Indian Army to hold 10th Chiefs' Conclave with ex Indian, Nepal Army Chiefs on Friday
By Ajit Dubey, New Delhi, February 26
The Indian Army will hold the 10th Chiefs' Conclave on Friday, in which former Chiefs of Armies of India and Nepal will be briefed about the various operations and aspects of the force.
The Chiefs of the Nepal Army are also the honorary Chiefs of the Indian Army, while the Indian Army Chiefs are the honorary Chiefs of the Nepal Army.
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi and other top officials of the Indian Army will be briefing former chiefs about the major transformation carried out in the force in recent times to deal with challenges of modern warfare.
The former chiefs are also likely to be briefed about the Indian Army's actions during Operation Sindoor and how it destroyed the majority of the terror camps during the conflict.
The eight Indian Army chiefs likely to attend the conclave include Mizoram Governor Gen VK Singh, General Manoj Mukund Naravane, General Manoj Pande, General Deepak Kapoor, General JJ Singh and General NC Vij.
Next of kin of three former chiefs, including late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and late General Bipin Rawat, have also been invited to the conclave, along with four ex-Nepal Army chiefs.
India and Nepal have had close military ties and carry out multiple joint exercises.
The Indian Army is undergoing a significant transformation and has created new fighting formations like the Rudra brigades, Shaktibaan drone regiments and Divyastra batteries.
The force has also been given the nod for raising new Integrated Battle Groups, which would be headed by a Major General rank officer and include all arms troops to carry out operations more effectively.
The force has also created its own drone-producing workshops, manufacturing 3D-printed drones, swarm warfare, and indigenous loitering munitions.
The Army has introduced specialised units like Ashni Platoons and Bhairav Battalions, integrating drones into infantry battalions and elite rapid-strike operations. Each Ashni platoon operates 10 drones, with 4 for surveillance and 6 for strike missions.
The Bhairav Battalions will have over 250 elite soldiers, focusing on deep-strike missions with heavy FPV and strike capabilities.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Very insightful read. The detail about Operation Sindoor is notable. It's crucial for strategic history to be passed on to former leadership. The joint exercises with Nepal are a cornerstone for regional stability.
Proud of our Army! Exercise Agni Varsha sounds impressive. Showcasing our indigenous tech and firepower to foreign journalists is a smart move. It builds credibility. Our forces are truly modernizing at a rapid pace.
While this conclave is good for institutional memory, I hope the briefing also includes honest assessments of current challenges and resource gaps. We must always strive for improvement, not just celebration.
Honoured to see the kin of legends like Field Marshal Manekshaw and General Rawat being invited. Their legacy lives on. The India-Nepal Gorkha connection is a living history. More power to our armed forces!
Good step. Involving ex-chiefs from both nations fosters continuous strategic dialogue. Our ties with Nepal are special and must be nurtured, especially in defence. The 'combined arms' focus in exercises is the need of the hour.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.