Devlali, Maharashtra
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), visited the School of Artillery on June 2. The high-level visit underscored the Indian Army’s continued emphasis on professional military education, technological integration, and combat readiness within the Regiment of Artillery.
LT Gen NS Sarna, Commandant of the School of Artillery and Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery, received the Army Commander on arrival and provided a comprehensive briefing on the institution’s ongoing training activities, infrastructure, and doctrinal initiatives. Lt Gen Sharma expressed appreciation for the School’s state-of-the-art training facilities and the rigorous standards maintained to prepare artillery personnel for seamless battlefield surveillance and decisive firepower delivery in multi-domain operations.
During the visit, Lt Gen Sharma was updated on key issues related to training methodologies and the absorption of emerging technologies. He commended Lt Gen Sarna and all ranks of the School for their exemplary contributions in maintaining the highest levels of professional competence.
A Legacy of Excellence
Established in its present form at Devlali in 1941, after relocation from Kakul, (now in Pakistan), the School of Artillery traces its origins to the British Indian Army era, with roots going back to 1923. It serves as the premier training institution for the Regiment of Artillery, imparting specialised gunnery, tactical employment of firepower, and operational skills to officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and other ranks.
The institution has evolved significantly over the decades. Post-independence, it integrated the Anti-Aircraft School shifted from Karachi in 1947. Today, it functions as a Centre of Excellence focused on multi-domain Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) alongside precision firepower. It plays a pivotal role in evaluating and integrating new equipment, developing doctrines for joint operations, and conducting structured courses on niche technologies and next-generation systems for both Indian and friendly foreign forces.
Major activities include the Young Officers’ Course, Long Gunnery Staff Course, and advanced training on surveillance systems, drones, and 155mm medium guns. The School also hosts the annual Exercise ‘Topchi’, a high-profile field firing demonstration at the Deolali ranges that showcases the Regiment’s lethality, accuracy, and integration with modern sensors.
As the Army modernises to address contemporary threats, institutions like the School of Artillery remain central to building the cognitive and operational edge required for victory in future conflicts. The visit of the ARTRAC commander reaffirms the institution’s commitment to sustaining world-class training standards across the force.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
