Know Your Army | A Basic Fact-File Into The Corps Of Engineers

The Corps of Engineers is a Combat Arm of the Indian Army which helps in providing mobility to the ground troops during operations or war time by timely construction of bridges, helipads and tracks across terrains like mountains, deserts and river beds.

JAMMU, INDIA - 2014/09/09: A soldier of Indian Army's engineer core pumps air into inflatable tubes as they build a pontoon bridge across river Tawi in Mandal area of Jammu. (Photo by Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Battlefields around the world have varied landscapes and different terrains in which armies engage in conflict with each other during a war or a military confrontation. Natural obstacles like nallahs, culverts, rivulets and hillocks act as a natural deterrent for the infantry troops or mechanized armoured columns to launch assaults while attacking or maintain defensive positions while holding enemy attacks.. It is here that the technical acumen and mechanical skills of combat engineering aspect of the Corps of Engineers of a nation's Army comes to the fore. The Corps of Engineers is a Combat Arm of the Indian Army which helps in providing mobility to the ground troops during operations or war time by timely construction of bridges, helipads and tracks across terrains like mountains, deserts and river beds. The Combat Engineers also plays a pivotal part in defensive operations during war time by repulsing, blocking enemy assault /charges by laying mine-fields and demolition of bridges. The Corps of Engineers has a very old and glorious history dating back to over two centuries in the form of one of the oldest arms of the Indian Army. The very genesis of the Corps of Engineers dates back to 1780 when the two regular pioneer companies of the Madras Sappers were raised.

The Group of Madras, Bengal and Bombay Sappers were formed in their respective presidencies. Subsequently, the Group of Madras, Bengal and Bombay Sappers were formed after 1857 and later merged on 18 November 1932 to form the Corps of Engineers in its present form. The Corps of Engineers consists of four major constituents namely Combat Engineers (Bombay, Bengal and Madras Sappers), Military Engineering Service (MES) , Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Military Survey. The Corps of Engineers has been at the fore-front of combat operations in all of India's post India wars, depicting highest acts of gallantry, conspicuous bravery and valour. General PS Bhagat from the Engineers holds the distinction of being the first officer to have won the Victoria Cross in Second World War. The Engineers added another golden chapter to their military annals when Major Rama Raghoba Rane from the Bombay Sappers was awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak Conflict for making a safe passage through enemy mine fields while crawling in front of a tank. Engineer units have made a stellar contribution to Indian Army's United Nations Mission with some notable engineering feats like constructing bridges, opening lines of communication during executing numerous humanitarian tasks. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have done yeoman service in strengthening the defence of the motherland by leading from the front by constructing numerous roads in inaccessible areas of the Himalayas, Rajasthan and North Eastern States along the borders of India. In peace time the 'Sappers' have always come to the rescue of their countrymen by rendering aid to the civil authorities during natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes. Engineer units have also been engaged in the counter insurgency operations in J&K and the North East. The Corps of Engineers has produced many world class athlethes and sportsmen who have brought back laurels to the nation by winning medals at major international events like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other notable competitions . Notable among them have been Subedar Anil Kumar (Athletics), Subedar Katulu Ravi Kumar, Sukhen Dey (Weighlighfting), Subedar TA Sujith (Swimming),, Gopal Dewang, Nb Sub V Johnson (Boxing), Sapper Gurmeet Singh (Shooter) and Bhokanal Dattu (Rowing) A basic fact-file into the Corps of Engineers Type - Combat Engineers Major Constituents of Corps: Combat Engineers, Military Engineering Service (MES) , Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Military Survey Raising - 1780 Corps Motto -  Sarvatra (Everywhere) Colours: Maroon and blue Training Centre: College of Military Engineering, Pune (CME) Regimental Centres of Various Combat Engineer Groups  Bombay Engineer Group (Bombay Sappers) - Khadki, Pune Bengal Engineer Group (Bengal Sappers) - Roorkie Madras Engineer Group (Madras Sappers) - Bengaluru