New Delhi, May 19 (NVI): Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday stressed the need for a “smart power” approach to safeguard the country’s long-term national interests and growth trajectory.
He said security and economic prosperity are now deeply interconnected in an increasingly volatile global environment, apparently referring to the global fuel crisis caused by the West Asia conflict.
Addressing a seminar titled “Security to Prosperity: Smart Power for Sustained National Growth” at the Manekshaw Centre here, the Army Chief said the evolving geopolitical landscape has created a “new normal of hard power” where supply chains, technology ecosystems and critical resources are increasingly being used as instruments of strategic competition.
The seminar, organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies, brought together policymakers, diplomats, senior military officers, industry leaders and strategic experts to deliberate on integrating military, diplomatic, economic and technological capabilities for sustained national development and resilience.
Referring to India’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and the Army’s ongoing “Decade of Transformation”, General Dwivedi highlighted digital networking, data-centricity and physical connectivity as key pillars for future preparedness.
Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor conducted in May 2025, he described the operation as an example of “smart power”, where military precision, information management, diplomatic signalling and economic resolve were synchronised into a coherent national strategy.
“The deliberate termination of operations after achieving clearly defined objectives reflected the calibrated application of national power,” he said.
The Army Chief also outlined a “SMART” framework for India’s strategic approach, focusing on integrated statecraft, manufacturing depth, accelerated innovation, resilience against external dependencies and technology primacy.
Emphasising the importance of Aatmanirbharta and whole-of-nation synergy, he called for stronger collaboration between the military, industry and academia to strengthen India’s strategic autonomy and defence preparedness.
“Peace is sustained not merely through the absence of conflict, but through capability, confidence and national resolve,” the COAS said.
During the event, General Dwivedi also visited a technology exhibition and unveiled the book Maratha Sainya Vyavastha (Shivaji to the Third Battle of Panipat), which traces the evolution of the Maratha military system and its relevance to Indian strategic thought.
The seminar featured special addresses and panel discussions on emerging technologies, geopolitical challenges, cybersecurity and the future of warfare.
Among the speakers were Prateek Kishore, Director General DS and DG (ACE), Defence Research and Development Organisation, and Georg Enzweiler, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Germany in India.
Discussions also focused on disruptions in global supply chains related to energy, food and critical minerals, and the need for resilient alternatives to protect India’s strategic and economic interests.(NVI)
