Indian National Army was formed in which of the following countries?

Correct — D. The Indian National Army was raised at Singapore in 1942, from Indian prisoners of war taken by Japan when the city fell that February. Mohan Singh organised this first INA.

It was again at Singapore that Subhas Chandra Bose took command in July 1943 and proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind that October.

Both phases begin in the same city, so option (d) is right on either reading.

Why the others are wrong

• (a)
  Japan — Japan armed, funded and hosted the movement, and Bose reached Asia through Tokyo, but the army itself was formed on Malayan soil at Singapore.
• (b)
  London — London has no connection to the INA. Britain was the adversary, and the force was built from Indian troops captured in South-East Asia.
• (c)
  Germany — Germany is where Bose raised a different unit, the Indian Legion, among Indian prisoners in Europe before he travelled east. That is not the INA.

The INA has two phases, and mixing them costs marks.

The first INA was formed in 1942 at Singapore under Mohan Singh, out of Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army taken prisoner after Japan overran Malaya and Singapore. It was dissolved in December 1942 after disputes with the Japanese command.

The second phase began when Subhas Chandra Bose reached South-East Asia and took over the Indian Independence League and the INA in July 1943. He added the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and led the force towards Imphal and Kohima in 1944.

Key facts

• The Indian National Army was formed at Singapore in 1942 under Mohan Singh.
• Subhas Chandra Bose took command of the INA at Singapore in July 1943.
• The Provisional Government of Azad Hind was proclaimed at Singapore in October 1943.
• In Germany, Bose raised the Indian Legion, a force separate from the INA.

Common traps

• Answering Japan because Japan supplied and supported the INA.
• Confusing the Indian Legion raised in Germany with the INA raised in Singapore.

No directly related past PYQ was found.