General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), addressed the 26th Doctrine and Strategy Seminar (DSS) at the Army War College, Mhow, held on November 27–28, 2024. The seminar, themed “Need for Adaptive Doctrines/Operational Philosophy for the Indian Army in view of Recent Conflicts and Technology Infusion in Warfare”, aimed to assess and modernize Indian Army doctrines, operational strategies, and tactics in response to recent conflicts and emerging technologies. Experts from geo-strategy, geopolitics, armed forces, and defense industries provided insights on operational and logistical strategies and the future capabilities of the Indian Army in the context of modern warfare.
The seminar focused on three key themes. The first session explored global trends and technological advancements in warfare, analyzing their impact on military strategies and the adversaries’ pursuit of niche technologies. It highlighted the need to adapt India’s doctrines to counter these developments. The second session examined the relevance of current doctrines and tactics for conventional warfare in diverse terrains and their applicability in counter-insurgency (CI) and counter-terrorism (CT) operations, recommending necessary changes to incorporate advanced technologies. The final session addressed the integration of niche technologies into military operations, emphasizing their impact on human resources and the restructuring of operational logistics frameworks.
In his address, General Dwivedi emphasized the changing nature of warfare, describing it as a continuum of 5Cs: Competition, Crisis, Confrontation, Conflict, and Combat. He highlighted the increasing focus on non-military and non-kinetic actions, such as cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and artificial intelligence, to achieve political objectives. Drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war, he underscored the significance of combined arms operations, asymmetric tactics, and civil-military integration. He also stressed the importance of aligning military efforts with the DIME-T framework, which integrates diplomatic, informational, military, economic, and technological strategies.
The COAS discussed national security challenges, including grey zone operations, the two-front challenge, and the need for convergence between land, maritime, and air strategies in the Indo-Pacific region. He called for flexible doctrines that enable adaptability and unity of effort while fostering rapid decision-making at the tactical level. He emphasized the integration of technologies such as artificial intelligence, precision warfare, and cyber capabilities to enhance multi-domain operations. Highlighting the role of leadership, General Dwivedi stressed the importance of strong, adaptive leadership to overcome doctrinal rigidity and accelerate institutional agility.
In conclusion, the COAS called for the development of adaptive doctrines that incorporate dynamic threat assessments, advanced technologies, and multi-domain capabilities. He stressed the importance of realistic training, wargaming, and seamless collaboration between the military, allied nations, and the private sector to address emerging threats. These efforts, he noted, align with the Decade of Transformation (2023–2032), aimed at modernizing India’s defense capabilities and ensuring readiness for future conflicts.