When India was under British rule there was an army for each presidency. The Presidency armies were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895, when the 3 Presidency armies became the Indian Army.
The Indian Army was divided into 4 Commands (Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command) each under a Lieutenant General.
In 1908, the 4 commands were merged into 2 Armies (Northern Army and Southern Army), this system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to 4 commands again (Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command).

Southern Command (1908)

• As discussed above, in 1908 4 commands merged in 2 commands Northen & Southern Armies.
• In 1914, the Southern Army consisted of the 4th (Quetta) Division, the 5th (Mhow) Division, the 6th (Poona) Division, the 9th (Secunderabad) Division and the Aden Brigade (British Army).
• During World War II, Southern Command was reformed as Southern Army in April 1942. The formation reverted to the title Southern Command in November 1945.
• In August 1947, Southern Command had the Deccan, Madras and Bombay Areas (with HQs at Kamptee, Madras and Bombay).
• The Southern command exists from 1908, with its Headquarters in Pune (Maharashtra).

Northern Command (1908 & 1972)

• In 1908 2 Armies were formed Northern & Southern. In 1920 these were bifurcated into 4 Commands.
• Northern Command was re-formed again as North Western Army in April 1942 to guard the North West Frontier.
• In 1947 Headquarters Northern Command became the new headquarters of the Pakistan Army.
• The Government of India decided to raise a separate command to oversee operations in the northern borders with Pakistan and China.
• In 1972, Northen command with Headquarters at Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir) was established.