India’s military stands at a moment of profound transition. The rules of warfare are being rewritten in real time—by drones and artificial intelligence, cyber conflict and electronic warfare, contested borders and rapidly shifting geopolitical fault lines. For the man at the centre of that transformation, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the challenge has been not just preparing for the next war, but redesigning India’s military for a new era of conflict. In a wide-ranging interview with India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa and Deputy Editor Pradip R. Sagar, just days before demitting office after a four-year stint, Gen. Chauhan reflects on the defining challenges of his tenure and outlines how India’s armed forces are preparing for this radically changing battlespace—from Operation Sindoor and the China challenge to theatre commands, drones, cyber warfare and AI. Excerpts:
