Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday unveiled a five-point roadmap for the Indian Army, placing operational vigilance, military modernisation, jointness among the armed forces, self-reliance in defence production and soldier welfare at the core of his vision as he assumed charge of the force.
Addressing the media after receiving a ceremonial Guard of Honour at South Block, General Seth said the Army remained a battle-hardened, combat-ready force capable of responding to any operational challenge, but stressed that the changing security environment required accelerated modernisation backed by technological innovation.
"Our aim is to build a technology-enabled, future-ready Army which is fully empowered and capable of operating across multiple domains," he said.
General Seth said his priorities would be guided by the acronym VIJAY, Vigilance, Innovation and Transformation, Jointness and Integration, Atmanirbharta, and Yodha First.
Explaining the roadmap, he said vigilance would ensure constant monitoring of India's borders and a high level of operational preparedness against emerging threats.
Also read: General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as 31st Indian Army chief
Innovation and Transformation would focus on integrating advanced technologies with doctrinal reforms to prepare the Army for the changing character of warfare.
On Jointness and Integration, the Army chief said national security required closer coordination among the armed forces, civil agencies and other stakeholders through a whole-of-nation approach, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Highlighting Atmanirbharta, he said the Army would increasingly rely on indigenous technologies and defence manufacturing, with the objective of winning future wars using home-grown capabilities.
Under Yodha First, General Seth said every soldier—from Agniveers to veterans—would remain central to the Army's priorities.
General Seth takes over at a crucial time when the Army is pursuing capability enhancement following Operation Sindoor while expanding the induction of drones, loitering munitions, artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems.
Several key procurement programmes, however, remain pending, including upgrades to armoured platforms, artillery, air defence systems and tactical mobility vehicles. Having previously overseen capability development and long-term planning at Army Headquarters, General Seth is expected to accelerate these modernisation programmes and push for quicker acquisition decisions to strengthen the Army's operational preparedness.
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