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Diplomat Correspondent

Lucknow : DD, The Field Marshal KM Cariappa Memorial Seminar was held on 29 September 2025 at HQ Central Command, Lucknow, under the theme “Modernising the Infantry Soldier to Fight Contemporary and Future Wars.” Organised jointly by the Directorate General of Infantry in collaboration with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), the seminar paid tribute to Independent India’s first Commander-in-Chief, while focusing on reshaping the Indian Infantry to meet the challenges of emerging battlefields marked by hybrid threats, drone warfare, cyber conflict and multi-domain operations.

The seminar brought together senior military leaders, veterans, defence scholars, technologists and industry experts to discuss pathways for transformation and capability enhancement of India’s most battle-hardened arm.

The seminar was inaugurated by Lt Gen Ajay Kumar, Director General of Infantry, who outlined the Army’s institutional vision for modernising the Infantry. He emphasised the need for doctrinal evolution, greater integration of cutting-edge technologies, and enhanced combat readiness at the tactical, operational and strategic levels.

The Keynote Address was delivered by Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, GOC-in-C Central Command, who underscored that Infantry modernisation is not aspirational, but a warfighting imperative. Highlighting the need for agility, adaptability and technology-driven soldiering, he urged military, academic and industry stakeholders to work in synergy to prepare the Infantry for complex, fast-evolving conflict scenarios.

The seminar featured four focused sessions led by distinguished senior veterans:

Maj Gen Vivek Sehgal (Retd) spoke on “Contemporary Battlefield Environment and Future Warfare”, examining the evolution of threats, operational paradigms and adversary capabilities.

Maj Gen Pankaj Saxena (Retd) presented on “UAS & C-UAS: Changing the Battlefield Paradigm”, highlighting the decisive impact of unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone technologies.

Lt Gen DP Pandey (Retd) addressed “Modernising Infantry: From Foot Soldier to Futuristic Soldier”, offering a roadmap for integrating technology and realistic training to build adaptive combat teams.

Maj Gen Sanjeev Kumar Senger (Retd) spoke on “Indian Defence Ecosystem and Absorption of Niche Technologies”, stressing the need to harness indigenous innovation and build self-reliant soldier-support systems.

In his closing remarks, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva, Chief of Staff, Central Command, reinforced the importance of sustained efforts in doctrinal refinement, data-driven decision-making, and fostering partnerships with academia and industry to accelerate modernisation. He called for the creation of agile Infantry units capable of operating seamlessly across domains.

Maj Gen Rajiv Chhibber, Additional Director General Infantry, thanked the speakers, participants and HQ Central Command for organising a timely and high-impact seminar. He noted that the insightful discussions had laid a solid foundation for future transformation efforts.

The seminar concluded with a collective reaffirmation of the Indian Army’s commitment to transforming the Infantry into a lethal, agile and intelligent force capable of winning tomorrow’s wars. Participants unanimously agreed that modernisation must go beyond platforms and equipment, embracing mindset change, realistic training, integrated systems and institutional foresight.

As a tribute to Field Marshal KM Cariappa’s vision, the seminar not only honoured his legacy but served as a platform to shape the future trajectory of India’s frontline warriors.DD