At the Delhi Defence Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted the need for a major shift in India’s defence approach, stressing that technology must be accessible, scalable and designed to empower every soldier and citizen involved in national security.
Speaking at a key session on evolving military challenges, Gen Dwivedi said the nature of warfare is rapidly changing, with conflicts increasingly influenced by AI-enabled systems, cyber operations, robotics and information warfare. He emphasised that these tools should not remain confined to specialised units but must be democratised so that they can be effectively used across the Army, including frontline troops, support units and strategic planners.
According to the Army Chief, the Indian Army is focusing on a human-first strategy, ensuring that technology enhances decision-making rather than overshadowing it. He also underlined the growing importance of citizen participation, noting that modern warfare extends beyond battlefields, involving digital activism, information defence, cyber vigilance and community preparedness.
Gen Dwivedi also pointed to India’s need to strengthen domestic technological capabilities, especially in areas such as semiconductors, advanced communication systems and AI-driven defence tools. He said the Army is working closely with Indian start-ups, innovators and academia to accelerate the development of secure and indigenous solutions.
The Army Chief reiterated that future security challenges will require a connected national ecosystem, where technology creators, defence forces and informed citizens work together to build resilience against both visible and “below-threshold” threats.
His message signals a clear vision – India’s defence readiness must evolve from hardware-centric thinking to a technology-enabled, people-driven approach, powered by innovation and broad citizen engagement.
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