Wars in the future will be more integrated and theater-oriented: General Dwivedi

In the future, wars will be more joint, integrated and theater-focused; therefore, the direction of the armed forces is clear – “to see together, take decisions together and act together”, outgoing Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Tuesday (June 30, 2026).

Gen Dwivedi, a distinguished military leader with over 40 years of service who is retiring on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), was given a guard of honor at a farewell ceremony held at the South Block lawns.

In his remarks to the media on the sidelines of the event, Gen Dwivedi said, “Today, as I complete my tenure as Chief of Army Staff, I feel a deep sense of gratitude, pride and satisfaction.

Gen Dwivedi took over as the 30th Chief of Army Staff in June 2024.

“The journey from Sainik School till now has been incredible. Serving the Indian Army for over four decades has been the greatest happiness of my life,” he said.

The Indian Army derives its strength “not from one individual, but from its soldiers, commanders, veterans, families and the unshakable faith of the citizens of the country”, said the outgoing army chief.

“I offer my gratitude to the fallen heroes of our military,” he said.

Before the farewell ceremony, the army chief visited the National War Memorial where he laid a wreath to honor the country’s brave hearts.

He told reporters that in the last two years, the Indian Army has maintained its operational readiness in a progressive manner on all fronts.

On the northern border, under Operation Snow Leopard, “our deployment is firm and vigilant,” he said.

“Even on the western border, the army fulfilled its duty with complete seriousness and readiness. Operation Sindoor is a shining example,” he declared.

The army chief emphasized that by working responsibly for national security, the armed forces “defined a new normal”.

During Operation Sindoor in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, all three branches of the armed forces worked in unison and integration, Gen Dwivedi said.

“Coordination between the three services has strengthened. Army, Navy and Indian Air Force have worked together with shared thinking and integration,” he said.

“In the future, wars will be more joint, integrated and theater-focused. So our direction is clear – see together, decide together and act together,” he said.

A graduate of the Sainik School in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Gen Dwivedi was tasked with the 1984 Jammu and Kashmir shootings.

A general officer has the unique distinction of balanced command as well as staff exposure in the Northern, Eastern and Western theaters in a variety of operational environments.

“Our steadfast soldiers remain steadfast in mountains, deserts, glaciers, jungles and inhospitable border areas in defense of the nation,” he said.

The outgoing army chief said that for any commander, “his priority is his soldiers, whose commitment, bravery and discipline are the identity of the Indian Army”.

The brave soldiers of the army played a crucial role in the anti-terror operations, he said.

From deployment with UN troops to participating in humanitarian and disaster relief operations, Indian soldiers have kept the country’s flag flying high, be it the dense jungles of Congo or earthquake-hit Venezuela, Gen Dwivedi said.

Published – 30 Jun 2026 12:14 IST