75 GLORIOUS YEARS OF INTELLIGENCE CORPS
Intelligence Corps will celebrate the Platinum Jubilee at on 25 & 26 May 2017 at the premier Military Intelligence Training School & Depot (MINTSD) in Pune. The Intelligence Corps which came into being on 01 Nov 1942 after the establishment of the Intelligence Corps Depot in Karachi, will turn 75 on 01 Nov 2017. As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, a two day reunion is being organised at MINTSD, Pune on 25 and 26 May 2017. The reunion is being attended by a large number of senior serving officers and veteran soldiers of the Corps. The Intelligence Corps will also honour veterans, disabled soldiers and ‘veer naris’ during the reunion function. Coinciding with the reunion, a two day Intelligence Conference is also being held at the MINTSD (Pune) on 25 & 26 May 2017. During the conference, senior serving officers of the Intelligence Corps will take stock of the latest situation of the Corps and brainstorm on the way forward.
The growing relevance of the Intelligence Corps in the past 75 years can be gauged from its journey which started modestly in Karachi in 1942 under then British Commandant, Maj J Campbell. At that time, the Corps was completely manned by British personnel except for batmen and orderlies and few Indian personnel on public relations duties. After independence, there was a complete vacuum in intelligence functioning due to departure of the British officers and the division of the assets between India and Pakistan. Today, the Intelligence Corps can boast of being a premier supporting arm of the Indian Army, comprising of highly qualified, well trained and motivated soldiers providing continuous security and intelligence support to all the formations. The competence and morale of the Intelligence Corps is visible in the activities at the Military Intelligence Training School & Depot (MINTSD), Pune, which is the Centre of Excellence in intelligence with latest hi tech gadgets and a well organised campus under an efficient team of officers, JCOs, NCOs and men, led by the Commandant, Lt Gen LN Singh, VSM**. Today, the Indian Army can boast of highly specialised intelligence units carrying out numerous intelligence tasks ranging from counter intelligence, field security, intelligence acquisition operations including in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations, satellite imagery intelligence and numerous specialised tasks.
In past 75 years, thirty five alumni of the MINTSD have laid down their life in the line of duty. Intelligence Corps personnel have received 1321 awards which include three Military Cross, one Mahavir Chakra, two Kirti Chakra, eight Shaurya Chakra, two Param Vishisht Seva Medal, two Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, three Yudh Seva Medal, 58 Vishisht Seva Medal and 67 Sena Medals.
A yearlong celebration in the form of reaching out to veterans, disabled soldiers and ‘veer naris’ of the intelligence fraternity are being organised. In continuation with Indian Army’s commitment for a better society and cleaner environment, MINTSD is pioneering various activities, where social and environmental concern of the people can be integrated with professional excellence and overall projection of Indian Army’s image.
The celebrations will commence with release of First Day Special Cover and a book on Regimental History of The Intelligence Corps by Lt Gen LN Singh, VSM**, the chief guest. Numerous other activities are planned such as a Veterans Sammelan, attestation parade of recruits, veteran’s lunch, sports events, family welfare meet and a gala Platinum Jubilee dinner at the MINTSD.
