New Delhi/Bengaluru: Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has said that lessons learned from Operation Sindoor have significantly transformed the Indian Army’s approach to future warfare, leading to the creation of a dedicated “Psychological Defence Unit” to counter information warfare and misinformation in modern conflicts.
Speaking at the “RAN Samvad 2026” tri-services forum in Bengaluru, the Army Chief emphasized that future wars will no longer be confined to traditional battlefields, but will unfold across multiple domains including land, cyber, space, and information environments.
Operation Sindoor highlights multi-domain complexity
General Dwivedi explained that Operation Sindoor demonstrated the increasing complexity of modern warfare, where no single domain decides the outcome of conflict. Instead, coordinated action across land forces, cyber operations, air power, and space-based intelligence proved critical for mission success.
He noted that nearly 15 percent of operational effort during the mission was dedicated to managing information warfare, highlighting the growing importance of controlling narratives, verifying information, and countering misinformation.
War now fought in layers, not lines
The Army Chief stressed that modern warfare can no longer be viewed as a simple line on a map. Instead, it operates in multiple layers simultaneously—troops engaged on the ground, cyberattacks targeting networks, space-based surveillance systems providing intelligence, and electronic warfare disrupting enemy communications.
He warned that commanders who focus only on one domain risk missing the full picture of the battlefield, underscoring the need for integrated situational awareness across all domains.
Formation of Psychological Defence Unit
A key outcome of these lessons has been the establishment of a new Psychological Defence Unit within the Indian Army. The unit is tasked with countering misinformation, managing information flows, and ensuring accurate communication during operations.
General Dwivedi said that in today’s environment, information directly influences battlefield outcomes and cannot be treated as secondary to kinetic operations.
Information warfare affects entire ecosystem
Highlighting the broader impact of information warfare, he said the Indian Army’s operational ecosystem extends beyond its 1.2 million personnel to include veterans and their families, making the information domain even more sensitive and widespread.
He added that modern conflicts are not always formally declared wars but continuous engagements across multiple fronts and platforms.
Move toward Multi-Domain Operations
The Army Chief reiterated that the Indian Armed Forces are steadily transitioning toward Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), supported by joint doctrines, integrated training, and coordinated exercises involving multiple services and government agencies since 2024.
He said structural reforms are already underway, including Integrated Battle Groups, new drone units, enhanced cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, and specialized information warfare organizations.
Technology as an enabler, not a substitute
General Dwivedi emphasized the critical role of technology in modern warfare, particularly in data integration, network connectivity, and real-time decision-making. However, he clarified that technology remains an enabler, while final decisions will always rest with human commanders.
He noted that future military leadership must be equally proficient in battlefield command and technological understanding to effectively operate in a rapidly evolving security environment.
Roadmap for future readiness
Outlining the Army’s modernization roadmap, he said 2024–25 has been designated for technology adoption, while 2026–27 will focus on network integration and data-centric operations.
The Army Chief concluded that India’s armed forces are now significantly better prepared for multi-domain challenges, with ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring faster, smarter, and more coordinated responses in future conflicts.
