Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday underlined the primacy of land forces in warfare, stressing that control over territory remains the ultimate determinant of victory, especially in India’s strategic context.
Speaking at the 52nd National Management Convention at Taj Palace, New Delhi, Gen Dwivedi said, “In India, since we have two-and-half-front threats, land will remain the currency of victory.”
Land as the Decisive Factor
The Army Chief referred to the recent Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine conflict, noting that discussions focused primarily on how much land would change hands. He argued that such examples reinforce the importance of territorial control in modern conflicts.
Contrast With Air Power
His remarks came just two weeks after Air Chief Marshal AP Singh highlighted the “primacy” of air power in light of Operation Sindoor. Gen Dwivedi’s statement signaled the Army’s emphasis on balance among the services, with land dominance continuing to be a decisive element.
Technology and Transformation
Gen Dwivedi also spoke about the evolving nature of warfare, stressing the Indian Army’s ongoing efforts to integrate emerging technologies under transformative reforms.
Push for Theaterisation
Reiterating his earlier stance on jointness, the Army Chief said coordination across multiple security and civil agencies — from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to defence cyber and space agencies — made theaterisation essential. “Unity of command is more important. You need one commander to achieve coordination in execution. Theaterisation is absolutely necessary,” he said.
