The commander in chief in India (English. Commander-in-chief in India ) was from 1748 to 1955 the military leader of the land forces of India.
From 1748 to 1858 the Commander-in-Chief of India commanded the troops of the British East India Society . After the transfer of the supremacy of the British East India Company over British India to the British Crown by the Government of India Act 1858 , he commanded the British Indian Army . After India's independence in 1947, British generals continued to command the armed forces of the Republic of India as Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army (from 1948 Chief of the Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army ) . Indian generals have commanded the armed forces since 1949. Since 1955, they have held the position of Chief of the Army Staff instead of the title Commander-in-Chief .
Until the end of the 19th century, this post was held by the Commander in Chief of the Bengal Army . He only had a supervisory function and no authority over the other Indian armies. In 1895 this post was separated from that of the Commander-in-Chief of the Bengal Army and given command of all Indian armies.