New Delhi, October 23: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday released the Land Warfare Doctrine, a framework meant to prepare the Indian Army for the changing character of warfare, and asked senior commanders to work with a strategic vision covering the next 20 to 30 years.
Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi, Singh told commanders to keep a close watch on geopolitical and regional developments while staying ready for immediate and emerging challenges. Strategies, he said, must stay flexible enough to change with circumstances.
Lessons from Operation Sindoor
Singh said innovative thinking, better synergy and coordination, along with advanced weapons, contributed to the success of Operation Sindoor. The operation showed that India would not hesitate to take the measures needed to protect its national interests, he said.
He backed the military’s restructuring, with its focus on drones and modern technology, and asked for faster work on artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, data analytics, cybersecurity and secure communication networks. Challenges in the air, maritime, space and cyber domains are growing, but land warfare and ground forces would remain indispensable, he said, adding that success would depend on multi-domain capability and close coordination in joint operations.
Record defence production
“In the financial year 2025-26, defence production surged to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore, with defence exports reaching an all-time high of approx. Rs 38,000 crore,” Singh said.
Referring to the ‘Year of Reforms – 2025’, he said reform was a continuous process whose success depended on implementation, and asked commanders to carry reforms through their commands so that they improve operational capability. He also asked the forces to focus on self-reliance, better manpower management, greater participation of women and an integrated approach to national security.
Singh also unveiled the annual United Nations Journal and honoured Army personnel for their work as UN peacekeepers. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh attended.
The conference brings together the Army’s senior leadership to review ongoing initiatives, identify future priorities and set policy directions.
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