Marking a pivotal moment in India’s defence narrative, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday released a seminal book titled “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India’s Military”, authored by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan.
In what is being hailed as a bold and insightful contribution to India’s strategic discourse, the book lays down a roadmap for the future of the Indian Armed Forces, focusing on the core pillars of jointness, integration, and Atmanirbharta (self-reliance). Uniquely authored by a serving four-star officer, the book offers a rare and authoritative perspective on how India’s military must evolve to tackle the complex challenges of 21st-century warfare.
The release of the book comes at a defining juncture when structural reforms in India’s defence establishment are being rolled out with renewed urgency. The drive toward the jointness, aimed at bringing operational synergy among the Army, Navy, and Air Force, is central to this transformation. The model under consideration proposes a tri-command architecture with region-specific focus: a Northern Theatre Command based in Lucknow with an eye on China, a Western Theatre Command in Jaipur focusing on Pakistan, and a Maritime Theatre Command headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram to safeguard India’s oceanic interests.
“The book is more than a doctrinal manuscript—it reflects the beginning of a new era in India’s higher defence organisation,” the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) noted in a post on X shortly after the release.
General Chauhan’s insights, shaped by his extensive operational experience and current role as CDS, delve deep into the need for strategic alignment, optimal resource utilisation, and technological adaptation. His vision resonates with India’s ambition to be a self-reliant, agile, and formidable military power ready to respond swiftly to both conventional and non-traditional threats.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while unveiling the book, lauded the initiative, calling it a timely and forward-looking contribution that will serve as a guiding framework not only for defence planners and policymakers but also for young officers and military scholars. As India positions itself on the global stage with an assertive defence posture, “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent” is poised to become a cornerstone document in shaping the philosophy, structure, and strategy of the nation’s armed forces.
