14 Corps, nicknamed Fire and Fury, is headquartered at Leh and covers eastern Ladakh and Siachen. The 15 Corps, the Chinar Corps, is at Srinagar and covers the Kashmir Valley and the Line of Control in North Kashmir. The 16 Corps, the White Knight Corps, is at Nagrota near Jammu. All three are under Northern Command.
What are corps commander-level talks between India and China?
They are military meetings between senior commanders of the two armies on disengagement and peace along the LAC. PIB published releases on rounds held at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point, such as the 10th on 20 February 2021 and the 17th on 20 December 2022. In September 2026, press reports said the first round for the eastern sector was held at Vacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh.
More in Army Hierarchy
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Sources: indianarmy.nic.in/command/command/history-northern-command · pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2248961 · pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2189537 · pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2279326
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