Armed Forces Veterans’ Day is annually celebrated across India on 14 January to honour and recognise the service of Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, the 1st Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Armed Forces, who retired from the military on 14 January 1953 and led Indian forces to victory in the 1947 war.
- 14 January 2024 marks the 8th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day observance.
Background:
i.The Armed Forces Veterans’ Day was first celebrated in 2017.
ii.Since then the day has been commemorated by all the 3 services by hosting interactive events in honour of the Ex-Servicemen, who have selflessly served the nation.
About KM Cariappa:
i.He joined the British Indian Army shortly after the end of World War I and was commissioned as a temporary first lieutenant into the 2/88 Carnatic Infantry.
ii.Field Marshal KM Cariappa led Indian forces on the Western Front during the 1947 Indo-Pakistani War.
iii.He was appointed C-in-C of the Indian Army in 1949 and was one of only 2 Indian Army officers to hold the 5-star rank of Field Marshal.
- The other officer was Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
2024 Events:
i.In 2024, the event was celebrated by the 3 Services at 10 locations across India, namely:
- Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir/J&K), Pathankot (Punjab), Delhi, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Alwar and Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Guwahati (Assam), Mumbai (Maharashtra), Secunderabad (Telangana) and Kochi (Kerala).
ii.Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence led the 8th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day on 14 January 2024, with an Ex-Servicemen rally at Air Force Station, Kanpur.
Highlights:
i.The ‘We for Veterans’ Anthem, an ode to the Veterans, was also played at various public places.
ii.During the celebrations, ‘SAGAR SAMVAD’, a maiden magazine was also released.
- It is a yearly journal published by the Directorate of Ex-Servicemen Affairs of the Indian Navy covering information, policies and various topics of interest for the Veterans.
iii.The Indian Air Force and Indian Army also released the ‘VAYU SAMVEDNA’ and ‘SAMMAN’ magazines respectively.
About Ministry of Defence:
Union Minister– Rajnath Singh (Constituency: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency: Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
