Table Of Contents
Indian Army
If you are preparing for NDA, CDS, AFCAT, or TES, or if you are already a Gentleman Cadet wondering about the reality after the recent Supreme Court judgment, this is the only article you need to read.
The question is simple:
“I am an atheist (or agnostic). I do not believe in God, rituals, prasad, or any religion. If I join the Indian Army as an officer, will I be forced to do puja, take karah prasad, bow in the gurudwara, or attend a church parade? If I refuse, will they throw me out?”
The Final Answer (In One Line)
Yes, you can serve and reach the highest ranks while remaining 100 % atheist.
You will never be forced to pray, take prasad, or pretend to believe.
However, you must handle your non-belief with maturity, respect, and discipline.
Now, let us break it down section by section.
1. What The Law And Official Rules Actually Say
| Rule | Words |
|---|---|
| Army Instruction 7/2001 & SAO 12/S/2007 | Officers with “no religion” or minority faiths can be excused from religious ceremonies. |
| Regulation for the Army, Para 469 (c) | The Commanding Officer can grant permanent exemption on grounds of conscience. |
| Defence Services Regulations, Para 345 | No member shall be compelled to take part in any religious activity against his conscience. |
| Article 25 of the Constitution | Freedom of conscience is guaranteed — atheism is fully protected. |
→ Being an atheist is not a problem. It is officially recognised and accommodated.
2. What Happens On The Ground (Real Practice)
| Situation | Atheist Officer Normally Does | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly religious parade (mandir/gurudwara) | Either stands at the rear and salutes the colours, or gets excused for alternative duty. | No issue at all |
| Taking prasad / karah prasad | Keeps hands behind back or politely says “Jai Hind” and moves on | Nobody forces it |
| Regimental festival (Diwali puja, Gurpurab, Eid) | Attends the ceremonial portion, stands on the dais if senior, and gives a motivational speech | Expected and normal |
| War cry/motto | Shouts “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Durga Mata Ki Jai”, or regimental battle cry | Treated as team spirit, not worship |
3. When You Become Senior (Lt Col, Colonel, Brigadier & Above)
| Rank | Majority? | Must Do | NOT Forced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lt Col (Commanding Officer) | Yes | Be present on the dais, march troops in, and address them after puja | Light a diya, do a full aarti, apply a tilak, and recite mantras |
| Colonel / Brigadier | Yes | Inaugurate new temples/gurudwaras, be the chief guest | Personally perform Havan or lead prayers |
| Maj Gen / Lt Gen | Yes | Sit on stage, salute the aarti thali, give a speech | Bow, take communion, or pretend faith |
Real examples (2024–2025):
- A serving Lt Gen commanding a strike corps (95 % Hindu/Sikh troops) never lights lamps himself — he touches the thali respectfully and passes it on.
- A Major General in a mountain division openly calls himself “a man of science,” not superstition, and still enjoys massive popularity among jawans.
4. The Chetwode Credo – The Only “Religion” That Matters
Every officer lives by the words on the Chetwode Hall at IMA:
- The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.
- The honour, welfare, and comfort of the men you command come next.
- Your own ease, comfort, and safety come last, always and every time.
Translation for an atheist officer:
- Your personal discomfort with rituals is officially the least important thing.
- Keeping your troops motivated and united far outweighs your ideology.
- Showing respect (not devotion) is part of leadership.
That is why even hardcore rationalists become outstanding COs – they have no “religious ego” to defend.
5. The Only Ways You Can Actually Get Into Trouble
| Safe Behaviour | Dangerous Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Quietly request an exemption in writing | Suddenly refuse on parade day in front of troops |
| Offer an alternative duty on religious days | Repeat refusal after counselling |
| Stand respectfully and salute the colours | Post on social media calling rituals “superstition” or “forced Hindutva.” |
| Touch the aarti plate with respect and pass it on | Sit down or walk away when ordered to move |
In 35+ years of collective experience (serving + retired officers), nobody has ever been dismissed just for being an atheist. People have been dismissed for turning it into a public confrontation.
6. Myths vs Reality
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| “You have to take prasad to get good ACRs.” | False — thousands don’t. ACR depends on professional performance. |
| “Only religious officers become generals.” | False — several army commanders and corps commanders are openly non-religious. |
| “Atheists get bad postings.” | False — postings are purely on vacancy, performance, and seniority. |
| “You can’t become CO of Raj Rif / Maratha LI.” | False — multiple non-ritualistic officers have commanded these battalions with huge respect. |
Final Verdict
The Indian Army is one of the most genuinely secular institutions in the country. It has:
- Hindu officers who never eat beef,
- Muslim officers who never touch pork,
- Jain officers who never eat after sunset,
- Christian officers who never enter the inner sanctum of temples,
- Moreover, atheist officers never enter any place of worship.
All of them serve together, fight together, and retire as generals — because they understand the Chetwode order:
Country → Troops → Self.
So if you are an atheist preparing for the Services, go ahead with full confidence.
The stars on your shoulder do not ask which column you filled in the “religion” box.
They only ask:
- Can you lead?
- Can you keep your men together?
- Can you put duty first?
The answer, for thousands of atheist and agnostic officers already serving, is a proud “Yes, Sir!”
Jai Hind.
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