Army Chief Emphasizes Combat Readiness and Modernization in Officer Letter

Army chief General Dhiraj Seth at a forward location near the Line of Control in the Poonch-Rajouri-Sundarbani sector of J&K. (Image credit: Indian Army)

General Dhiraj Seth, who recently took over as the army chief, wrote a letter to serving army officers on 6 July 2026 titled “Together Towards Excellence.” In the letter General Seth has stated in the letter that combat readiness is his top priority. Instructing officers to be ready for Operation Sindoor 2.0 as well as Operation Snow Leopard 2.0. The army chief has asked officers to validate operational preparedness through 'spot reviews' and to maintain mission readiness holistically that is over and above equipment capability, ammunition availability, sustenance, human resource intangibles and logistics. General Seth also underlined the importance of pragmatism and practicality in dealing with challenges. He wrote that officers must think out of the box and arrive at simple, implementable solutions rather than waiting for perfect ones. Small improvements, he said, can add up to significant operational advantages. At the same time, tried and tested procedures that have stood the test of battle remain relevant, and the Army must retain the ability to adapt, improvise and overcome without compromising either accountability or quality.

We stand at an inflection point, where warfighting is transiting to a man-unmanned concept with artificial intelligence, machine learning and new warfare domains that were earlier considered as "niche" being routine and a norm.

General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff

Through the letter the army chief stated that the army’s role extends beyond defending borders, contributing directly to the national vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. This, as per the letter, requires not only professional competence but also maturity and balance to visualise the larger picture. Officers must constantly enhance their professional thresholds, stay well-read and remain intellectually ahead of the curve. He stressed that solutions should be crafted at the unit level rather than always sought from higher echelons. General Seth urged officers to lead by personal example, maintaining physical fitness and sharing hardships with their troops. He emphasized creating a culture of mutual respect and a conducive environment where subordinates are encouraged to learn, innovate and even make limited mistakes safely. He cautioned that the cognitive domain, particularly social media, has become a new battlefield where adversaries conduct grey-zone activities, instructing officers to exercise restraint and to be prudent online. He concluded by reminding officers to uphold the highest standards of ethics and empathy, especially towards veterans. Instructing officers to balance professional duties with family, health and personal growth. Soldiering, he wrote, is not just a profession but a way of life, expressing full faith in the judgment, competence and resilience of his officers.