History

• Mhow is located on the Mumbai–Delhi National Highway, about 830 km from Delhi, 560 km from Mumbai, and 22 km from Indore. It forms part of the Malwa region, often referred to as the Gateway to the Deccan Plateau or Southern India. Mhow is situated at an altitude of 1,950 ft and enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year.
• Mhow was founded as a Cantonment in 1818 by Sir John Malcolm, to station British troops after an agreement with Malhar Rao Holkar II, in order to keep a check on the Princely States of Central India and Rajputana. Since then, it has housed Army units and establishments and has grown steadily in size. After World War I, Mhow became the Headquarters of the Central Provinces District and the 5th Mhow Division.
• In 1940, the Officers Training School was established at the present location of the Infantry School. The Signals School, now designated as the Military College of Telecommunications Engineering (MCTE), was established on 01 October 1946, and the Infantry School was raised on 15 August 1948. At present, in addition to the Army War College (AWC), MCTE and the Infantry School continue to be located in the station.

Role

• After Independence, the Indian Army felt the need for an institution devoted solely to training commanders in the art of warfare at sub-unit, unit, operational, and strategic levels. This need was partially fulfilled with the establishment of the College of Combat on 01 April 1971 by merging the Senior Officers Wing and Tactical Wing of the Infantry School.
• With an increase in course capacities, it was decided to create a separate institution at an independent location. General K.V. Krishna Rao, PVSM, the then Chief of Army Staff, laid the foundation stone for the new campus on 06 January 1983. Spread over 533.52 acres on the southern fringes of Mhow Cantonment, the new campus became functional in phases from July 1988.
• Today, the AWC has a sprawling campus comprising four distinct blocks: the Administrative/Academic Block, the Student Officers' Accommodation Block, the Student Officers' Mess-cum-Shopping Complex, and the Combat Mess. A well-laid-out Environmental Park and Training Area (MEPTA) adds to the natural beauty and greenery of the College.

Vision

The Army War College was awarded the GOC-in-C, ARTRAC Unit Appreciation on 15 January 2014 and again on 15 January 2021 for its outstanding performance during the respective years.