Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the 30th Chief of Army Staff who assumed command in June 2024, addressed the third Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi, painting a stark picture of global shifts from Cold War bipolarity and a fleeting unipolar era into a multipolar, fractured order marked by over 50 active conflicts. Hosted at Manekshaw Centre with the theme "Reform to Transform: Sashakt and Aur Surakshit Bharat," the conclave drew senior armed forces officials, defence experts from India and abroad, and President Droupadi Murmu as Chief Guest, whom Dwivedi hailed as a catalyst for future readiness. He framed the military's imperative around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5Ss vision—Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Sayog (cooperation), Samridhi (prosperity), and Suraksha (security)—amid declining long peace and rising comprehensive wars, questioning how India must evolve to deter and dominate.​​

Anchoring this vision is the Army's 'Decade of Transformation' (2023-2032), structured in three phases: 'Hop' by 2032 to set the agenda, a five-year consolidation to 2037, and 'Jump' to 2047 for an integrated, future-ready force design. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's declaration of 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms' validated this through Operation Sindoor's decisive outcomes, where prior preparations yielded strategic success against threats, advancing goals of a Sashakt, Surakshit, and Viksit Bharat. Dwivedi emphasized carrying this momentum forward, propelled by four key "springboards" to ensure the force remains agile in turbulent times, from grey-zone warfare to multi-domain operations.​​

The first springboard, 'Atmanirbharta' (self-reliance), prioritizes indigenisation to empower domestic capabilities, reducing external dependencies in a volatile world. Second, accelerated innovation demands scaling from experiments to enterprise-level impacts in AI, cyber, quantum computing, autonomous systems, space assets, and advanced materials, mirroring global jostling among major powers. These build on recent advancements like Rudra brigades, Bhairav commandos, and drone-equipped infantry showcased in operations.​​

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Complementing these are adaptation to emerging threats—such as those along the Line of Actual Control with China and Pakistan's collusivity—and military-civil fusion to integrate civilian tech ecosystems for holistic strength. Dwivedi expressed confidence that the dialogue would yield actionable items, reinforcing deterrence and operational prowess, as seen in his recent forward area reviews and events like the Shaurya Veer Run honouring soldiers' sacrifices. This multi-phased leap positions the Indian Army as a decisive force in an uncertain landscape.​​

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