Book Extract – CDS General Anil Chauhan's 'Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the transformation of India’s Military'

Addressing the senior hierarchy of India’s three armed services in New Delhi in 2014 during his first Combined Commanders’ Conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his vision for India’s security imperatives in the coming years. One of the most critical components of the Hon’ble PM’s vision was the transformation of the three services into a modern force capable of pursuing India’s national interests across multiple domains including traditional and emerging ones. The process of transformation was to be premised on laying a strong foundation of jointness and integration at all levels among the three services. The aim was to prepare the Indian armed forces for meeting future threats and challenges. Turning words into deeds, six years down the line, the government created the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and the post of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The objective of this reform in the higher defence management was to bring about jointness among the armed forces and to foster expertise in military affairs.

During the Combined Commanders’ Conference in the closing days of March 2023, also my first conference as the CDS, the theme chosen was “Ready, Relevant, Resurgent”. Penning down the various chapters of this book, I have realised that these three terms signify the future of our forces. The Armed Forces have always been the first responders facing challenges to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation and have demonstrably acquitted themselves with aplomb. However, as we navigate the stormy geo-political arena of the 21st century, there is a rising uncertainty in the nature, type and timing of future threats. To put this in context, one must turn to the notion of security which has diffused and proliferated across domains and fields. The notion of conventional security has expanded to food, water, human, and climate security, while the domains or arenas where armed forces fight each other have also multiplied to include cyber, electromagnetic spectrum, near space, and outer space, apart from the traditional ones of land, air and sea. This requires a quantum jump in our intellectual, organisational and material capabilities. Operations other than war such as aiding and assisting civil authorities during disasters and countering grey zone operations require that we mould and transform ourselves to stay relevant in the pursuit of national interests. Finally, the last issue is of resurgence. Like the proverbial phoenix, we need to shed certain vestiges and predilections, go back to the basics and see what our ancestors knew, wrote and spoke about warfare, statecraft and diplomacy. Resurgence will lead to resilience, which is what we aspire for.

It has been 22 months since I was appointed as the CDS. One of the tasks entrusted to the CDS has been to facilitate the restructuring of military commands for the optimal utilisation of resources and bring about jointness and integration in operations. This will be visibly manifested in the establishment of joint operational structures at various levels and echelons. This switch will be one of the most revolutionary changes attempted by the Indian armed forces in the post-independence era. The creation of the Theater Commands is the beginning of this change and will kick-start start next generation of reforms in the armed forces.

The concept of establishing theatre commands is to create two parallel and complementary streams for ‘Force Application’ and ‘Force Generation’. The Force Application component will become the responsibility of a theatre commander, whereas Service Chiefs, in their transformed role will be responsible for what is colloquially called the ‘Raise, Train and Sustain (RTS) function’. In other words, the service chiefs will preside over the Force Generation, an equally important aspect.

An essential prerequisite for the establishment of theatre commands is a high degree of jointness amongst the three Services and physical integration of several processes, activities and essential infrastructure. The structural transformation at the apex level will usher in conceptual, doctrinal and cultural changes. It will also trigger cascading organisational changes at HQs/establishments at lower levels. The transformation that will be triggered in the operational and administrative functioning will come with its own set of challenges. The acceptability of the change will only happen once officers at all levels are aware of the impending changes. The maximum impact of these changes will be on middle-level officers who not only will need to adopt and adapt to a new normal but also take the lead in a transformed environment. I believe that there is a need to take everyone along, especially the middle-level officers so that they become a catalyst for change rather than being sceptical and resisting it. Articles such as ‘Jointness and Integration 2.0’, ‘HDO: Past, Present and Future and ‘ Transformation and Management of Change’ form part of my endeavour to take everyone along by keeping them informed.

The reforms in the Armed Forces need to be seen from a wider perspective. Today, war and warfare are continuously evolving at an increasingly rapid pace. As a result, the armed forces need to absorb new and emerging technologies, as well as, evolve new tactics to be future- ready. The future of warfare itself needs deliberation, diligent prognosis and an informed assimilation. The armed forces need to build capabilities to conduct integrated Multi-Domain Operations across the spectrum of conflict. Our organisational structures, capabilities and strategies must be dovetailed into our understanding of the future. Articles such as ‘Preparing for the Third Revolution in Military Affairs’, ‘Evolving Battlefield Architecture’, ‘The Nature of War and Types of Conflicts’ and ‘Tactics Led Force Modernisation’ are an expression of my thoughts on what lies ahead in the domain of warfare.

India aspires to be a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. The foundation of an economically vibrant and politically stable Bharat must rest on a strong military. The four instruments of National Power that are Diplomatic, International, Military and Economic must work in unison towards a common vision for Bharat to realise its desired destiny. A self-reliant, self-assured, self-confident Indian military will be supported by the principle of ‘Atmanirbharta’. The relevance of self-reliance in India’s growth is the subject of deliberation in articles such as ‘Atmanirbharta in Defence’, and ‘Indigenisation and Innovation: The Road Ahead’.

The conceptual and intellectual moorings of India’s military need the anchorage of Indian ideas and thoughts. The geo-political environment which we face and the challenges and opportunities that lay before us are unique to us. We need to find Indian solutions to Indian problems. Our ancient wisdom is a source of motivation and inspiration. Our position in the comity of nations and thus our stakes in international affairs stem from our heritage. It reflects our deep-rooted strategic and cultural characteristics. These thoughts have been emphasised in an article on ‘Ancient Indian Wisdom and its Relevance in Modern Strategy and Statecraft.

The concepts ideated in the book aim to focus on the long-term efficacy of military reforms to foster jointness and interoperability, facilitate optimisation and ensure credible modernisation of the armed forces to meet emerging challenges and contribute to the security of the nation. I am confident that the readers will find these ideas stimulating which in turn will result in further deliberations. This book is just the beginning of such nuanced thoughts.

General Anil Chauhan

Chief of Defence Staff

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Gen. Anil Chauhan Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the transformation of India’s Military Pentagon Press LLP, 2025. Hb. Pp.212

The Indian Armed Forces stand at the cusp of a profound transformation, in keeping with the changing nature and character of war. With the unwavering pursuit of national interests and the inviolable need for safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the armed forces are taking deliberate and sustained strides towards greater synergy through jointness and Integration.

Faith in indigenous capability development, bolstered by original, innovative and critical thinking abilities is the foundational pillar for progress. The articles in the book intensely deliberate over the need for developing indigenised solutions for India’s problems and lay emphasis on self-reliance and Atmanirbharta as the way forward in defence manufacturing for retaining our strategic autonomy.

Creation of the Department of Military Affairs and the post of the Chief of the Defence Staff is one of the major defence reform undertaken in the recent times. The book highlights the significance of Higher Defence Organisation and the need to adopt a whole-of-nation approach towards effectively harnessing civil-military fusion. It underscores how the Armed Forces are adopting a nuanced consensus-based approach towards the creation of the Integrated Theatre Commands and the subsequent advancements in the processes, doctrines and their warfighting strategies.

True reform can only be ushered by changing the old mindset by way of sharing one`s experiences. It is with this objective, that the author has articulated his vision and thoughts in this book titled Ready, Relevant and Resurgent. The book provides a cogent viewpoint to the readers as to how the Indian Armed Forces are transforming to emerge as a future ready force and their steadfast contributions towards realization of the national vison of becoming ‘Sashakt, Surakhshit, Samridh and Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

General Anil Chauhan, was commissioned into the Sixth Battalion, the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles in Jun 1981. With over 43 years of distinguished military service, the general has held various key appointments across varied operational and terrain profiles including the Command of 3 Corps and Eastern Army besides serving as the Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) before being appointed as the second Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the country. The present appointment of CDS, with adjunct responsibilities of Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs, Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Principal Advisor to the GoI on military matters, has afforded him the opportunity to interact with the brightest minds from India and abroad. General Anil Chauhan has drawn upon his vast experience and inclusive learnings to highlight the transformative reforms that our country and the Armed Forces are presently undergoing.  He lays down an implementable roadmap for the Armed Forces to be effective enablers in the national vision of becoming ‘Sashakt, Surakshit and Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. The present work is expected to contribute towards creating enhanced awareness within the Armed Forces and the nation at large about the Jointness, Integration, Atmanirbharta and Civil – Military fusion initiatives that are being fostered at the highest levels.