The darkness is needed for the light to shine and hence the star rises!
-The name Rising Star Corps is a brilliant one and the reasons follow!
-When you walk through the darkness, God shall be your light!.
-You are your shining star. Arise and shine your star.
-We have enough grace for everything.
-Rising Star Corps will always shine because they know how to create both waves and ways!……………………
-The 9 Corps (Rising Star Corps) of the Indian Army, raised in 2005 and headquartered at Yol, Himachal Pradesh, is the youngest strike corps, responsible for maintaining security along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir, specifically within the Western Command area of responsibility. Its primary role is to ensure swift operational response and secure critical border areas.
-Role and Responsibilities of 9 Corps:
-Operational Control: It manages security along the sensitive Jammu border, providing security to vehicles entering the region!
-Border Defense: It operates under the Western Command and works alongside the XVI ‘White Knight’ Corps of the Northern Command.
-Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs): 9 Corps has been instrumental in testing and validating Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), which are designed to replace traditional brigades for faster, self-reliant offensive capabilities in a conflict.
-Structure: It consists of two major infantry divisions—the 26th Infantry Division (Jammu) and the 29th Infantry Division (Pathankot)—along with independent armored brigades.
-The Rising Star Corps (IX Corps) is the youngest holding corps of the Indian Army, raised in 2005 and headquartered at Yol, Himachal Pradesh. Part of the Western Command, it is responsible for operational preparedness and security along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on combat readiness and anti-infiltration.
-Operational Role: Known as a “Holding Corps,” its mandate is to protect territory, manage high-altitude regions, and swiftly handle infiltration attempts, particularly in the Kathua and Rajouri sectors.
-Modernization & Training: The corps frequently exercises with advanced technologies, including swarm drones, unmanned ground systems, and modernized weaponry.
-Command: Led by a Lieutenant General (General Officer Commanding – GOC).
-It was created by splitting the Nagrota-based XVI ‘White Knight’ Corps to strengthen the security apparatus in the region!
-The Rising Star Corps (IX Corps) of the Indian Army did not exist during World War II. It was raised in 2005 at Yol, Himachal Pradesh, as a holding corps. While the Indian Army grew significantly to over 2.5 million men during WW2, fighting in various theatres, the IX Corps is a modern formation.
-Key Facts regarding the Rising Star Corps (IX Corps):
-Raising: Raised in mid-2005 at Yol Cantt in the Kangra Valley.
-Purpose: Created to provide enhanced operational readiness for the Indian Army in the western sector.
-Command: It is a core part of the Indian Army’s Western Command.
-Bani Machedi area:
-The Bani-Machedi area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district is of critical strategic importance to the Indian Army primarily because it serves as a potential infiltration route connecting the International Border (IB) to the higher reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and Udhampur districts. Its significance has increased following recent terrorist ambush attacks targeting security convoys in the mountainous, poorly connected region.
-Counter-Infiltration Route Control: The mountainous, forested belt of Bani-Machedi is used by militants to move from the IB into the hinterland of Jammu. The Indian Army has deployed multiple companies here to detect and deter these infiltration attempts.
-Preventing Expansion of Militancy: This sector is critical in preventing terrorism from spreading from the Kashmir Valley to the Jammu region’s mountainous terrain. Recent attacks in this area show an effort to revive militancy in the hilly areas of Kathua and Doda, necessitating a robust, high-altitude presence.
-Vital Connectivity Link (Chhatargala Tunnel): The region is crucial for the construction of the proposed Chhatargala Tunnel, which aims to connect Lakhanpur with Bhaderwah via Bani, offering a direct, all-weather route. This would significantly cut travel time, enhance army logistics, and provide rapid movement capabilities for troops between the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
-Operational Readiness & Security Review: The area is considered so important that top commanders, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps, frequently review the battle readiness and logistical capabilities of the troops stationed there.
-Regional Security Hub: The Machedi area, specifically due to incidents in 2024–2025, acts as a pivotal hotspot for counter-insurgency operations, requiring constant vigilancia and interaction between Special Operations Group (SOG) units and army personnel to target Over Ground Workers (OGWs).
-The Army has reinforced this area to bridge security gaps resulting from rugged terrain, low population density, and historically poor connectivity.
-18 Mar 2026 — The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps, Lieutenant General Rajan Sharawat, on Wednesday reviewed the operat…
-There are valuable lessons to be learnt in every stage of life. The path of light is true enlightenment!……………From a diary which I have compiled!
The Rising Star Corps (9 Corps) of the Indian Army, tasked with defending parts of Jammu and Kashmir, has a long history of valour and sacrifice. Stories of its brave hearts often feature unwavering dedication in face of extreme weather, challenging terrain, and intense combat operations.
-Here are some stories of courage from the Rising Corps and its affiliated units in J&K:
-Subedar Surinder Singh (Ashoka Chakra, Posthumous): During a counter-terrorist operation in the Rajouri sector, Subedar Surinder Singh demonstrated exceptional raw courage. Despite facing heavy fire, he led his team, personally killing four terrorists in close-quarter combat. He was wounded by a grenade blast but continued to fight until he succumbed to his injuries, ensuring the elimination of the threat.
-Major Tushar Gauba (Kirti Chakra): On the night of 23 May 2018, Major Tushar Gauba, part of the 20th Battalion, JAT Regiment (attached to a Rashtriya Rifles unit in the Rising Star Corps area), was tasked with conducting an ambush in the Kupwara district. After 30 hours, when the infiltrators tried to cross, he crawled 20 meters close to the terrorists under heavy fire, killed three of them, and rescued a wounded comrade.
-Havildar Chuni Lal (Ashoka Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena Medal): Known as one of the most decorated soldiers, Havildar Chuni Lal of 2 JAK LI (operating within the region) showed immense bravery on August 24, 2000, in J&K. He moved bunker-to-bunker under heavy shelling, leading a close-quarter battle, killing two enemies, and inspiring his men to kill twelve more.
-Col. Gurbir Singh Sarna (Shaurya Chakra, Posthumous): Leading his men from the front during a 4-day counter-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir, Colonel Sarna of 22 RR was gravely wounded but continued to fight, killing two militants and injuring a third before making the supreme sacrifice. His leadership is celebrated for its courage.
-The 1971 Longewala Counter-Attack: In the 1971 War, units of the army in the sector (precursor to modern strike formations) held their ground against overwhelming odds. The spirit shown during the 1971 War set the precedent for the high-octane, fearless operations often undertaken by the corps in J&K.
-Humanitarian Courage (Spear/Rising Corps): During the 2024 Manipur incidents (as part of a general counter-insurgency initiative), Subedar Mohan Ram led a team to rescue 38 trapped villagers. Despite being shot, he refused to stop, ensuring all lives were saved.
-Rising Star Corps 15th Raising Day Tributes: The corps regularly honors its bravehearts, such as Subedar Surjeet Singh, who made supreme sacrifices in counter-terrorist operations in Jammu, highlighting the continuous vigil kept by its personnel on the Line of Control.
-These stories reflect the motto of “Service Before Self” and demonstrate the intense commitment of the officers and soldiers of the Indian Army’s Rising Star Corps.
So we come to the last few lines: You are your own star as the light is shining on our path! Earthly Angels do not allow other souls to dim their light; they just keep shining bright as the sun, for this helps other souls to reconnect with their own light and shine brightly too! Be like the sun; bear with those in the dark, but keep shining your light……………..!
But before I close it up I have yet another rabbit/bunny up my sleeve: A deeply moving story that highlights the extreme sacrifice and heartbreaking loss associated with the Rising Star Corps (9 Corps) and its affiliated units in Jammu & Kashmir is the story of Colonel M.N. Rai. The Hero: Colonel MNR was a commanding officer of the 22 Rashtriya Rifles, fighting against terrorists in the challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Sacrifice: Colonel Rai lost his life fighting terrorists on January 27, 2015, just one day after he was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for gallantry on Republic Day. The Heartbreaking Moment: At his cremation, his 11-year-old daughter, Alka Rai, left the entire nation in tears when she managed to bravely salute her father, shouting the Gorkha war cry (“Tiger 9 GR, ho ki hoina”), even while visibly distraught!
