Where was the Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army, originally founded during the Second World War?

Introduction / Context:
This history question relates to the Indian freedom struggle in the context of the Second World War. The Azad Hind Fauj, or Indian National Army, was an armed force formed to fight against British rule with support from Axis powers. Knowing where it was founded is a standard fact asked in many competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The organisation mentioned is Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army.
• The question asks for the place of its original founding.
• Options list Singapore, Thailand, Britain and Italy.

Concept / Approach:
The Indian National Army was first formed under the leadership of Mohan Singh with support from the Japanese in South East Asia. It was founded in Singapore in 1942 from Indian prisoners of war captured by Japanese forces. Later, Subhas Chandra Bose reorganised and strengthened the army, but the foundational place remains Singapore. Understanding the South East Asian theatre of the Second World War and Indian expatriate involvement helps in answering this correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to recall Subhas Chandra Bose's famous slogan and visits to Singapore, where he gave speeches, inspected troops and established the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. South East Asian Indian communities in Singapore and Malaya were central to the INA movement. There is no historical record of the INA being founded in Britain or Italy, which were part of the Allied and Axis powers respectively but not the base for Indian prisoners of war in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thailand: It was used for troop movements and campaigns, but the formal founding of the INA was in Singapore.

Britain: Britain was the colonial ruler against whom the INA fought, so this cannot be the founding place.

Italy: Italy was an Axis power in Europe, but it was not the base of Indian prisoners of war who formed the INA.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse different locations in South East Asia and may choose Thailand or another country. Others mix up the founding place with later campaign locations such as Burma. To avoid this, remember the simple sequence: formation in Singapore, campaigns through Burma and North East India, and trials of INA officers in Red Fort after the war.

Final Answer:
The Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army was originally founded in Singapore.