‘Boots must share space with bots’: Army chief Gen Dwivedi stresses readiness for 5th-gen conflicts; inaugurates ‘Agnishodh’ to boost defence innovation | India News

NEW DELHI: Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said the Indian armed forces are fully prepared to handle fifth-generation warfare marked by non-contact combat, strategic tempo and psychological dominance, emphasising that the nature of modern warfare demands integration of conventional power with emerging technologies.Speaking at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, Gen Dwivedi described future battlefields as ones “where boots must share space with bots.” He was addressing a session on ‘Operation Sindoor – A New Chapter in India’s Fight Against Terrorism’, and used the occasion to highlight India’s evolving military doctrine and readiness.Describing Operation Sindoor as a turning point, Gen Dwivedi said it was an “intelligence-driven response that redefined India’s counter-terrorism doctrine.” As per news agency PTI, he stated that the 88-hour tri-services operation was “unprecedented in scale, range, depth and strategic impact,” compelling Pakistan to seek a ceasefire within that window. He said it was executed across the DIME spectrum, referring to diplomatic, informational, military and economic efforts.During his two-day visit to Chennai, the army chief also inaugurated ‘Agnishodh’, a dedicated Indian Army Research Cell at IIT-Madras to promote indigenous defence innovations. As per a press release, this initiative forms part of the Army’s ‘Five Pillars of Transformation’, particularly focusing on modernisation and technology infusion.Gen Dwivedi underscored the military’s commitment to self-reliance through collaborations under national technology missions like ‘INDIAai’, ‘Chip-to-Startup’, and ‘Project QuILA’, with Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow, as a strategic partner.According to PTI, he also appreciated innovation-led efforts of Indian Army cells at institutions such as IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur and IISc-Bengaluru. He noted that programmes like Project SAMBHAV and additive manufacturing partnerships with Army Base Workshops are “setting new benchmarks” in applied defence technology.Calling the IIT-Madras collaboration a landmark step, he said ‘Agnishodh’ would convert academic excellence into battlefield innovation and bolster the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’.During the event, the Army Chief also honoured four decorated ex-servicemen with Veteran Achievers Awards, recognising their service and continued contributions to nation-building, the official statement added.