General Dhiraj Seth inspects the Guard of Honour during a ceremony marking his assumption of charge as the new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), at the South Block, in New Delhi on July 1, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday (July 1, 2026) unveiled a roadmap titled “VIJAY”, outlining his vision for transforming the Indian Army into a technology-enabled, future-ready force capable of operating across multiple domains. The roadmap, inspired by the Defence Minister’s vision for the Decade of Transformation, was unveiled a day after he assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff.Beginning his first official engagements, General Seth paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. He later reviewed a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns before addressing the media and outlining his priorities for the Army.Calling it a moment of “great pride and humility” to lead the Indian Army, General Seth reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of “Duty, Honour and Nation First” and thanked the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister for reposing their faith in him. He also paid tribute to the soldiers who laid down their lives in service of the nation, saying their courage and sacrifice would continue to inspire generations.Describing the Indian Army as a combat-ready and battle-hardened force, the Army Chief said it remains fully prepared to meet emerging security challenges. He said the Army’s modernisation would be accelerated to create a technologically advanced force capable of responding effectively across conventional, hybrid and emerging domains of warfare.Explaining the “VIJAY” roadmap, General Seth said “V” represents Vigilance, with emphasis on maintaining operational readiness and constant alertness along the borders. “I” stands for Innovation and Transformation, focusing on modern doctrine, cutting-edge technologies and capability development to keep pace with the changing character of warfare.The letter “J” signifies Jointness and Integration, highlighting deeper synergy among the Army, Navy and Air Force, alongside greater military-civil fusion through a Whole-of-Nation approach to strengthen national security and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.For “A”, General Seth emphasised Atmanirbharta, reiterating the Army’s commitment to indigenous technologies under the guiding principle of “Winning Our Wars with Indigenous Solutions.” “Y” stands for Yodha First, reflecting the Army’s focus on every soldier, from Agniveers to veterans, as its greatest strength. He said improving training standards, technological skills, welfare and the empowerment of veterans and Veer Naris would remain key priorities.General Seth also acknowledged the contributions of former Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi and previous Chiefs for shaping the Indian Army into a strong and trusted institution. Concluding his address, he assured the nation that the Army would remain steadfast in safeguarding India’s sovereignty and national interests, adding that the Prime Minister’s mantra of “JAI” would guide the force towards “VIJAY.” Published - July 01, 2026 07:24 pm IST
