Drill Commands - Common Drill Commands - India

India

During the British Raj the Indian Armed Forces essentially used the British (English language) drill commands. Soon after independence, the drill commands were Indianised. The official language of the armed forces is Hindi and thus Hindi words were used where ever possible. Some of the state police units however still continue to use British drill commands.

• Line Ban - Fall In
• Line Thod - Fall out
• Savdhan - Attention
• Hilo Matt - Stand Still or Don't Move
• Vishram - Stand at-ease
• Aaram Se - Stand easy (but no talking or shifting from the current place)
• Sajj-Dahine Sajj - Dress-Right Dress
• Sajj-Bah(y)en Sajj - Dress-Left Dress
• Khuli Line chal-Open order march
• Nikat Line chal-Close order march
• Salami Shastr - Present Arms. The English words "General Salute" is used, but "National Salute" has been replaced with Rashtriya Salute
• Baaju Shastr - Order Arms
• Bagal Shastr - Shoulder Arms. On this command rifles are thrown up using the right hand. It is caught by using both the left hand, and the right. The rifle would be in an elevated position, so that the soldier can put a finger into the trigger guard, and hold the rifle firmly. The left hand is then snapped to the left side.
• Bayen Shastr-Port Arms
• Oonch Bayen Shastr-High Port Arms. Rifles are held above the head.
• Shok Shastr - Mourn Arms
• Ulte Shastr - Reverse Arms. The rifles are held tightly under the left arms with the barrel facing backwards. The soldier's right hand would be used to hold the barrel steady at the back. Used when escorting funeral caskets/gun carriages etc.
• Dahine/Bhah(y)e Mud - Right/Left Turn
• Tham - Halt
• Tez Chal - Quick march. For breaking into quick time from slow time, the command would be Tez Chal Mein... Tez Chal..
• Dheere Chal - Slow march. For breaking into slow time from quick time, the command would be Dheere Chal Mein... Dheere Chal..
• Daudke Chal - Super quick time, or running
• Parade Teeno-teen mein dahine/baye chalega... - Move to the right/left in columns of threes. This command is given just before the orders to actually execute the turn.
• Kooch kar - Take charge. Usually given when a senior officer wants someone junior to him to take charge of the parade/company/troop. On hearing this command, the junior officer would take a step forward, salute and then about turn to the men on parade.
• Parade par - On Parade. Usually given during parades, when certain officers/JCOs/NCOs who would be standing as a separate group, is to march up to stand in front of the troops coming under them.
• Hoshiar - Stand to. This command is essentially used at the quarter guard when the sentry senses any danger (or is ordered by the duty officer/JCO to test the alertness of the guard). The sentry is to shout out thrice Guard Hoshiar, and within this time period the members of the quarter guard are to run out of the guard room and occupied their pre-determined positions.
• Visarjan - Dismiss
• Dahine Dekh - Eyes right
• Ba(h)yen Dekh - Eyes left
• Saamne Dekh - Eyes front