New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan has authored a new book titled “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent: A Blueprint for the Transformation of India’s Military”, offering a comprehensive vision for the future of the Indian armed forces. Released on Thursday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the book marks a rare instance of a four-star general publishing a strategic work while still in service.
In the book, Gen Chauhan stresses the growing uncertainty surrounding the nature, timing, and type of future threats. As India navigates an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape, he argues, it is essential for the military to transform structurally and conceptually.
“This book is a reflection of a new era in India’s higher defence organisation,” Gen Chauhan writes. “It lays out a strategic path for building a Future-Ready force, in alignment with the national objective of achieving a Sashakt (Strong), Surakshit (Secure), Samridh (Prosperous), and Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.”
The book outlines the Indian military’s shift towards:
• Greater jointness and integration between the three services
• Self-reliance in defence production and strategy
• Adaptation to multi-domain warfare, spanning land, air, sea, space, and cyber
Gen Chauhan recalls the 2023 Combined Commanders’ Conference, where the theme “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent” was introduced — now forming the central pillars of his strategic blueprint.
He emphasizes that while the armed forces have consistently acted as first responders to national security threats, 21st-century challenges are more complex and multidimensional, requiring a rethinking of India’s military doctrine. Security today, he notes, is no longer confined to traditional battlefield scenarios but has “diffused and proliferated across domains.”
Highlighting the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in reshaping India’s defence landscape, Gen Chauhan cites the 2014 vision laid out by the PM for modernising the military. This included the historic creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) and the post of Chief of Defence Staff, aimed at enhancing coordination and integration between the services.
In a reflective tone, the CDS urges a return to ancient Indian strategic wisdom while embracing modern innovation. “Like the phoenix, we must shed old patterns and rediscover the rich heritage of our statecraft and military thinking,” he writes. “Resurgence will lead to resilience — and that is our goal.”
The book also advocates for Indian solutions to Indian problems, reinforcing the importance of culturally rooted and context-specific defence strategies. Articles within the book such as “Preparing for the Third Revolution in Military Affairs” and “Tactics Led Force Modernisation” delve into emerging threats and the need for agility in force structures.
Gen Chauhan concludes that the Indian armed forces must be prepared for integrated, multi-domain operations and continuously evolve to protect national interests in a rapidly changing world.
