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 introduced the acronym ‘VIJAY’ to define the priorities that will guide the Army’s transformation in the years ahead.
The acronym stands for ‘V’ for vigilance, ‘I’ for innovation, ‘J’ for jointness and integration, ‘A’ for Aatmanirbharta, 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 combat-ready and battle-hardened force that remains prepared to meet any challenge on the battlefield. He said taking over the Army’s top post was a matter of both honour and responsibility, and that he was accepting the role with deep commitment to the ideals of duty, honour and nation first.
General Seth also paid tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the nation, saying their courage and dedication would continue to inspire generations to come.
Also Read:Delhi EV Policy: Cabinet Approves Ambitious New EV Strategy
On the need to strengthen the Army’s capabilities, he said modernisation must move forward with renewed urgency to meet the demands of a changing security environment, with the aim of building a technology-enabled, future-ready force capable of operating across multiple domains.
General Seth said the VIJAY priorities are aligned with the Army’s ‘Decade of Transformation’ the 2023-2032 roadmap for modernisation and restructuring the force has pursued under the broader reform agenda championed 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 Aatmanirbharta 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 Vice Chief of the Army Staff and is among the few senior officers to have commanded two operational Army commands along the western front.