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New Indian Army chief General Seth outlines ‘Vijay’ mantra to be future-ready

A day after taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff, General Dhiraj Seth has outlined the 'Vijay' mantra to make the Indian Army future-ready.

General Dhiraj Seth arrives during a ceremony marking his assumption of charge as the new Chief of the Army Staff at the South Block in Delhi on July 1, 2026. (Photo: Ravi Choudhary/PTI)

FP News Desk|Jul 01, 2026, 16:00:27 IST

General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday outlined the 'Vijay' mantra to make the Indian Army future-ready.

A day after taking over as the Chief of the Army Staff, Seth said that his objective would be build the Indian Army as a technology-enabled, future-ready force.

Seth summed up his focus areas in the acronym 'Vijay', which means victory in Hindi. He explained what Vijay stood for: V for vigilance and readiness, I for innovation and transformation, J for jointness and integration, A for aatmanirbharta (self-sufficiency), and Y for 'Yoddha First' (Soldier First).

Seth said that these focus areas are a result of guidance provided by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh under the 'Decade of Transformation' initiative.

Seth took over as the 31st Indian Army chief on Tuesday after General Upendra Dwivedi's retirement. As a three-star general, he commanded South Western Command and Southern Command — a rare feat of commanding two operational commands. He also commanded the Bhopal-headquartered 21 Corps, a strike formation that is tasked with offensive thrusts into Pakistan during wartime.

General Seth outlines 'Vijay' mantra

Seth went on to elaborate his five focus areas summed up in the 'Vijay' mantra:

'V' for Vigilance: "We will maintain constant vigilance regarding our borders and emerging threats, and uphold a high level of operational readiness to effectively counter any challenge to national security."

'I' for Innovation: "'I' stands for Innovation and Transformation. My focus will be on both doctrinal and technological solutions. Innovation will be an integral part of our mindset, operational methods, and capability development. Furthermore, we will implement the transformations necessary to adapt to the evolving battlefield."

'J' for Jointness: "To enhance the Indian Army's operational effectiveness, we will maintain synergy, complete coordination and alignment with the Air Force and the Navy. This integrated approach will enable us to participate in nation-building and propel us towards the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat 2047'."

'A' stands for Aatmanirbharta: "Leveraging indigenous capabilities and technologies developed within the country, we will build a self-reliant Army. Our overarching aim will be to win wars using indigenous solutions."

'Y' stands for 'Yoddha First': "In my definition, everyone from the newest Agniveer to the most senior veteran is a warrior, and these warriors constitute the greatest strength of our Army."

Seth has taken charge at a time when the Indian Army, along with the other military branches, are in the midst of transformation as they face a fast-evolving battlefield. The rapid advance of drone technology in recent years, mainstreaming of drones, rising importance of digital capabilities, and emergence of space as both an active theatre and force-multiplier has changed the nature of modern warfare.

Last year's Operation Sindoor was India's first experience with sustained combat in this new age of modern warfare. Analysts have noted that lessons from the four-day conflict, including the prominent usage of drones, are guiding the military's modernisation and reforms.

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