Prime Minister Narendra Modi, led the nation in paying tribute to thousands of Indian soldiers martyred during the World War I. He placed a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti, at India Gate and saluted the gallantry and sacrifice of Indian troops who fought alongside the British 100 years ago. At least 74,187 Indian soldiers were martyred in the war. The Army is commemorating the centenary of the First World War (1914-1918) from March 10-14 in memory of the 1.5 million Indian soldiers who fought in the war. President Pranab Mukherjee and diplomatic heads of nations which were part of World War I participated in a wreath-laying ceremony organised at India Gate.

"This is an endeavour of the Indian Army to commemorate the supreme gallantry and sacrifice that Indian soldiers rendered in various theatres of the World War 1," Major General NP Singh, Chief of Staff of the 2 Corps said. Indian Corps won 13,000 medals for gallantry including 11 Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award in England, he said. 

In the First World War, India contributed over 1.5 million men from 12 Cavalry Regiments, 13 Infantry Regiments and several other units of arms and services, out of which 74,000 were killed and over 67,000 were wounded in various battle fields of Europe, Africa and Asia. Every sixth soldier fighting on behalf of the British Empire was from the Indian subcontinent.

By Premji