An armed force of Indian nationalists, raised mainly from Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Southeast Asia during the Second World War, that fought alongside Japan against the British to free India, reorganised and led by Subhas Chandra Bose.
- First conceived in 1942 with Japanese support; Mohan Singh is associated with its initial formation from Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in Southeast Asia.
- Reorganised and energised in 1943 by Subhas Chandra Bose, who took command and gave the slogans "Dilli Chalo" (On to Delhi) and "Jai Hind"; he also set up the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) at Singapore in 1943.
- Included the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, an all-women combat unit led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal.
- Fought alongside Japanese forces on the Burma front and reached the India-Burma frontier (Imphal and Kohima) before being pushed back in 1944 to 1945.
- After the war, the British put INA officers on trial at the Red Fort (the INA trials, 1945 to 1946); the trials of Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon sparked huge public protests and were defended by Congress lawyers including Bhulabhai Desai and Jawaharlal Nehru.
The INA, Bose's leadership, the Azad Hind Government, the women's regiment, and the Red Fort trials are very high-frequency freedom-struggle facts and a strong essay theme.
Mohan Singh is linked to the INA's first formation (1942); Subhas Chandra Bose reorganised and led it from 1943; both are distinct contributions.
Azad Hind Fauj: armed force led by Bose ("Dilli Chalo", "Jai Hind") with Japanese support; fought on the Burma front; Red Fort trials (1945 to 1946) roused mass protest.