Brief Context
Context Defence Minister Rajnath Singh encouraged the armed forces to remain alert and ready to counter “invisible” challenges from information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare. About The turbulent global order, regional instability and evolving security landscape demanded constant assessment and preparedness. He urged commanders to work towards building the Sudarshan Chakra vision articulated by Prime Minister Modi.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS3/Defence
Context
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh encouraged the armed forces to remain alert and ready to counter “invisible” challenges from information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare.
About
- The turbulent global order, regional instability and evolving security landscape demanded constant assessment and preparedness.
- He urged commanders to work towards building the Sudarshan Chakra vision articulated by Prime Minister Modi.
- It is India’s roadmap for building a 21st-century armed force which is technologically advanced, joint, self-reliant, and strategically agile to secure national interests in a rapidly changing world.
- A committee had been set up to prepare a medium-term (five-year) and long-term (10-year) road map for the project.
Why Modernisation is Needed?
- Changing Nature of Warfare: Shift from traditional wars to hybrid warfare (cyber, space, information, drones, AI-enabled weapons).
- Regional Security Challenges: China’s military build-up, Pakistan’s proxy wars, and terrorism.
- Technology Gap: Need to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen indigenous capabilities.
- Operational Preparedness: To maintain credible deterrence and ensure readiness for short, high-intensity conflicts.
| Decade of Transformation of Indian Army – The Indian Army is observing 2023–2032 as the ‘Decade of Transformation’ and has designated 2024–25 as the ‘Years of Technology Absorption’ to pave the way for becoming a future-ready, technology-driven, lethal, and agile force. – The Transformation Roadmap Focuses On: 1. Force Structuring and Transformation: Building an efficient, combat-ready force. 2. Modernisation and Technology Induction: Prioritising cutting-edge technologies. 3. Jointness and Integration: Enhancing tri-service synergy through theatre commands. 4. Multi-Domain Operational Capability: Preparing for complex and evolving threats. 5. Infrastructure Development: Strengthening operational readiness. 6. Human Resource Development: Fostering a skilled and motivated workforce. 7. Atmanirbharta: Promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing and technology. |
Challenges In Achieving Modernisation:
- Reorientation to Multi-Domain Conflict: Multi-domain high-tech operations will require multi-skilling and multi-competencies to prevail in a future conflict.
- The art of war will need to be elevated along with the science of war.
- Human Capital & PME (Professional Military Education): Need for officers trained in strategic thinking, technology adaptation, and joint operations.
- The current system is still tilted towards traditional, rank-based career progression.
- Technological Gaps: The Army lags behind in AI, robotics, drones, cyber, and electronic warfare.
- Induction of modern systems is not matched by reforms in doctrine, training, and structures.
- Civil–Military Coordination Issues: Lack of synergy between MoD, armed forces, and industry.
- Absence of a fully empowered procurement authority delays decisions.
- Geopolitical Pressures: Two-front challenge from China and Pakistan demands rapid modernisation, but pace remains slow.
- There is a need for indigenous capabilities in case of sanctions or supply chain disruptions.
Government Initiatives
- Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) & Department of Military Affairs (DMA) (2019): It was established to enhance jointness and integration in planning, procurement, and training.
- Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: It promotes indigenous design, development & manufacturing, prioritises “Make in India” categories.
- 2025 declared “Year of Reforms”: Focus on enhancing tri‐service jointness & integration.
- Simplification and speedier acquisition procedures.
- Emphasis on emerging domains: Cyber, Space, AI, Machine Learning, Hypersonics, Robotics.
- Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs): Push to restructure command structure so that Army, Navy, Air Force in a region operate under unified command.
- Part of the “jointness” agenda to avoid duplication, improve responsiveness.
- Joint Doctrine & Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2025: Released at “Ran Samwad 2025” to lay out standards, capability gaps and technology development for ~10‐year horizon.
- Joint doctrines for multi-domain operations (land, sea, air, space, cyber, cognitive) plus specialised joint doctrines (e.g. Special Forces) to improve interoperability.
- Defence Industrial Corridors & Indigenous Production Push: Two defence industrial corridors have been established in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to bolster its defence manufacturing ecosystem and promote domestic defence production.
- Joint exercises: The Indian Armed Forces conduct tri-service integrated multi-domain exercises focused on coordinated operations involving the Army, Air Force, and Navy (Exercise Prachand Prahar, Exercise Desert Hunt).
- Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS): It provides the backbone for real-time coordination, enabling synchronized responses across multiple units of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Way Ahead
- The goal of becoming a modern, adaptive, and tech-savvy force is not just a dream but an imperative in today’s world, where technology is fast overtaking warfare and warfighters.
- This transformation will require not just technological innovation, but also a commitment to rethinking force restructuring, adaptive training and tactics, and equipment, to become a future-ready force.
Source: TH