Hyderabad, Mar 11: Citing key lessons from Operation Sindoor, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said India is moving from a reactive approach to a proactive deterrence posture to address emerging security challenges.
Addressing participants of the 21st Higher Defence Management Course at the College of Defence Management (CDM) in Hyderabad, the Chief of the Army Staff said the Indian Army stands at the cusp of a new era defined by technological prowess, organisational agility and self-reliance.
According to a defence release issued on Wednesday, Gen Dwivedi emphasised the need to effectively harness multi-domain operations, data-centric warfare and unmanned systems in future conflicts.
He underlined the importance of developing “battlefield equalisers”—technologies that negate a superior force’s advantage—alongside traditional battlefield capabilities, stressing that adaptation and innovation are critical to sustaining operational advantage.
The Army Chief also highlighted that “change management” is a strategic necessity rather than an option, urging officers to apply five dimensions of thinking — creative, critical, systems, cognitive and imaginative — to enhance institutional adaptability and foster innovative problem-solving.
Gen Dwivedi said that all five generations of warfare, from conventional combat to modern conflict, must be fought in unison through an integrated, multi-domain approach. He also stressed the need for a comprehensive understanding of grey-zone warfare, which falls short of full-scale war, to effectively counter evolving threats.
Emphasising optimal utilisation of human resources, he called for empowering Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) to help bridge officer shortages and strengthen leadership at the tactical level.
The Army Chief also referred to the raising of new organisations such as the Bhairav Battalion, tasked with operational requirements along the Indo-Pak borders, and the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Brigade, reflecting the Army’s proactive adaptation to contemporary security challenges.
During his interaction with CDM faculty and international participants from friendly countries, Gen Dwivedi exchanged views on strategic management, leadership development and resource optimisation.
He also commended the College of Defence Management for its pivotal role in developing strategic leaders, promoting tri-service synergy and strengthening India’s defence preparedness through higher defence management education, the release added. (Agencies)
