General Dhiraj Seth assumes charge as 31st Army Chief, gives "Vijay" mantra
New Delhi, July 1
Assuming charge as the 31st Chief of Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday pledged to modernise the Indian Army into a technology-driven, future-ready force and outlined his strategic vision under the acronym "VIJAY," emphasising vigilance, innovation, jointness, self-reliance, and prioritising soldiers.
General Seth said it was a matter of "pride and humility" to lead the Indian Army and reaffirm his commitment to the ideals of "Duty, Honour, and Nation First."
He said the guiding principle of "VIJAY" articulated for the armed forces forms the foundation of India's success and will lead to victory, adding that "Jai leads to Vijay".
"I believe that the guiding principle articulated by the Prime Minister for the armed forces, encapsulated in the acronym 'VIJAY', forms the very foundation of our success and will unfailingly lead us to victory. It is a privilege for me to champion this vision. 'Jai' leads to 'Vijay'; Jai Hind and Jai Bharat," General Seth added.
He also paid tribute to soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation and thanked the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for reposing faith in him.
"It is a matter of pride and humility for me to assume the office of the 31st Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army today. I accept this responsibility with an unwavering commitment to the ideals of 'Duty, Honour, and Nation First'. I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for placing their trust in me and entrusting me with the honour and responsibility of leading the Indian Army. I also pay my humble tribute to those brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation; their courage, devotion to duty, and selfless dedication will continue to inspire future generations," the Army Chief said.
"...To tackle the challenges of this evolving security environment, we must advance the modernisation of the Army with renewed vigour and firm resolve. Our objective is to build a technology-enabled, future-ready Army that is empowered in every respect and capable of operating across multiple domains. Keeping these objectives in mind and drawing inspiration from the guidance provided by the Defence Minister under the 'Decade of Transformation', I have identified my key focus areas. I have consolidated them into an acronym: 'VIJAY'. Each letter of 'VIJAY' represents one of my priorities, and I will briefly outline them. The first letter is 'V'--for Vigilance and Readiness. We will maintain constant vigilance regarding our borders and emerging threats, and uphold a high level of operational readiness to effectively counter any challenge to national security. 'I' stands for Innovation and Transformation; my focus will be on both doctrinal and technological solutions. Innovation will be an integral part of our mindset, operational methods, and capability development. Furthermore, we will implement the transformations necessary to adapt to the evolving battlefield," he said.
The Army Chief paid tribute to his predecessors, including General Upendra Dwivedi and former Army Chiefs, saying that under their vision and leadership, the Indian Army has evolved into a strong, robust and reliable force.
"'J' stands for Jointness and Integration; to enhance the Indian Army's operational effectiveness, we will maintain synergy, complete coordination and alignment with the Air Force and the Navy. This integrated approach will enable us to participate in nation-building and propel us towards the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat 2047' (Developed India 2047). 'A' stands for Aatmanirbharta. Leveraging indigenous capabilities and technologies developed within the country, we will build a self-reliant Army. Our overarching aim will be to win wars using indigenous solutions...'Y' stands for 'Yoddha First' (Soldier First) is my guiding principle. In my definition, everyone from the newest Agniveer to the most senior veteran is a warrior, and these warriors constitute the greatest strength of our Army...On this occasion, I also pay my respects to General Upendra Dwivedi and all my former Army Chiefs, under whose vision and leadership the Indian Army has evolved into a strong, robust, and reliable force," he further added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Hope this translates into real action on the ground. We've heard many visions over the years but need to see faster equipment upgrades for soldiers in harsh border conditions. The focus on 'Yoddha First' is good, but our jawans need better winter gear and modern rifles. Let's see how quickly it happens.
Impressive strategic thinking by the new Chief. The emphasis on jointness between Army, Navy, and Air Force is critical for India's security in a complex neighborhood. VIJAY acronym is well-thought-out. Wishing him all the best in leading our brave soldiers.
Really appreciate the 'Yoddha First' principle. My cousin is in the Army and he often talks about how the mental and physical well-being of soldiers needs more attention beyond just tactical readiness. Hope this new vision brings real care for our warriors. Jai Hind! 🙏
Good to see a clear vision from the new Army Chief. The 'A' for Aatmanirbharta is something we all need to support as citizens. But I hope the modernization doesn't only focus on tech but also on improving the quality of life for our soldiers in remote postings. They deserve the best.
The VIJAY framework is well thought out—vigilance, innovation, jointness, self-reliance, and soldier welfare. It's encouraging to see the Indian Army under such dynamic leadership focusing on both technology and human capital. Wishing General Seth great success in this important role.
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