In a significant visit to Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), shared crucial dialogue on important aspects of national security, emerging global trends, and the Indian Army’s transformational initiatives.
He addressed the faculty and officers of the 79th Staff Course, including 36 officers from friendly foreign nations. His speech covered a range of topics vital for today’s dynamic security environment, highlighting the necessity of cross-functional synergy among the three services.
His visit to the DSSC was aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities for the Indian Army in the realm of national security and technological advancements.
Starting off, he emphasised the process of effectively assessing threats through various methods and identifying capabilities, then reaching readiness within the policies, and at last responding appropriately within the National Security Framework.
Further continuing, he called technology the new strategic competition arena; its weaponization across various domains. He also elaborated on the expansion of warfare, making it more complex and lethal with the entry of domains such as space, cyber, the electromagnetic spectrum, and information.
Moving to the geo-strategic landscape and emerging trends, the COAS highlighted the unprecedented scale and speed of change in the current global arena. Later, pointing out the emergence of new trendlines triggered by this rapid change.
On the Indian Army’s ongoing transformative initiatives, he then gave a special focus on the “Year of Tech Absorption” in 2024. Key areas of emphasis in this initiative include aligning and synergizing technology at multiple levels, mapping futuristic technologies, strengthening the defence technology ecosystem, and ensuring seamless technology induction through acquisition and procurement processes.
Highlighting India’s rising stature on the global stage, General Pande stressed the importance of safeguarding the nation’s interests across expanding strategic horizons. He emphasised the need for India to be strong and self-reliant in its defence capabilities, achieving a strategic balance in the evolving geopolitical landscape.
In his closing remarks, the COAS urged the young officers to remain vigilant for “Black Swan” events, always expecting the unexpected in the dynamic world of national security while also bringing transformation within the Indian Army, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, prioritising organisational interests at priority.