Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday underlined the strategic and industrial importance of eastern India in realising the country’s ‘Act East’ policy, while urging urgent reforms in defence research, innovation, and manufacturing.
Speaking at EastTech 2025 in Ranchi, he described Jharkhand and West Bengal as “industrial powerhouses” whose role is central to both national strategy and regional growth.
General Chauhan placed atmanirbharta (self-reliance) at the heart of India’s strategic autonomy. “Self-reliance begins with self-realisation and leads to self-confidence,” he said, arguing that the defence industry’s strength must go beyond manufacturing to embrace ideas, concepts, and imagination.
Rejecting imported doctrines, the CDS said India cannot remain “slaves to Western concepts of war.” He characterised war as both “science and art,” where creativity is indispensable. “A warrior must be innovative, inventive, and imaginative,” he said, drawing on poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s verses to highlight the need for constant renewal of thought. Creativity, he stressed, applies equally to scientists and industry leaders as to soldiers.
Outlining his vision of future warfare, General Chauhan identified three essential components: platforms (aircraft, ships, tanks), systems (weapons that have evolved beyond platforms), and networks (integration across platforms and services). Sustained investment in all three, he said, is vital to build a cohesive and resilient fighting machine.
Calling for greater urgency in research and development, he noted that India had been slow to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies and geopolitical shifts. He singled out artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, space, cyber, and advanced materials as areas requiring immediate attention. He also urged a review of long-running DRDO projects to assess their relevance to modern warfare.
General Chauhan emphasised the role of defence diplomacy in accessing complex technologies through global partnerships. He called on civil servants, public sector undertakings, and private industry to work with armed forces in securing technology transfers and joint ventures. At the same time, he stressed the need for a stronger intellectual property rights framework to safeguard domestic innovation.
Looking ahead, the CDS said the Services were finalising a ten-year capability roadmap and an integrated capability development plan to provide clarity to industry and align with national priorities. He acknowledged the promising progress of recent private sector initiatives but reminded stakeholders that “the world is moving fast, and India cannot afford to be slow.”
“Defence industry, research institutions, and the armed forces must act together with national interest as the first principle,” he said. “The need of the hour is speed, creativity, and collective resolve,” he added.