Army chief Dhiraj Seth unveils 'VIJAY' vision for future-ready Indian Army

Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday outlined his vision for a modern, technology-driven Indian Army, saying the force must be prepared to meet the demands of an evolving security landscape. He also introduced the acronym 'VIJAY' to define the key priorities that will guide the Army's future transformation.The acronym represents 'V' for vigilance, 'I' for innovation, 'J' for jointness and integration, 'A' for Aatmanirbhrata and 'Y' for 'Yodha first'.General Seth, who took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff on Tuesday after General Upendra Dwivedi retired on June 30, addressed reporters after receiving a guard of honour at South Block.Speaking on his first day as Army chief, he described the Indian Army as a force that is fully prepared for combat.“The Indian Army is a combat-ready and battle hardened force, which is “always ready to face all challenges in a battlefield”.”He said taking over the Army's top post was both an honour and a responsibility.“To assume charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) is a moment of pride and humility for me. I accept this responsibility with deep commitment to the ideals of duty, honour and nation first,” he said.General Seth also paid tribute to soldiers who laid down their lives in service of the nation.“Their courage, commitment to duty and selfless dedication will continue to inspire generations to come,” he said.Highlighting the need to strengthen the Army's capabilities, he said modernisation must continue at a faster pace to address emerging security challenges.“To meet the challenges of a changing security environment, we must take forward the modernisation of the army with new vigour and firm determination.“Our aim is to forge a technology-enabled, future-ready army which is powerful in all forms, and capable of operating in multiple domains,” the general officer asserted.General Seth said the priorities under 'VIJAY' are aligned with the 'Decade of Transformation' between 2023 and 2032, a roadmap for modernisation and restructuring envisioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.“I have put them together in an acronym – 'VIJAY'. 'V' stands for vigilance, 'I' for innovation, 'J' for jointness and integration, 'A' for Aatmanirbhrata and 'Y' for 'Yodha first',” Gen Seth said.An alumnus of the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla, General Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. Before taking over as Army chief, he served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff and is among the few senior officers to have commanded two operational Army commands along the western front.