Tri-service commands first
Two joint commands should be memorised as a pair. Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is a geographic theatre command. Strategic Forces Command (SFC) is functional - strategic assets, not a state map. Theatre-command reform talk (northern / western / maritime ideas in open sources) is still evolving; unless a question is clearly about a notified change, stick to ANC and SFC as the live pair.
Indian Army
Seven commands: six operational, one training. Each operational command is headed by a Lieutenant General (GOC-in-C). HQ names are classic matching-list bait.
| Command | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Northern Command | Udhampur |
| Western Command | Chandimandir |
| South-Western Command | Jaipur |
| Eastern Command | Kolkata (Fort William) |
| Southern Command | Pune |
| Central Command | Lucknow |
| Army Training Command (ARTRAC) | Shimla |
Below command level the familiar ladder is corps → division → brigade → battalion. You do not need every corps number for Prelims; you should know a corps is the key operational formation under a command.
Indian Navy
| Command | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Western Naval Command | Mumbai |
| Eastern Naval Command | Visakhapatnam |
| Southern Naval Command | Kochi |
Trap: Southern Naval Command is at Kochi, not Chennai. Chennai is a Coast Guard regional HQ.
Indian Air Force
Seven commands: five operational, plus Training (Bengaluru) and Maintenance (Nagpur). Central Air Command HQ is at Prayagraj - older keys still say Allahabad.
| Command | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| Western Air Command | New Delhi |
| South-Western Air Command | Gandhinagar |
| Central Air Command | Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
| Eastern Air Command | Shillong |
| Southern Air Command | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Training Command | Bengaluru |
| Maintenance Command | Nagpur |