Indian Defence Review

Given the dynamics of future conflicts, it is imperative that the Army prepares itself to meet these challenges head on.

Ever since the Sino-Indian conflict in 1962, relations between the two neighbours have bordered on hostility and mistrust and this equation continued till the 80s. Although economic cooperation has become the principal driver of the strategic partnership between the two Asian giants there is a growing need for convergence between them on numerous international and regional affairs, however irritants like the unresolved border issue do continue to cause hiccups.6 China however, as an ascendant power with its burgeoning economic growth and equally burgeoning military modernization programme does generate concern in its neighbourhood.

Ties between India and Nepal have traditionally been close, reflecting the rich historical, geographical, cultural and linguistic linkages between the two nations. Emergence of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) as the single largest party in the April 2008 elections seems to have, however, disrupted the bonhomie that existed between the two neighbours. It has also led to the emergence of a strong and visible anti-India lobby in Nepal. Indo-Bangladesh relations have seen a fluctuating tendency depending on the party which is in power in Bangladesh. It has hit a new high with the Awami League Grand Alliance led by Sheikh Hasina coming back to power post the Dec 2008 elections and consequently the working relations between the two countries have improved considerably.7

Changing Nature of Warfare

National Security in the present day environment is an aggregate of both external as well as internal threats.8 Economic compulsions and the global environment have reduced the threat of all out wars between nations. However, smaller the scale of conflict, greater is the probability of occurrence. Future wars are likely to be short and intense and will witness the employment of high tech weapon systems with comparatively larger scales of damage and destruction. The probability of joint operations, including with other armies of the world, have also increased manifold. The world is seeing a spurt of a new kind of warfare called ‘Fourth Generation Warfare9’ encompassing terrorism, internal destabilization and economic blackmail aimed to undermine the very sovereignty of a nation.

Given the dynamics of future conflicts, it is imperative that the Army prepares itself to meet these challenges head on. Organisational and equipment voids, which hither-to-fore were considered acceptable, may not be the case in the future. Staffing of formations and units, including that of reserves, also need to be maintained at the optimum level at all times to ensure operational effectiveness.

Ramification of Societal Changes

Since society is the reservoir from which the Army taps its manpower resources, it needs to be sensitive to the societal changes that take place with the passage of time. A vibrant economy, globalization, advanced technology and a flourishing private sector all put together now offer innumerable opportunities to the youth of this country. This has fundamentally and irrevocably altered the traditional social and cultural fabric of the Nation. These changes have also impacted the Indian Armed Forces in many ways.10

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The present value systems so deeply cherished by the Armed Forces are not abstract concepts whose genesis lies solely in the demands of battle. In fact, they are the very foundation

While it has assisted in modernization of the forces, the lure of lucre has created complex challenges for the Indian Armed Forces which have the distinction of being an absolutely volunteer force. The present value systems so deeply cherished by the Armed Forces are not abstract concepts whose genesis lies solely in the demands of battle. In fact, they are the very foundation on which the entire structure of the Armed Forces is based and any dilution of the same because of deterioration of societal values could have a negative impact on the fabric of the Armed Forces as well.

Challenges Posed by the Changing Socio-economic Environment

All round development has meant moving rapidly towards a pool of educated workforce and in case of the Army from a ‘brawn force’ to a ‘balanced brain cum brawn force’. With all the organizations vying to tap the best, talent is definitely at a premium. Attracting, retaining and motivating the best talent remains a constant challenge to the Army in the present circumstances and the problem is likely to become more acute in the years to come. Some of the challenges that confront the military leadership with respect to the above are as follows:-

A career in the Army is accepted in the civil street as one fraught with immense risks. The perception has been further aggravated by the increasing deployment of the Army for various tasks ranging from counter insurgency to counter terrorism”¦

Need for a Focussed Approach

Macro-Level Management

Functions related to Human Capital Management in the Indian Army are implemented under the aegis of the Adjutant General’s Branch. The mission of the Branch is to assist the Indian Army in meeting its strategic and national security goals by attracting and maintaining its rank and file optimally through an effective Human Capital Management Mechanism.13 The aim being to create a high quality, fully motivated, healthy and robust force, capable of operating efficiently across the entire spectrum of conflict.