Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Defence Forces from Class 7 Social_Science.
As you know, there have been several invasions on India before Independence. But after Independence, things have changed. Do you know the reasons for this change? In this lesson, we will deal with our defence forces, their functions, divisions, training centres, modern weapons, Headquarters, and more. We will also learn about the Paramilitary Defence Force Auxiliary, the Paramilitary Defence Forces, the Auxiliary Defence Forces, and the Civil Defence Force. Our learning objectives are to recognise the importance of our Defence Forces, list the functions of the Army, Navy and Air Force, appreciate their capability, recognise the importance of Paramilitary Defence Forces and appreciate their service, and identify the voluntary spirit of Auxiliary Defence Forces while developing respect towards them.
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Looking at the picture in your textbook, you can see our brave soldiers standing proudly in their uniforms, representing the strength and readiness of our nation's defenders. The first and the foremost duty of a country is to defend itself from military attacks by foreign countries. This duty is given to the Defence Forces. Hence the Defence Forces play an important role. It is a matter of pride that India has a Defence Force which is disciplined, capable and valiant. After Independence, whenever national integrity was threatened, India faced the challenge efficiently, for example, the Chinese and Pakistani aggressions. In the Kargil war, the Defence Forces proved their willingness to sacrifice everything in the defence of our Motherland. Let us note some important figures. India has a border area of 15,200 km and a coastal border of 7,516.60 km. 25 to 30 percent of our budget is being reserved to meet the defence expenditure.
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The duties of the Defence Forces include defending the borders of the country, preserving the integrity of the country, and preventing smuggling and illegal activities across the borders. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of our Defence Forces. Defence Forces consist of three services: Army, Navy and Air Force. They participate in the Independence Day and Republic Day Parades and display their capabilities. Now let us look at the Defence Training Centres. These are the National Defence College in New Delhi, the National Defence Personnel Training Centre in Udakamandala, the Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun, and the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, Pune.
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Let us move on to the Indian Army. The Indian Army is the second largest army in the world. It consists of infantry, cavalry, artillery, camel corps and war tankers. The Army has a strength of 12,37,117 soldiers. In addition, there are 9,60,000 Armed Reserved personnel. The Chief of the Army is ranked as the General. The Army headquarters are at New Delhi. The General is in charge of control, training, functioning and administration of the Armed Forces. Besides defending the borders, the Army undertakes humanitarian work during natural calamities like earthquake, flood, famine, landslide and storm. Apart from being technically sound it is also engaged in espionage. In your textbook, you will see the logo of the Indian Army.
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Next, we will learn about the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy guards our coast and islands. It is the sixth largest Naval force in the world. The rank of the Naval Chief is the Admiral. The Naval headquarters are at New Delhi. The Indian Navy is equipped with ships carrying modern missiles and submarines. Indian Naval Ship Vibhuti and Indian Naval Ship Godavari are two such important ships. The Navy is also equipped with aircraft carriers called Indian Naval Ship Virat and Indian Naval Ship Vikramaditya. A naval base known as Seabird is established at Karwar in Karnataka. In your textbook, you will see the logo of the Indian Navy.
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Now, let us explore the Indian Air Force. India's Air Force is the fourth largest in the world. The rank of the Air Chief is Marshal. The headquarters of the Air Force are at New Delhi. In order to administer the Air Force effectively, it has been divided into seven Commands. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Dindigul in Tamil Nadu have the main Air Force training centres. With advanced technical know-how and new advanced war planes, the Indian Air Force is war-ready and well-equipped. The Indian Air Force has in its arsenal, modern fighter planes like Jaguar and Rafael. It has 1,00,000 personnel and 1330 war planes. It is a matter of pride that our Air Force is quite powerful. In your textbook, you will see the logo of the Indian Air Force, along with an image of a MIG Fighter Plane.
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Let us now discuss the Paramilitary Defence Forces. Apart from the defence forces, the Paramilitary defence force functions to support the defence forces during critical situations. First is the Border Security Force. The main work of the Border Security Force is to guard our border areas. In the Kargil war, the Border Security Force joined hands with the Indian Army and fought the war. Duty until Death is the motto of the Border Security Force. Second is the Border Roads Organisation. The Border Roads Organisation, by clearing the roads that are blocked, helps in the military movements. The organisation undertakes building of roads, bridges and underground drainages.
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Third is the Coast Guards. This is a paramilitary organisation. It has its headquarters in New Delhi. Its responsibility is to guard our coasts. It undertakes rescue works during natural calamities such as storms, hurricanes and tsunami. Its main task is to prevent smuggling and illegal entry into the country. The Coast Guard is equipped with 1402 modern ships and 381 aircrafts and around 60 helicopters. Around 12,585 guards are guarding the coasts. Fourth is the Central Industrial Security Force. This is the largest industrial security force in the world. Its strength is 1,45,000 personnel. It provides security to more than 300 government and private industrial units and laboratories. Besides, it also provides security to airports, ports, railway stations, protected historical structures and atomic centres.
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Now we will learn about Auxiliary Military Forces. The Indian military has extended its activities to schools and colleges throughout India. One of the prominent activities is the National Cadet Corps. The National Cadet Corps teaches importance of community living, leadership and other qualities. The students who have undergone National Cadet Corps training are given preference in the military recruitment. They are also eligible to secure reserved seats in higher education. Boys and girls studying in schools and colleges are eligible to join the National Cadet Corps. The main aim of the National Cadet Corps is to create a sense of responsibility towards the defence of our country. Discipline and Unity is its motto. You can see a picture of National Cadet Corps Cadets in your textbook.
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Next is the Indian Red Cross Society. The Indian Red Cross Society functions through its branches in 1100 districts, all over the country. The President of India is its President. Its motto is Serve Humanity. In your textbook, you will see the logo of the Indian Red Cross Society. Let us move to the Civil Defence Force. First, the Central Police Force. Police forces are present both at the state and central levels. The scope of the state police force is limited to the state. The central government has established its own police force. Second, the National Defence Force. National Defence Force provides security to Very Important Persons. Its chief concern is internal security and suppression of terrorist activities. The Anti-Bomb Squad supports the work of National Defence Force. Third, the Home Guards. The Home Guards' function is to support the Police Force in providing internal security. It also extends support during emergency situations and natural calamities.
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Let us know some important facts. Ranks in the Indian Army are: General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, and Lieutenant. There are also Ranks in the Navy and the Air Force. The three chiefs of defence forces are the chiefs of defence staff. Now, dear students, let us go through the exercises together. I will read each question and provide the complete answer based on our textbook. Part One: Fill in the blanks with a suitable word. Question one: The supreme authority of the defence forces lies with the President of India. Question two: The chief of army staff is called the General. Question three: The administration headquarters of the Armed forces is in New Delhi. Question four: Motto of National Cadet Corps is Discipline and Unity.
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Part Two: Discuss in groups and answer the following questions. Question five: Mention the services of the Defence Forces. Answer: The services of the Defence Forces are the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. Question six: What are the main functions of the Indian Army? Answer: The main functions of the Indian Army are defending the borders, undertaking humanitarian work during natural calamities like earthquakes, floods, famines, landslides and storms, and engaging in espionage while remaining technically sound. Question seven: What are the functions of the Border Security Force? Answer: The main work of the Border Security Force is to guard our border areas. It also joins hands with the Indian Army during wars, as seen in the Kargil war. Question eight: What is the motto of Red Cross Society? Answer: The motto of the Indian Red Cross Society is Serve Humanity. Question nine: Do you wish to join the Indian Defence Forces? Give reasons. Answer: Yes, I wish to join the Indian Defence Forces because it is a matter of pride to serve our Motherland, protect our borders, and help citizens during natural calamities. The Defence Forces are disciplined, capable and valiant, and joining them allows me to contribute to national integrity and security.
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Part Three: Discuss. Question ten: Write any six duties of the defence forces. Answer: The duties of the defence forces are: one, defending the borders of the country. Two, preserving the integrity of the country. Three, preventing smuggling and illegal activities across the borders. Four, undertaking humanitarian work during natural calamities. Five, providing security to the nation from foreign military attacks. Six, participating in national parades to display capabilities and boost national morale. Question eleven: Why should we serve in the Defence Forces? Answer: We should serve in the Defence Forces because it is the foremost duty to defend our country from foreign attacks. Serving in the forces helps preserve national integrity, protects our citizens, and allows us to contribute to the safety and pride of our Motherland. It also develops discipline, leadership, and a strong sense of responsibility.
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Part Four: Activities. Activity one: Meet the soldier of your village and invite him to the school. You should respectfully approach a retired or serving soldier in your locality, explain your school project, and invite them to share their experiences with your classmates. Activity two: Collect the emblems of various services of the Defence Forces. You can cut out or draw the logos of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, and other forces from newspapers or print them from reliable sources to create a scrapbook. Activity three: Visit the National Cadet Corps units in a nearby school or college. You should coordinate with your teacher to visit a local school or college that has an active National Cadet Corps unit, observe their training, and learn about their drills and community service activities.
I hope this lesson has helped you understand the vital role our Defence Forces play in keeping our nation safe and secure. Remember to revise the ranks, mottos, and key figures regularly. Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]