**Policy Summary:**
On August 26, 2025, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan addressed RAN SAMWAD, a tri-service seminar on war, warfare, and warfighting held at the Army War College in Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh. The seminar's theme was the impact of technology on warfare. The CDS emphasized the necessity of decisive joint responses across all domains to secure victory in future conflicts, highlighting that battlefields will not adhere to traditional service boundaries.
General Chauhan stressed the importance of *Aatmanirbharta* (self-reliance) in defense and integrated logistics. He said jointness is crucial for India's transformation, and the institutionalization of joint training. The CDS further emphasized the integration of evolving technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber, and Quantum computing to enhance operational capabilities. He voiced the commitment to develop Sudarshan Chakra, Indias Own Iron Dome.
The CDS called for serious research into various dimensions of war, leadership, motivation, morale, and technology, stating that India needs to be *Sashakt* (Empowered), *Surakshit* (Secure), *Aatmanirbhar* (Self-Reliant), and *Viksit* (Developed).
RAN SAMWAD is designed to foster dialogue among military professionals, particularly young and mid-level officers, to incorporate their insights on technological advancements and create an ecosystem for innovation. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will deliver the plenary address on the second day of the seminar, during which Joint Doctrines and the Technology Perspective Capability Roadmap will be released.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: The government ministry responsible for defence.
Chief of Defence Staff: The head of the Indian Armed Forces.
General Anil Chauhan: The current Chief of Defence Staff.
RAN SAMWAD: A Tri-service seminar on war, warfare, and warfighting.
Army War College, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh: Location of the RAN SAMWAD seminar.
Aatmanirbharta: Self-reliance in defence production.
Sudarshan Chakra Indias Own Iron Dome: A proposed missile defense system.
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh: The current Defence Minister.
Ministry of Defence
Decisive joint responses across domains, enabled by
self-reliance & integrated logistics, will be key to
victory in future wars: CDS at RAN SAMWAD
Posted On: 26 AUG 2025 11:36AM by PIB Delhi
Emphasising that battlefields of tomorrow will not recognise service boundaries, Chief of Defence Staff
(CDS) General Anil Chauhan has called for swift and decisive joint responses across domains to ensure
victory in future wars. He was delivering the keynote address at RAN SAMWAD, a first-of-its-kind Tri-
service seminar on war, warfare & warfighting, on the theme ‘Impact of Technology on Warfare’ at the Army
War College in Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh on August 26, 2025.
Terming Aatmanirbharta in defence and integrated logistics as key to emerge victorious in the wars to come,
the CDS reaffirmed that ‘jointness’ is foundational to India’s transformation. He underscored the need to
institutionalise joint training and absorb constantly-evolving technologies such as Artificial Intelligence,
Cyber and Quantum to enhance operational capability. For a robust civil-military integration, he voiced the
importance & commitment to develop Sudarshan Chakra (India’s Own Iron Dome) which will act as both ‘A
Shield and A Sword’, and said that developing capabilities in multiple domains is central for attaining victory
in future wars.
Citing Kautilya, General Anil Chauhan stated that India has been a fountainhead of ideas and knowledge since
ancient times, however, very little literature on Scholarly Analysis of Indian Wars or academic discourse on
strategy exists. “Serious research needs to be done on various dimensions of war, leadership, motivation,
morale and technology. India needs to be Sashakt, Surakshit, Aatmanirbhar and Viksit. This can only be
achieved when all stakeholders participate collectively in the process of building future ready forces,” he said.
The CDS pointed out that the idea of RAN SAMWAD is to create space for actual practitioners, especiallyyoung and middle level officers, who are aware of technological advancements. He stated that there is a need
to hear their point of view thus creating an ecosystem wherein symphony and harmony among new ideas co-
exist with the experience provided by the personnel.
The two-day seminar brings serving military professionals to the forefront of strategic dialogue. Raksha
Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will deliver the plenary address on the second and final day. A few Joint Doctrines
and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap will also be released during the event.
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VK/SR/Savvy
(Release ID: 2160796)