Spread the news
New Delhi, June 30
India’s outgoing Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, has said future conflicts will require the country’s armed forces to operate in a more integrated and theatre-oriented manner, stressing that closer coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force will be essential. Speaking on Tuesday after receiving a ceremonial guard of honour at South Block on his final day in office, Gen Dwivedi said modern warfare demands that the three services “see together, take decisions together and take actions together”.
The four-star general, who retires after more than 40 years of military service, reflected on his career with gratitude and pride.
“The journey from Sainik School till now has been incredible. To serve the Indian Army for over four decades has been the greatest fortune in my life,” he said.
Gen Dwivedi, who became the 30th Chief of the Army Staff in June 2024, said the Army’s strength comes not from a single individual but from its soldiers, commanders, veterans, families and the trust of India’s citizens. He also paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in service.
Before the farewell ceremony, the outgoing Army chief visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where he laid a wreath in honour of fallen service personnel.
Reviewing the Army’s recent operational record, Gen Dwivedi said forces had maintained a high level of readiness across all fronts during the past two years.
He said deployments along the northern frontier under Operation Snow Leopard remained “firm and vigilant”, while operations on the western border had demonstrated the Army’s preparedness, describing Operation Sindoor as a key example.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, Gen Dwivedi said the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force had worked with unprecedented coordination.
“The coordination among the three services got strengthened. The Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force worked together with shared thinking and integration,” he said.
He added that such cooperation would become increasingly important as future military operations evolve.
“Our direction is clear – to see together, make decisions together and take actions together,” he said.
An alumnus of Sainik School in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Gen Dwivedi was commissioned into the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles in 1984. During his career, he held command and staff appointments across India’s northern, eastern and western theatres.
He praised Indian soldiers serving in demanding conditions, from mountains and glaciers to deserts and dense forests, saying their courage, discipline and commitment remain the foundation of the Army. Gen Dwivedi also highlighted the Army’s role beyond combat, including counter-terrorism operations, United Nations peacekeeping missions and humanitarian relief efforts, saying Indian troops had represented the country with distinction in conflict zones and disaster-hit regions around the world.
