New Delhi, Jun 30: Outgoing Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said future conflicts will be increasingly joint, integrated and theatre-oriented, underscoring the need for the three armed services to operate with unified planning, decision-making and execution.
Addressing the media after being accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at South Block on his final day in office, Gen Dwivedi said the armed forces’ direction was clear: “to see together, take decisions together and take actions together.”
Retiring after more than 40 years of military service, Gen Dwivedi described his journey from Sainik School to becoming the 30th Chief of the Army Staff as the greatest privilege of his life. He assumed office in June 2024.
Expressing gratitude to soldiers, commanders, veterans, military families and citizens, he said the Indian Army derives its strength from its people rather than any one individual. He also paid tribute to the fallen soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
Earlier in the day, the Army Chief laid a wreath at the National War Memorial to honour the country’s bravehearts.
Reviewing his tenure, Gen Dwivedi said the Army had maintained high operational readiness across all fronts over the past two years. He said troops remained firm and vigilant along the northern border under Operation Snow Leopard, while Operation Sindoor demonstrated the Army’s preparedness on the western front.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, he said the operation highlighted enhanced coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force, reflecting growing jointness and integration among the three services.
He said the armed forces had established a “new normal” in safeguarding national security through coordinated operations and stressed that future warfare would require even deeper integration and theatre-based command structures.
Commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in 1984, Gen Dwivedi has served across the Northern, Eastern and Western theatres in diverse operational environments. He praised the unwavering commitment of soldiers deployed in mountains, deserts, glaciers, jungles and other inhospitable border areas.
Calling soldiers the Army’s greatest strength, he said their courage, discipline and dedication define the Indian Army. He also highlighted their contributions to counter-terrorism operations, United Nations peacekeeping missions and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, noting that Indian troops have upheld the nation’s reputation in missions ranging from the Congo to earthquake-hit Venezuela. (Agencies)
