CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC IAS

The Army is converting its Headquarters Uttar Bharat (HQ UB) area into a full-fledged operational corps — a move that will shift its focus towards operations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) from its current responsibility of peacetime duties.

What is a corps?

• A corps is a military structure that includes elements of all arms and services, equipped with sufficient reserves for operations within its area of responsibility.
• Typically, a corps is organised to manage three divisions, though this can vary based on operational needs, with each division consisting of 15,000 to 18,000 soldiers.

About HQ UB

• Based in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly, the HQ UB oversees peacetime activities and training facilities in Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh, as well as the LAC sections adjacent to Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, known as the central theatre.
• Previously, the UB area had a single brigade and several scout battalions for patrolling key border regions.
• However, in response to recurring confrontations with Chinese forces at certain points along the LAC and a strategic emphasis 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.
• The formation is currently referred to as Combatised UB Area.
  • While a combatised area HQ has fighting elements, a traditional corps has additional artillery brigades, engineering brigades and other logistics components.

Impact of the move

• It will enhance its operational capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The newly reconstituted corps will have all the troops and equipment from other arms and services such as artillery, engineers and aviation, among others, under its direct command to successfully conduct operations in the central theatre.
• The establishment of this corps is expected to strengthen border infrastructure development, combat logistics, and serve as a centralised agency for addressing security challenges in the region.

New naval base in Lakshadweep

• With strategic priorities changing, India will soon have two new military formations as the Indian Navy is slated to open a new base, INS Jatayu, in Lakshadweep
• The new naval base will allow the Indian Navy to deploy some of its assets in the Arabian Sea islands, keeping a close watch on the traffic passing through the nine-degree channel, a crucial maritime route through which billions of dollars' worth of commercial trade transits.