‘Jointness, self-reliance, innovation’: Army Chief Gen Dwivedi calls for indigenous tech to be future-ready; says ‘Op Sindoor going on’

NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday extended New Year greetings to the nation and hailed India’s decision action under Operation Sindoor, saying the “operation continues even today”.

In an X post by the ADG PI-Indian Army, General Upendra Dwivedi noted that the army is undergoing a decade of transformation, stating “jointness, self-reliance, and innovation” as the pillars of India’s defence strategy. He called for indigenous technologies and new ideas to make the Army future-ready.

The COAS said, “On the auspicious occasion of New Year 2026, on behalf of the Indian Army, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all fellow citizens. May this New Year bring happiness, good health, and prosperity to you and your families. The Indian Army is ensuring the security of the nation with utmost vigilance and determination”.

“Last year, the enemy’s nefarious designs were given a befitting reply through firm and decisive action under Operation Sindoor, and this operation continues even today. Along with vigilance on the borders, the Army has played a vital role in national progress through rapid response during disasters within the country and nation-building efforts”, he said.

नव वर्ष 2026 पर जनरल उपेन्द्र द्विवेदी, #सेनाध्यक्ष का सभी पद, परिवारों एवं देशवासियों को शुभ सन्देश।#नववर्ष2026#भारतीयसेना#NewYear2026#IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/BgwhtvGJry

— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) January 1, 2026

India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting the terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as a response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 individuals were killed.

Further, Army Chief General Dwivedi noted that networking and data-centricity are providing new impetus to the Army’s transformation process.

“The Indian Army is undergoing a decade of transformation, where jointness, self-reliance, and innovation are the core pillars of our strategic power. Through the effective use of indigenous technologies, new ideas, and continuous improvements, we are making the Army more capable and future-ready. Networking and data-centricity are providing new impetus to this transformation. I express my gratitude to every citizen for their contribution. Your trust, cooperation, and solidarity are our greatest strength. To achieve the goal of Developed India 2047, the Indian Army will continue to contribute to security and nation-building,” General Upendra Dwivedi said.

Post Operation Sindoor, the Army Chief has repeatedly called for jointness and the use of technology for modern warfare. In November 2025, following the commissioning of INS Mahe, General Upendra Dwivedi said that the Indian Army had also launched a series of initiatives under an overall umbrella in which jointness and integration are important pillars, recognising that modern conflicts will be multi-domain and hybrid.

COAS Upendra Dwivedi had then said, “The Indian Army too has launched a series of initiatives under an overall umbrella of a decade of transformation in which jointness and integration are important pillars, recognising that modern conflicts will be multi-domain, hybrid and require united national strength. The Indian Navy plays an important role in our neighbourhood as well as the global environment in far-off lands, where the efforts of the army can play both a supplementary and a complementary role in soft and hard diplomacy, which I refer to as smart diplomacy.” (ANI)