New Delhi, 27 October 2026: The Indian Army on Tuesday observed the 80th Infantry Day, also known as Shaurya Diwas, by recognising the bravery, sacrifice and lasting legacy of infantry soldiers. Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, along with all ranks of the Indian Army, conveyed greetings and good wishes to serving personnel, veterans and families of the Infantry on the occasion.
Infantry Day is linked to a major turning point in independent India’s military history. On 27 October 1947, soldiers of the 1st Battalion of The Sikh Regiment were flown by the Indian Air Force in Dakota aircraft to the Srinagar (Budgam) airfield. This came after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947. The rapid landing helped secure the airfield and counter Pakistan-backed tribal raiders moving forward under Operation Gulmarg, preventing Srinagar from being overrun. The operation is remembered as independent India’s first military action and its first civil-military victory, and it helped protect Jammu and Kashmir’s territorial integrity.
The day is devoted to the Infantry, described as the largest and premier fighting arm of the Indian Army and often referred to as the “Queen of the Battle.” It also honours the generations of soldiers who have served under the values of Naam, Namak and Nishan. Figures central to the 1947 operations include Major Somnath Sharma, the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, awarded posthumously, Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai and Brigadier Rajinder Singh.
Marking the 80th anniversary, Army units across the country organised tributes and commemorative activities. Among them was a 1,064-kilometre cycling expedition by soldiers of the 7th Battalion of The Dogra Regiment, under the Tiger Division, from 10 to 27 October 2026. The team travelled from Damana Military Station in Jammu through demanding terrain in Jammu, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to Kullu, before returning towards the headquarters of the 26 Infantry Division, as a tribute to infantry soldiers’ sacrifice.
Army Training Command and Spear Corps were among the formations that issued greetings, highlighting the Infantry’s historic role and continuing professionalism. The Indian Air Force also extended best wishes to Army personnel and their families on the occasion of the 80th Shaurya Diwas.
Observed every year on 27 October, Infantry Day reaffirms the nation’s gratitude to the soldiers who stand at the forefront of India’s defence. It reflects the Infantry’s continuing role in supporting sovereignty, unity and operational readiness in a changing security environment.
The official Indian Army message for the occasion carried the theme “Infantry – The Ultimate,” underscoring the arm’s central place in the force’s war-fighting capability.
