General Dhiraj Seth, who assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff on July 1, called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and outlined his plans for the Indian Army during this meeting. General Seth had also spoken about his plans on Wednesday after taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
"The Indian Army is a combat-ready and battle-hardened force, fully prepared and capable of meeting every challenge in the operational domain. To respond effectively to the evolving security environment, we must take forward the modernisation of the Army with renewed energy and firm resolve," he had said.
"Our aim is to build a technology-enabled, future-ready Army which is fully empowered and capable of operating across multiple domains," Gen Seth said. He spoke about the 'Decade of Transformation' while identifying his key focus areas. "I have put them together in the acronym 'VIJAY’.
Each letter of 'VIJAY' reflects my priorities, which I will briefly outline. 'V’ stands for Vigilance. We will maintain constant vigilance along our borders and against emerging threats. We will also ensure a high level of operational readiness to respond effectively to any challenge to national security.
"The letter ‘I’ stands for Innovation and Transformation. My focus will be on innovation in both doctrine and technological solutions," he said. "Innovation will remain an integral part of our thinking, our systems and our capability development. At the same time, necessary transformations will be undertaken in keeping with the changing character of warfare.
‘J’ stands for Jointness and Integration. To enhance the operational effectiveness of the Indian Army, we will maintain complete synergy and coordination with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. I fully recognise that national security is not limited to military strength alone.
It requires military-civil fusion and a Whole-of-Nation approach. This integrated approach will also enable us to contribute meaningfully to nation building and to the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'," he said. "The letter 'A’ stands for Atmanirbharta" he said, pointing out that indigenous capabilities and technologies developed within the country, would help build a self-reliant Army.
"The overall aim will be 'To Win Our Wars with Indigenous Solutions.' ‘Y’ stands for Yodha First. In my understanding, from the Agniveer to the senior-most veteran, each one is a yodha. These yodhas are the greatest strength of our Army. Enhancing the technological threshold and training standards of our soldiers will be among my foremost priorities.
"Our veterans and Veer Naris are an integral part of the Army family, and their welfare, empowerment and professional growth will remain extremely important to me," Gen Seth said. He paid respects to his predecessor General Upendra Dwivedi and all former Chiefs of the Army Staff, whose vision and leadership have shaped the Indian Army into a strong, resilient and trusted force.
"I assure every citizen of the country that the Indian Army is, and will always remain, fully prepared to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests of our nation. In conclusion, I firmly believe that the mantra of ‘JAI’, given by the Prime Minister for the Armed Forces, forms the foundation of my priorities under the acronym ‘VIJAY’ and will guide us towards success. Therefore, my guiding motto will be: JAI se VIJAY," he said.