Originally known as the All India War Memorial, the 42-meter-high arch was built to honor the 82,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Empire in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The names of over 13,000 servicemen, including soldiers from the United Kingdom, are inscribed on its surface.

India Gate is often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, due to its similar design and function as a war memorial. Over the years, the monument has become a symbol of national pride and remembrance. Beneath the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti (Flame of the Immortal Soldier) was added in 1971, after the Indo-Pakistani War, to honor the unknown soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces. The flame burns continuously as a tribute to the fallen heroes.