PUNE: India’s long-awaited military theater plan is on the “right track” and could start taking shape on the ground in the next two-three years, Indian Army Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi said on Saturday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 150th parade of the training course at the National Defense Academy (NDA) in Khadakwasla, General Dwivedi said that extensive consultations on the proposed integrated theater command structure within the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) have been completed and the final report has been submitted to the Defense Secretary for review.
“Regarding the play, I would like to assure you that it is on the right track. All discussions have taken place within the Chiefs of Staff Committees and the full report has been submitted to the Defense Minister. It is currently under review by various stakeholders,” he said.
The Army Chief said the Chief of Defense Staff and the three service chiefs worked collectively to ensure that the operational requirements and core interests of the Army, Navy and Air Force were adequately reflected in the proposed framework.
“Whenever greater synergy is sought, there is bound to be a certain degree of give and take between the services. We have ensured that the key interests of all three services are met,” he said.
Expressing confidence in the next phase, General Dwivedi said the operation would be conducted under the leadership of the Strategic Defense Centre.
“We hope that the next setting under the Sustainable Development Strategy will be able to take this journey forward, and in the next two or three years, we should be able to see this happening on the ground,” he said.
The proposed theater model aims to integrate the operational capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force under unified theater commands to enhance cooperation, optimize resources, and improve combat effectiveness across multiple domains.
Responding to questions about Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi said the operation remains active despite the current cessation of hostilities.
“As far as Operation Sindoor is concerned, it is still ongoing. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. The Indian Army and all three services are preparing for Operation Sindoor 2.0 if the need arises,” he said.
The Army Chief also highlighted the ongoing modernization drive of the forces under the “Decade of Transformation” initiative, which aims to prepare the Army for technology-driven, data-centric warfare.
“The Indian Army is fully aware of these changes. We are transforming ourselves into a future-ready force under the Decade of Transformation, where the role of the younger generation will be pivotal,” he said.
The Army has created specialized, technology-enabled units, including drone battalions and dedicated space and cyber formations, largely through internal resources, he said.
He said: “The next major step is communication and focus on data, as data becomes a strategic resource and decision-making becomes faster, smarter and more flexible.”
Reflecting on the changing nature of warfare, General Dwivedi said modern battlefields have become increasingly transparent due to technological advancement, requiring greater caution in military planning and deployment.
He added: “What we have seen over a period of time is that the battlefield operates 24/7. It is so transparent that every movement is known to the other side. Therefore, we have to be very careful in terms of the deployment, recruitment and protection required for our forces as well as civilians in areas of operations.”
