ABSTRACT
Independent India experienced certain changes in its military establishment. Though the Indian National Army (INA) soldiers were not inducted in the independent India’s army (especially on the advice of Lord Mountbatten to India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru), the INA salute of Jai Hind (victory goes to India) was accepted by independent India’s first commander-in-chief, General K. M. Cariappa (later, Field Marshal) (Kadian 1990: 41). Again, independent India abolished the post of commander-in-chief (who came from the army and also dominated the other two sister services) and introduced the posts of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff. These three posts are of equal status and report to the civilian Defence Minister/Raksha Mantri4(Chaudhuri 1966: 30).5
