Mentors Comment:

The answer will discuss the role of army during peace time and its various dimensions. Army takes part in infrastructure development, disaster management, representing the country in various sports and international events, exercises with various other nations’ armed forces and Peacekeeping in various parts of the world, internal security during unrest, Research and Development etc. 

Then discuss the +ve implications of these practices. 

End the answer with proper conclusion.

Answer:

The army’s primary duty is not just to fight wars, but also to act as a deterrent. No country will dream of attacking someone with a strong army and retaliation power.

Similarly, they also perform various roles during peacetime, such as:
• Border Infrastructure Development is one of the major works of security forces in peace time. In forward areas, the army’s job (in collaboration with other paramilitary forces) is to ensure things like bunkers and roads and airstrips are built and built properly. Similarly, building Civic Amenities in adjoining border and rural areas is new emerging field where security forces are engaging in peace time.
• Anti-insurgency: The army has a perpetual presence at borders to stop militants and other anti national elements from sneaking into the country.
• Participation in Peace-Keeping operations of the UN: India has assisted the United Nations in peace­keeping operations in various countries. It regularly sends a lot of soldiers to the UN. Recent missions include South Sudan.
• Research and development: The army uses peace time to ensure it can use its resources in hand to maximum effect, by just experimenting. In the sense, whether a platoon should carry 1 machine gun or 4; whether Infantry and Armor should be used together, etc.
• Intelligence Gathering: Army collects trans­border intelligence and share & coordinates with intelligence agencies to maintain internal security.
• Disaster Management and relief work: The Army is regularly involved in relief work in times of disasters like floods, earthquakes, tsunamis etc. This was seen recently in Uttarakhand, Kerala and Jammu Kashmir and where the Army saved a large number of civilians and was instrumental in bringing the area to normalcy.
• Sports and Games: many sports and games are organized between the various regiments of army. A lot of them make it to national teams and have held the head of this country high in many events like Olympics, commonwealth Games etc.
• They indulge in Mock drills related to terrorism, conflict, war or disasters and Joint exercises with international security forces.

While most of such activities apart from necessary training keeps Indian army battle ready, some of these particularly develop certain special abilities:
• Working closely with infrastructure development helps them to understand the weakness and strengths of the terrain and feasibility of operations.
• The mock drills help security forces to resolve difficult issues at time of conflict and terrorist attacks.
• They get local people support at time of war in activities like food, care of wounded soldiers etc.
• Disaster management and relief regularly test their logistical abilities, which are key to battle preparedness.
• Research and development activities along with training improve their operational efficiency and develop teamwork.