From Theatre Commands To Disruptive Tech, Here's What The Army Chief Said About Indian Army's Ongoing Transformation

The Indian Armed Forces are currently undergoing a transformation under the newly created Department of Military Affairs (DMA), led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Anil Chauhan.

The transformation includes the creation of integrated theatre commands, a change in the Indian Army's orientation from the western borders opposite Pakistan to the northern and northeastern borders opposite China, modernisation with the induction of new disruptive niche technologies, the new Agnipath scheme, and the deteriorating situation in Manipur.

And, all this change is happening amidst the standoff with China that started since June 2020, which is now in its fourth year.

Amidst this backdrop, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande gave an interview to The Week magazine.

Here is what the Army Chief said in the interview regarding these changes in the Armed Forces amid the border standoff against China.

Integrated Theatre Commands

General Pande stated that integration is an 'inescapable way of life', and the three armed forces are fully committed to achieving it.

Reportedly, all the three forces are onboard the CDS's plan to establish three theatre commands — the western theatre command based in Jaipur for Pakistan, the northern theatre command in Lucknow facing China, and the maritime theatre command in Karwar for the Indian Ocean Region.

Gen Pande mentioned that, "many changes are being introduced in a gradual manner that will set the stage for smooth transition as and when theatre commands come into being."

He emphasized that India’s security imperatives are unique and hence, cannot be put under a template.

He further explained that the Indian forces must operate in diverse environments, addressing issues ranging from proxy wars and insurgencies to defending island territories and asserting dominance in the skies.

"While we have to be prepared to fight a conventional war, we have to continue to guard our multi-front borders, counter proxy wars and insurgencies, defend our island territories, be prepared for out-of-area contingencies and dominate our seas and skies," Gen Pande noted.

"And therefore, our model will have to be tailor-made, suited to Indian conditions and requirements," he said.

Re-orientation of Forces from Pakistan to China Front

After the standoff in Ladakh, where the Indian Army had to deploy more than 68,000 troops to the High Altitude Area (HAA) along the line of actual control (LAC), General Pande states that the Indian Army had to re-orient its focus from the Pakistan border in the west to the China border in the north and northeast.

He stated, "the events of 2020 led to the emergence of the northern borders as the primary front."

"Based on reviewed threat perception, a re-balancing of forces was carried out with strategic re-orientation of forces to the northern borders, while retaining effective capability along the western front (Pakistan border)," General Pande added.

He referred to the reorientation of the Bhopal headquartered 1st Strike Corps towards the northern borders in Eastern Ladakh, opposite China.

Discussing the possibility of permanent deployments along the LAC, if disengagement does not occur, he mentioned, "While we are not in favor of permanent deployment along the LAC, any withdrawal from the forward areas will be contingent upon disengagement and the withdrawal of forces from the other side."

Rapid Infrastructure Construction Ongoing In Border Areas

Following the clashes at Galwan, the 68,000 troops deployed in the area required infrastructure for sustenance.

New habitats for more than 22,000 troops and 450 armoured vehicles were constructed. during the bone-chilling winters of eastern Ladakh. Additionally, forward ammunition depots and petrol, oil, and lubricants (POL) dumps were established.

The Chinese possessed excellent road infrastructure on their side of the LAC. However, on the Indian side we need to catch up at a rapid pace.

Critical road construction, tunnel creation, helipad development, and the establishment of advanced landing grounds were undertaken to enhance connectivity, General Pande said.

"Our focus on infrastructure upgrade includes construction of critical roads and railway lines along with tunnels to ensure all-weather connectivity to the border areas," he said.

"Construction of airfields, advanced landing grounds and helipads has further enhanced connectivity to the border, even in difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions," he added.

General Pande indicated that they have identified 263 roads in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)'s list of development projects.

"263 priority roads (totaling 13,951km) are listed in the long-term work plan of the BRO for development in the next few years. An additional 70 roads have been identified for development and upgrading during the scheduled review undertaken this year," he stated.

Modernisation With The Induction Of New Disruptive And Niche Technologies

As demonstrated by the Russia-Ukraine war and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, new disruptive and niche technologies have altered the nature of modern warfare.

The General, who is the very first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the Chief of the Indian Army, stated, "We are currently witnessing game-changing trends because of the advent of disruptive technologies. With the fusion of technologies, the lines between physical, digital, and biological spheres have blurred."

He highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict underscored the need for the integration of new disruptive and niche technologies within the armed forces.

"The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has brought to fore certain key issues which include impact of asymmetric warfare, potential of information warfare, digital resilience, weaponisation of economic mechanisms, communication redundancy and space-based systems," he stated.

"As a result, technology infusion with speed, precision, transparency and clarity enables remote operations, higher bandwidths, beyond-the-horizon perspective and greater lethality," General Pande added.

Regarding the role of human alongside technology, he emphasized that technology enhances and empowers the individual behind the machine but should not be expected to replace them.

"Technology reinforces, strengthens and empowers the ‘man behind the machine’, but the same cannot and should not be expected to replace him or her. Therefore, our approach has been to find the right balance between conventional versus niche capabilities," he clarified.

"We have identified 47 technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum communications, unmanned systems, and directed energy weapons for military applications," he continued, adding that capability gaps are being appropriately addressed with a focus on expediting modernisation through fast-tracking contracts.

The New Agnipath Recruitement Scheme

Introduced in 2022, the Agnipath scheme aims to recruit all soldiers of 'personnel below officer rank' across the three services.

Under this scheme, aspirants in the age bracket of 17 to 21 years will be recruited for a maximum service period of four years. After expiration of four years, only 25 per cent of Agniveers will be given permanent commission. 

Discussing the scheme, Gen Pande stated, "the Agnipath scheme is a transformational reform for the Army and the nation."

Detailing the scheme, he elaborated, "We will see a more youthful profile of the Army, with a reduction in the average age to 26 years from 32 years over a period of time, while maintaining the right balance between youth and experience."

He also mentioned that they are enhancing the threshold for Agniveer induction by recruiting candidates from various ITIs.

"We are increasing the technical threshold of the Army by recruiting Agniveers through ITIs and other technical institutes. The entire process is to ensure that the Army retains the ‘best of the best’ for a longer service duration," he explained.

Regarding the shorter training duration for Agniveers, he noted, "the training infrastructure has been upgraded and tailored for the reduced training period and there will be extensive use of technology, keeping with the aim of facilitating quicker assimilation and to ensure a more technologically adept Army."

The Violence In Manipur

After the eruption of violence in Manipur, the Army and Assam Rifles have played a very important role in assisting civil administration of the state, the general said.

He mentioned, "the Army was the first to respond, deploying 55 columns in sensitive areas on May 3 and 4 when the unrest had just begun."

He further added, "this proactive establishment of the internal security grid, without waiting for formal requisition by the civil administration, provided the much-required reaction time to bring down the violence levels."

He indicated that currently, 164 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles are stationed in the state. The forces have adopted a methodology to create a buffer between the two conflicting communities of Kuki and Meitei's in order to prevent violence.

The Army Chief elaborated, "the methodology adopted by the forces has been to impose a buffer between the two warring communities in places where they live close by."

Additionally, he highlighted, "identified hot spots are being monitored constantly through area domination patrols and static posts, established in the vicinity."

He explained that, "Army columns are carrying out regular interactions with village chiefs, district level peace committees, Meira Paibis (torch-bearing women activists) and the political leadership of the affected communities."

"The Army is assisting the civil administration and the local population in every manner possible, while staying committed towards the restoration of normalcy in the state and in the lives of people of Manipur at the earliest," he further added, expressing his hope for a swift restoration of normalcy in Manipur.