Army Commanders' Conference focuses on modernisation, joint operational philosophy

New Delhi, April 23: A need to evolve a 'joint operational philosophy' for all three armed services was stressed at the Army Commanders' Conference here while Army Chief Bipin Rawat called for speeding up the force's modernisation programme, an official statement said on Sunday.

The three-day conference, which concluded on Saturday, had top Army commanders brain-storming on the prevailing security scenario, strategic and actionable issues to ensure the force retains its effective combat edge.

Apart from the Army chief, the conference was also addressed by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Indian Navy chief Sunil Lanba and Indian Air Force chief B.S. Dhanoa.

The statement said Admiral Lanba and Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa, in their addresses, emphasised on evolving a joint operational philosophy, while Gen. Rawat, in his concluding remarks, stressed upon the need to work in a collaborative manner for maintaining combat effectiveness.

He expressed his confidence at the way the Army has been adapting itself to the dynamic internal and external operational environment, adding that there is a need for sustained and holistic modernisation with combat and manoeuvre arms, air defence and aviation high priority.

"It has been decided to give heft to the modernisation plan of the army. A comprehensive plan to speed up land acquisition for infrastructure development has been decided to be addressed through the state governments," he said, as per the statement.

During the deliberations, a session was dedicated to discussions with the Defence Ministry on evolving a more wholesome action plan on administrative and modernisation issues.

The statement also said important issues having human resource policy ramifications have been discussed and there is "an impetus to evolve a more pragmatic HR plan".

"The core values of Army though haven't changed; rapid societal changes and discernible impact of socio-economic aspirations on Army have been a focus area of the just-concluded Conference. 

"The Army unlike most government departments has a highly pyramidal structure, which results in over 50 percent personnel not being promoted despite being highly competent thus necessitating optimum utilisation of this pool of competent personnel," it said.

The proposals to make Short Service Officers entry scheme more popular, streamlining the intake pattern, employment of Women Officers and grant of Honorary ranks to junior commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers have been deliberated with positive roadmaps.

Rawat, during the course of the deliberation, also highlighted the need for a more participative form of policy formulation. Branches of the Army HQ concerned have accordingly been directed to interact with wide cross-section of offices, branches, and personnel.