India, June 5 -- For a few moments, it was simply a story of a young Indian Army officer proposing marriage to his longtime partner after achieving a career milestone in Nashik. But then the internet happened, and thus came questions over military protocol and security, turning newly commissioned Captain Bharat Bhardwaj's wedding proposal at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) into a flashpoint.

The moment, captured on video, was widely shared on social media. It showed Captain Bhardwaj dressed in his ceremonial military uniform, walking onto a tarmac, going down on one knee before his partner and presenting a ring.

Signalling acceptance of the proposal, his partner hugged him as he got up.

All of this while an army helico...