World's top 10 largest armies, Indian army at No 3

New Delhi: Countries big and small, have armies to guard their frontiers. Young and brave men and women join their armed forces to prepare for the supreme sacrifice. Technology and type of weapons will surely help a side win a war, but having the numbers will also do a lot for the confidence and morale. After all, there is strength in numbers. Here is a list of the top ten countries with the biggest armies in the world 1. People's Republic of China, 2,285,000The People's Liberation Army is the military arm of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest army in the world. Military service is compulsory for Chinese men upon reaching the age of 18 years old, but drafting has never been enforced because of the huge number of volunteers. China has more than a billion people to protect, so having such a large army maybe a necessity. Its constant skirmishes with its neighbors due to conflicting territorial claims have given the country additional reason to maintain such a strong force. 2. United States of America, 1,429,995 Known as the United States Armed Forces, they are the second nation with the largest number of active military with 1,458,500 standing military personnel. They consist of Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The president is the overall head of the military with assistance from United States Department of Defense from which military policies are carried out. 3. India, 1,325,000Consisting of Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard supported by Paramilitary forces (Assam Rifles and Special Frontier Force) and various inter-service institutions such as the Strategic Forces Command, India has the third largest active military in the world with 1,325,000 military personnel. The president of India is the Supreme Commander of Indian Armed Forces. 4. Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1,106,000It stands face to face against South Korea and the United States everyday along the demilitarized zone. The army traces its roots to the late 1930s, during the time when Japan still occupied Korea. By the time Korea was divided along the line of the 38th parallel, the northern part of the country had an armed force of around 2,500 men. These grew during the Cold War, as North Korea fought a war against the neighboring South. Around a quarter of the country's meager budget is reserved for the military, with expenses reaching up to almost $10 billion. 5. Russian Federation, 1,040,000After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was established. The president of Russia commands this fifth largest army of the world with 1,027,000 armed men and women. Its annual defense budget stood about 52.7 billion in 2011. 6. Republic of Korea, 687,000The Korean People's, commonly known in North Korea as the Inmin Gun (People's Army), are the combined military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. They consist of Army Ground Force, Navy, the Air Force, Strategic Rocket Forces and Special Operation Force with 1,106,000 members, and an active reserve workforce with approximately 8,200,000 members as of 2011. It also is abundant in warfare resources, which includes 5,400 tanks, 2,580 armored fighting vehicles, 1,600 self-propelled guns, 3,500 towed artillery pieces, 1,600 rocket projectors, and other powerful weaponry. 7. Turkey, 664,060The Turkish army traces its roots to the Ottoman Empire, though it disintegrated in the aftermath of its defeat in World War I. The country remained neutral until the closing months of World War II, when it finally joined the Allies that were on the cusp of victory. The country then initiated a massive modernization program of its military after joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, in 1952. It sent troops to the Korean War. The Turkish army has also sent operational staff to the multinational army corps initiative of the European Union and NATO. 8. Pakistan, 617,000The Pakistani armed forces were created in 1947 after gaining independence from the British Empire. They have fought two wars with their rival India, one in 1947 and the other in 1965. They also had border skirmishes with Afghanistan during that time. Probably because India's military has close ties with Russia, Pakistan has turned to Russia's rivals, China and the United States, for its military requirements. Most of its weapons are imported from these two countries. It also has an agreement with China to research, develop and enhance the country's military system. 9. Iran, 523,000The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran consists of the IRIA, the IRGC, and the Police Force. They total about 523,000 active personnel; numbers which exclude the Polce Force and the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. All the branches of armed forces fall under the command of General Headquarters of Armed Forces. It was once feared as the Middle East's most powerful military by General John Abizaid, chief of US Central Command and is still causing stir in the 21st century. 10. Egypt, 468,500Egypt has one of the strongest armies in the Middle East, rivaling Israel for supremacy. It is also one of the strongest in Africa, and is the only Arab state with a reconnaissance satellite. The army has weapons from all over the world, though it has recently been modernizing with American, British and French equipment. It has also provided training and assistance to various African and Arab states.