{"id":54368,"date":"2025-09-17T20:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=54368"},"modified":"2025-09-18T13:10:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T07:40:53","slug":"unconventional-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-09-2025\/unconventional-threats","title":{"rendered":"Defence Minister Urges Armed Forces to be Ready for Unconventional Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh encouraged the <strong>armed forces<\/strong> to remain alert and ready to counter<strong> \u201cinvisible\u201d challenges from information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>turbulent global order, regional instability and evolving security<\/strong> landscape demanded constant assessment and preparedness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He urged commanders to work towards building the <strong>Sudarshan Chakra vision <\/strong>articulated by Prime Minister Modi.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It is India\u2019s roadmap for building a 21st-century armed force <\/strong>which is<strong> <\/strong>&nbsp;technologically advanced, joint, self-reliant, and strategically agile to secure national interests in a rapidly changing world.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A committee had been set up to prepare a medium-term (five-year) and long-term (10-year) road map for the project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Modernisation is Needed?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Changing Nature of Warfare: <\/strong>Shift from traditional wars to hybrid warfare (cyber, space, information, drones, AI-enabled weapons).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regional Security Challenges: <\/strong>China\u2019s military build-up, Pakistan\u2019s proxy wars, and terrorism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology Gap: <\/strong>Need to reduce dependence on imports and strengthen indigenous capabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Operational Preparedness: <\/strong>To maintain credible deterrence and ensure readiness for short, high-intensity conflicts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Decade of Transformation of Indian Army<\/strong><br>&#8211; The Indian Army is observing <strong>2023\u20132032<\/strong> as the <strong>\u2018Decade of Transformation\u2019 <\/strong>and has designated <strong>2024\u201325 as the \u2018Years of Technology Absorption\u2019<\/strong> to pave the way for becoming a <strong>future-ready, technology-driven, lethal, and agile force.<\/strong><br>&#8211; <strong>The Transformation Roadmap Focuses On:<\/strong><br>1. <strong>Force Structuring and Transformation:<\/strong> Building an efficient, combat-ready force.<br>2. <strong>Modernisation and Technology Induction:<\/strong> Prioritising cutting-edge technologies.<br>3. <strong>Jointness and Integration:<\/strong> Enhancing tri-service synergy through theatre commands.<br>4. <strong>Multi-Domain Operational Capability:<\/strong> Preparing for complex and evolving threats.<br>5. <strong>Infrastructure Development:<\/strong> Strengthening operational readiness.<br>6. <strong>Human Resource Development:<\/strong> Fostering a skilled and motivated workforce.<br>7. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/17-01-2023\/atmanirbharta-for-new-india\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/17-01-2023\/atmanirbharta-for-new-india\">Atmanirbharta<\/a>: <\/strong>Promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing and technology.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges In Achieving Modernisation:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reorientation to Multi-Domain Conflict:<\/strong> Multi-domain high-tech operations will require multi-skilling and multi-competencies to prevail in a future conflict.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The art of war will need to be elevated along with the science of war.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human Capital &amp; PME (Professional Military Education): <\/strong>Need for officers trained in strategic thinking, technology adaptation, and joint operations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The current system is still tilted towards traditional, rank-based career progression.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technological Gaps: <\/strong>The Army lags behind in AI, robotics, drones, cyber, and electronic warfare.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Induction of modern systems is not matched by reforms in doctrine, training, and structures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Civil\u2013Military Coordination Issues: <\/strong>Lack of synergy between MoD, armed forces, and industry.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Absence of a fully empowered procurement authority delays decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Pressures: <\/strong>Two-front challenge from China and Pakistan demands rapid modernisation, but pace remains slow.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a need for indigenous capabilities in case of sanctions or supply chain disruptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) &amp; Department of Military Affairs (DMA) (2019)<\/strong>: It was established to enhance jointness and integration in planning, procurement, and training.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020: <\/strong>It promotes indigenous design, development &amp; manufacturing, prioritises \u201cMake in India\u201d categories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2025 declared \u201cYear of Reforms\u201d: <\/strong>Focus on enhancing tri\u2010service jointness &amp; integration.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Simplification and speedier acquisition procedures.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Emphasis on emerging domains: <\/strong>Cyber, Space, AI, Machine Learning, Hypersonics, Robotics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrated Theatre Commands (ITCs): <\/strong>Push to restructure command structure so that Army, Navy, Air Force in a region operate under unified command.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Part of the \u201cjointness\u201d agenda to avoid duplication, improve responsiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joint Doctrine &amp; Technology Perspective &amp; Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2025: <\/strong>Released at \u201cRan Samwad 2025\u201d to lay out standards, capability gaps and technology development for ~10\u2010year horizon.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Joint doctrines for multi-domain operations (land, sea, air, space, cyber, cognitive) plus specialised joint doctrines (e.g. Special Forces) to improve interoperability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defence Industrial Corridors &amp; Indigenous Production Push: <\/strong>Two defence industrial corridors have been established in <strong>Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh<\/strong> to bolster its defence manufacturing ecosystem and promote domestic defence production.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joint exercises: <\/strong>The Indian Armed Forces conduct tri-service integrated multi-domain exercises focused on coordinated operations involving the Army, Air Force, and Navy (Exercise Prachand Prahar, Exercise Desert Hunt).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS):<\/strong> It provides the backbone for real-time coordination, enabling synchronized responses across multiple units of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The goal of becoming a modern, adaptive, and tech-savvy force is not just a dream but an imperative in today\u2019s world, where technology is fast overtaking warfare and warfighters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This transformation will require not just technological innovation, but also a commitment to rethinking force restructuring, adaptive training and tactics, and equipment, to become a future-ready force.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/rajnath-singh-urges-armed-forces-to-be-ready-for-unconventional-threats\/article70057470.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Defence Minister Rajnath Singh encouraged the armed forces to remain alert and ready to counter \u201cinvisible\u201d challenges from information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The turbulent global order, regional instability and evolving security landscape demanded constant assessment and preparedness.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">He urged commanders to work towards building the Sudarshan Chakra vision articulated by Prime Minister Modi.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It is India\u2019s roadmap for building a 21st-century armed force which is \u00a0technologically advanced, joint, self-reliant, and strategically agile to secure national interests in a rapidly changing world.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">A committee had been set up to prepare a medium-term (five-year) and long-term (10-year) road map for the project.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/17-09-2025\/unconventional-threats\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54368","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54368"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54436,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54368\/revisions\/54436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}