At independence, the Indian Army's strength was 2,80,000. It had participated in the Second World War and had considerable battle experience. The soldiers were well-trained and motivated. When the Kashmir war of 1947-48 was over, the army was left to its own devices. At the political level, it was considered a colonial relic to be tolerated; there were even debates on the necessity of having one at all. Nevertheless, by 1953 the army's strength rose to 3,50,000.
