In perhaps the first and exclusive interaction of its kind, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) talks to Manish Kumar Jha, and outlines the pivotal role of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in driving jointness, capability development, and indigenisation within India’s defence architecture. He explains that the CISC functions as the linchpin for harmonising the perspectives of the Army, Navy, and Air Force through joint planning, long-term force structuring, and integrated capability development. The IDS is currently formulating the Integrated Capability Development Plan (ICDP) — a 10-year modernisation blueprint aligned with the Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) 2025, ensuring synergy between Services and the domestic defence industry.

Air Marshal Dixit highlights that joint logistics nodes, crosspostings, and joint staff training are building operational synergy. He stresses the CISC’s growing role in fostering indigenous R&D, citing initiatives such as the Technology Development Fund (TDF), iDEX, and partnerships between DRDO and private industry. The office also coordinates tri-service spectrum management, network-centric warfare systems, and multidomain interoperability, aiming to create a common operating picture for faster decision cycles. Air Marshal Dixit also affirmed that the CISC has become a key driver in India’s emergence as a “Preferred Security Partner” in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Reporting from the Infantry School, Mhow, Neetu Dhulia captures the spirit of India’s most elite infantry training institution, where the creed “Ek Goli, Ek Dushman” — one bullet, one enemy — defines soldiering excellence. The story evokes the intense discipline and precision demanded of snipers and infantrymen, depicting gruelling drills, weapon mastery, and the psychological conditioning that transforms trainees into battlefield professionals. Tracing the school’s legacy since 1888, Dhulia illustrates how Mhow’s ethos blends tradition with technology — from sniper training to drone warfare — reinforcing that the soldier, not the weapon, remains India’s ultimate strength.

Lt General P.C. Katoch (Retd) reports on the release of three landmark doctrinal publications — Joint Doctrine for Special Forces Operations, Joint Doctrine for Airborne & Heliborne Operations, and Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations — unveiled at the Ran Samwad Tri-Service Seminar in Mhow. Issued under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), these doctrines define operational concepts, interoperability frameworks, and technology integration for modern warfare. Speaking at the seminar, CDS General Anil Chauhan emphasised that they represent a decisive step toward integrated theatre commands, enhancing synergy across all domains.

The Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025, themed “Year of Reforms — Transforming for the Future,” brought together top military and political leadership in Kolkata to chart India’s defence transformation. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasising Jointness, Atmanirbharta, and Innovation, the forum reviewed ongoing reforms, including the new Joint Military Space Doctrine and the push for multi-domain operations. The CDS General Anil Chauhan led sessions on integration, technology absorption, and institutional restructuring. The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the Armed Forces’ commitment to remain agile, selfreliant, and future-ready in a complex global environment.

Wishing all discerning readers happy reading!