Indian Army moving towards proactive deterrence, says COAS Dwivedi

New Delhi, Mar 10 (UNI) Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said the Indian Army stands “at the cusp of a new era characterised by technological advancement, organisational agility and self-reliance,” anchored in the core values of “Truth, Trust and Transparency.”
Addressing participants of the 21st Higher Defence Management Course during his visit to the College of Defence Management in Secunderabad, he said that lessons from Operation Sindoor underline India’s transition “from a reactive security posture to a proactive deterrence framework.”
He also stressed the need to effectively harness “multi-domain operations, data-centric warfare and unmanned systems” in future conflicts while reviewing indigenous technological innovations at the institution’s Simulator Development Division aimed at developing advanced training solutions for the Indian Army.
During his address General Dwivedi outlined the Indian Army’s vision for transformation in response to an evolving security environment. He highlighted the Five Pillars of Transformation guiding the Army’s modernisation: Technology Assimilation and AI Integration, Organisational Restructuring and Force Modernisation, Human Resource Development and Leadership, Tri-Service Integration and Jointness, and Indigenisation and Atmanirbharta.
General Dwivedi stressed that Change Management is a strategic necessity rather than an option. He urged officers to cultivate five dimensions of thinking, creative, critical, systems, cognitive and imaginative, to enhance institutional adaptability and promote innovative problem-solving within the armed forces. He also emphasised the need to balance conceptual clarity with measurable operational outcomes.
Highlighting the changing character of warfare, the COAS observed that modern conflicts require the simultaneous application of all five generations of warfare through an integrated multi-domain approach.
He also underscored the importance of understanding grey-zone warfare across all levels of command, from unit commanders to the highest military leadership.
In his address, General Dwivedi called for optimal utilisation of human resources within the Army and emphasised empowering Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) to help bridge officer shortages while strengthening leadership at the tactical level. He also referred to the raising of new operational formations such as the Bhairav Battalion and the Special Operations Forces Brigade, reflecting the Army’s proactive adaptation to emerging security challenges.
During interactions with faculty members and international participants from friendly foreign countries attending the course, the Chief of the Army Staff exchanged views on strategic management, leadership development and efficient resource utilisation. He commended the College of Defence Management for its pivotal role in developing strategic leaders, fostering tri-service synergy and strengthening India’s defence preparedness through higher defence management education.
Later in the day, General Dwivedi visited the Simulator Development Division, where he reviewed cutting-edge indigenous technologies being developed for military training. The systems demonstrated included advanced solutions in augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, drones, robotics and simulator-based training designed to enhance realism in combat training environments.
Brigadier Ashish Johar, Commandant of the Simulator Development Division, briefed the COAS on the organisation’s development roadmap and innovation-driven philosophy focused on advancing indigenous niche technologies for the armed forces. The briefing highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at improving training realism, operational preparedness and capability development.
The visit showcased a range of indigenous innovations delivering immersive and data-driven combat training environments that enhance mission readiness and support faster decision-making. These systems are expected to play a significant role as the Indian Army advances towards network-centric and multi-domain operations, with a strong emphasis on data-centric warfare.
UNI