XI Corps (India)
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| XI Corps | |
|---|---|
 Vajra Corps formation sign | |
| Active | 1950 - present |
| Country | India |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Role | Holding Corps |
| Size | Corps |
| Part of |  Western Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Jalandhar |
| Nicknames | Vajra Corps Defenders of Punjab[1] |
| Engagements | 2025 India–Pakistan border skirmishes |
| Battle honours | Theatre Honour: Punjab Battle Honours: Dograi Barki Asal Uttar Sehjra Dera Baba Nanak[2] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Gen Amit Kabthiyal YSM, SM** |
| Notable commanders | General Ved Prakash Malik General Om Prakash Malhotra Lt Gen Naveen Chand Rawlley Lt Gen J S Dhillon Lt Gen T B Henderson Brooks |
| Indian Army Corps (1915 - Present) | ||||
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The XI Corps of the Indian Army is based in Jalandhar and is a part of Western Command. XI Corps is also known as Vajra Corps.
XI Corps was raised to take command of the formations in the Punjab in 1950[3] as India reorganised its post-1947 army to meet the new threat of Pakistan.[4] It was raised on March 1, 1950 at Ambala under the command of Lieutenant General Kalwant Singh.[5] The corps headquarters was relocated to Jalandhar in July 1951.[2]
To reduce the load of XI Corps, X Corps was formed at Bathinda on 1 July 1979, taking over south Punjab and north Rajasthan.[6]
Formation sign
The Corps formation sign consists of the 'red-white-red background' depicting a corps of the Indian Army overlaid by a Vajra, the powerful thunderbolt weapon of Lord Indra, the symbol of sacrifice of the great sage Dadhichi, who voluntarily sacrificed his body to make the fiercest weapon from his thighbone.[5]
Organisation
The corps consists of:[7]
- 7 Infantry Division (Golden Arrow Division) headquartered at Firozpur, raised in 1964.[8]
- 9 Infantry Division (Pine Division) headquartered at Meerut.[9] It has one brigade each at Meerut, Delhi and Jalandhar.
- 15 Infantry Division (Panther Division) headquartered at Amritsar.[10] Appears to include 350 Infantry Brigade.[11]
- 23 (Independent) Armoured Brigade (Flaming Arrow Brigade) at Khasa, Amritsar.[12]
- 55 (Independent) Mechanised Brigade (Double Victory Brigade) at Beas[13][14]
- Corps Artillery Brigade headquartered at Jalandhar[15]
- Corps Air Defence Brigade headquartered at Ludhiana.[16][17]
- 333 Missile Group equipped with Prithvi-I missile at Secunderabad[18]
