Supreme command of India's armed forces--the second largest in the world--rests with the president, but actual responsibility for national defense lies with the cabinet committee for political affairs under the chairmanship of the prime minister. The minister of defense is responsible to parliament for all defense matters. India's military command structure has no joint defense staff or unified command apparatus. The Ministry of Defense provides administrative and operational control over the three services through their respective chiefs of staff. The armed forces have always been loyal to constitutional authority and maintain a tradition of noninvolvement in political affairs.

The army numbers about 1.1 million personnel and fields 34 divisions. Designed primarily to defend the country's frontiers, the army has become heavily committed to internal security duties in Kashmir and the Northeast.

The navy is much smaller, but it is relatively well armed among Indian Ocean navies, operating one aircraft carrier, 26 other principal surface combatants, and 16 submarines. The fleet is aging, and replacement of ships and aircraft has not been adequately funded. India's Coast Guard is small and is organized along the lines of the U.S. Coast Guard. With India's long coastline and extensive Exclusive Economic Zone, the navy and Coast Guard work hard to patrol the waters dictated by India's economic and strategic interests.

The air force, the world's fourth largest, has more than 700 combat aircraft and over 500 transports and helicopters. The air force takes pride in its ability to fly low and fast, as well as to operate in the extremes of temperature and altitude ranging from the Thar Desert to the Siachen Glacier. The air force has enhanced the capability of its fighter force with the addition of the multi-role Sukhoi 30, and it hopes to replace much of its MiG-21 fleet with the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft currently under development.