India names General Dhiraj Seth as Army Chief, unveils VIJAY modernisation roadmap
General Dhiraj Seth has taken charge as India's 31st Chief of Army Staff and set out a modernisation agenda for the Indian Army. In his first remarks after assuming office on Wednesday, he said the force must respond to an evolving security environment with renewed energy and firm resolve. He also said the Army should become technology-enabled, future-ready and capable of operating across multiple domains.
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Gen Seth framed his priorities through the acronym VIJAY, which he said stands for Vigilance, Innovation, Transformation, Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Yodha First. He said vigilance was needed along borders and against emerging threats, while innovation should shape both doctrine and technological solutions. He added that transformation would be necessary as the character of warfare changes, and that jointness would require full synergy with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
The new Army chief also stressed self-reliance in defence capability, saying the force should build on indigenous technologies and solutions developed within the country. He said national security depends on more than military strength alone and requires military-civil fusion and a whole-of-nation approach. He linked that approach to the broader goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, while saying the Army should be able to win wars with indigenous solutions.
The leadership transition comes at a time when India is publicly emphasising military modernisation and integration across services. Gen Seth described the Army as combat-ready and battle-hardened, but said its technological threshold and training standards must continue to rise. He also said every soldier, from Agniveer recruits to senior veterans, is a fighter and part of the Army's strength.
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His remarks also placed veterans and Veer Naris, the widows of fallen soldiers, within the Army's wider institutional priorities. He said their welfare, empowerment and professional growth would remain important. That emphasis suggests the new chief is pairing operational readiness with personnel support as part of the Army's future direction.
What remains unclear is how quickly the VIJAY roadmap will be translated into specific procurement, training and doctrine changes. No detailed timeline or budgetary measures were announced in the available material. The next developments to watch will be whether the Army issues more concrete implementation steps and how the new chief's priorities align with wider defence planning.
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