Indian Army To Set Up New Corps To Enhanced Operational Capabilities Along LAC: Here's All You Need To Know

The Army is converting its Headquarters Uttar Bharat (HQ UB) area into a full-fledged operational corps — a move that will shift its focus towards operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from its current responsibility of peacetime duties, The Indian Express has learnt.

The Indian Army is reportedly converting its Headquarters Uttar Bharat (HQ UB) area into a fully operational corps, aiming to enhance its operational capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Based in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, the HQ UB oversees peacetime activities and training facilities in Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh, as well as the LAC sections adjacent to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, known as the central theatre.

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A corps is a military structure that includes elements of all arms and services, equipped with sufficient reserves for operations within its area of responsibility.

Typically, a corps is organised to manage three divisions, though this can vary based on operational needs, with each division consisting of 15,000 to 18,000 soldiers.

Previously, the UB area had a single brigade and several scout battalions for patrolling key border regions.

However, in response to recurring confrontations with Chinese forces at certain points along the LAC and a strategic emphasis on dominating the border, the formation was gradually upgraded and its combat capability increased by putting three independent brigades and an infantry division based in Uttarakhand under it.

The formation is currently referred to as Combatised UB Area.

While a combatised area HQ has fighting elements, a traditional corps has additional artillery brigades, engineering brigades and other logistics components.

The newly reconstituted corps will have all the troops and equipment from other arms and services such as artillery, engineers and aviation, among others, under its direct command to successfully conduct operations in the central theatre,

As per officials, the increased troop density in the area and additional emerging operational requirements have necessitated a change of focus towards operational tasks.

The increased troop density in the area and additional emerging operational requirements have necessitated a change of focus towards operational tasks, Indian Express reported citing officials.

This transition from a static formation to an operational corps has reportedly been under consideration for nearly a year.

Changing the static formation to an operational corps would change the focus of the organisation, which will now be on carrying out various operational tasks even as sub areas and training establishments continue to focus on their traditional peacetime roles.

So far, these units did not come under UB Area in its role as a peacetime formation.

“The mental mindset and operational thought process will also undergo a change, essential to keep the prime focus on the LAC,” an official was quoted in the IE report.

According to the officials, raising a new headquarter would also have required greater manpower and other assets and hence the decision was made to convert the existing area headquarter into a corps headquarter.

The change is being done with the existing authorised manpower of the Army.

The establishment of this corps is expected to strengthen border infrastructure development, combat logistics, and serve as a centralised agency for addressing security challenges in the region.

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