Central Command, also known as Surya Command, was raised on 01 May 1963 at Lucknow, in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression of 1962, with an aim to guard the Central Sector on the Line of Actual Control. Lt Gen Kanwar Bahadur Singh was the first GOC-in-C of Central Command.

The insignia in the formation sign of Central Command is ‘Surya’, the Sun. The ethos of Surya, the ‘Eye of the Universe’ and the most profound source of energy that sustains all life in Earth, lies in its centrality to everything.

From the borders with Tibet & Nepal to the shores of Bay of Bengal, the Central Army is spread centrally across eight states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha. It shares its boundary with all other Commands of the Indian Army and is Central to Victory.
 
Over time, Surya Command has grown in size and stature. Today, the Command is operationally responsible for the defence of Central Sector along the LAC and International Border with Nepal stretching across the four states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh & Bihar. Surya Command is home to 13 Category ‘A’ Training establishments, 18 Regimental Centres and a large number of logistic establishments. Valour in operations and sensitivity in internal security duties while providing aid to civil authorities are the hallmarks of Surya Command. The distinctive flavour of Surya Command lies in the variety of terrain, military heritage, tourist and pilgrimage destinations that it offers.

Surya Command has played a pivotal role in Nation Building and Human Assistance & Disaster Relief operations, not only within the country but also in friendly foreign countries. Surya Command stands out for its professionalism and indomitable spirit as it stands vigil on the Northern Borders while providing crucial support to the entire Indian Army through the training establishments and logistic nodes.