Army to set up new corps for ops along LAC
- The Army is converting its Headquarters Uttar Bharat (HQ UB) area into a full-fledged operational corps.
Key Highlights
- It is a move that will shift its focus towards operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from its current responsibility of peacetime duties,
- Based in Bareilly, the HQ UB area is currently a static formation looking after peacetime locations and training establishments of Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh
- In addition to the LAC running along Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — also referred to as the central theatre.
- A corps comprises elements of all arms and services with adequate reserves to carry out operations in its area of responsibility.
- It is structured to hold three divisions, but can hold more or less as per existing operational requirements. Each division comprises 15,000 to 18,000 troops.
- Earlier, the UB area had only one brigade and a few scouts battalions under it to patrol key border areas.
- But considering frequent face-offs with Chinese troops at certain disputed points along the LAC and an enhanced focus 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.
- As per officials, the increased troop density in the area and additional emerging operational requirements have necessitated a change of focus towards operational tasks.
Line of Actual Control (LAC)
- The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
- It is divided into three sectors:
- The eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
- The middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
- The western sector in Ladakh.
- India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
- India’s claim line is the line seen in the official boundary marked on the maps as released by the Survey of India, including both Aksai Chin and Gilgit-Baltistan.
- This means LAC is not the claim line for India.
- In China’s case, LAC is the claim line except in the eastern sector, where it claims the entire Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet.
Prelims Takeaway
- Line of Actual Control
- Map Based question