Challenges New COAS Would Face

General Manoj Mukund Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, handed over charge of Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, to his Vice Chief, Lieutenant General Manoj Pandey, PVSM, AVSM,VSM, on April 30, 2022. Fortunately, no dispute arose at the time of this appointment and/or transfer of Command. Each COAS usually get replaced every two to two and a half years when the change is made in a short, touching but significant Military Ceremony. He is proud to lead a sect of Defence Force that has no equal as far as valour, grit, determination and resolve are concerned. General Manoj Pandey was head of the Army's Kolkata-based Eastern Army Command before becoming Vice Chief. A Command in Indian Army is equivalent/ similar to Field Army of America/European Countries and its Head is called Army Commander.


Within fifteen days, Troops from nook and corners of India were moved On Priority and finally China was destined to face more than 50,000 Troops in Ladakh. Rations, Weapons and Ammunition, Resources and Communication Systems required for maintenance and sustenance of such a huge Fighting Force comprising of Army and Air Elements,was fully in place in just 30-35 days. This was/is no mean achievement in prevailing uncanny weather and inhospitable High Altitude Terrain in that sector when China was almost breathing on our neck. It was not a Child's Play. To fathom its gravity; evaluate this in relation to Ukraine War where neither Russia nor America/NATO Countries could do so from November, 2021 to February, 2022. All this has been going on for last two years and is still on. We will realize its enormity and complexity, when these "Operational and Logistic Plans" are made privy to General Public after 20-25 years.

Responding to China's rampant Dadagiri in Eastern Ladakh, General Manoj Narwane, without informing anyone, seized few Tactically Important Positions on the Kailash Mountains South of Pangong Lake and brought ingress route of PLA to and Chinese Garrison in Moldo, under severe Strategic and Tactical Threat/Pressure. As a result, PLA, located at Finger Four to Eight on North Side of Lake, had to retreat from those places. He conveyed the message to the PLA: "Present Indian Army under my command is not that you mauled in 1962 but is one which will inflict more loss than what you suffered at Nathu La, East Sikkim in 1967”. General Manoj Pande has to carry yoke of this legacy in coming days which, at first instance, he seems to be doing with aplomb. In his first press conference since becoming Army Chief, General Manoj Pandey also gave an implicit warning to China. "We are always ready for talks, but we will not give an inch of land to the enemy. Any mischief will be dealt with sternly" he told China.

Chinese Strategic Appetite, which (might) have been dampened by swift Indian Military Response/Actions in Ladakh, would by now, must have been stunned by what is happening in Ukraine. In addition; Opening Press Conference Remarks of/by General Manoj Pande would have indicated and cemented future Strategic/Military Policy of India. Matter of appointment of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) to fill vacant vacancy due to untimely, accidental death of General Bipin Rawat, is likely to be sorted out in very near future. As per known sources; name of former Army as well Naval Chief is under consideration. Whether General Manoj Narwane will get this honor or not would be decided by Powers that Be and is a separate issue. But he, certainly has served Indian State with full aplomb, putting all his Heart and Soul, enhancing dignity of Army.

When General Manoj Narwane retired, Lieutenant General Manoj Pandey was Senior Most Officer in Army. Nobody was bypassed. Therefore, there was no controversy/dispute. Prior to his taking over as 28th COAS, all previous Chiefs were either from Infantry, Armored Corps, Mechanized Infantry or Artillery. General Manoj Pandey is First Corps of Engineer Officer to become Chief of Army Staff. He has very illustrious Record. Commissioned in 1982, he did a year long Staff College course in Kimberley, UK as a Major. This is a very important course in the Army and this honor is given only to the student who comes first out of three and a half thousand Army/Navy/Air Force Officers who appear for this Competitive Examination. As a Colonel, he commanded a Bombay Sapper (Engineer) Regiment and after joining "General Cadre", he commanded both an Engineer and an Infantry Brigade He, then, did all "Command and Staff Appointments" necessary to become Army Commander. This involved Active Command of a Brigade (6,000 troops) / Division (20,000 troops) / Corps (60,000 troops) and Army (2-250,000 troops) and various Staff Duties at appropriate level. He has operated in Mountainous, Plains, Desert, Forest and Marine Sectors. As a Lieutenant General, he was Commander-in-Chief (C in C) of Andaman and Nicobar Integrated Complex, one and only "Integrated Theater Command" in India as on date.

Orders to establish/build First Indian Land/Marine Integrated Theater Command within three years, was given by Government when General Bipin Rawat became CDS. Today, India has 17 Army/Navy/Air Commands. Four All Inclusive Integrated Commands and one Integrated Naval Command will replace this super structure. The proposal for an Integrated Theater Command System was moving at a snail's pace due to prevailing Pandemic and internal Inter Service bickering. Although this concept is currently on paper, it is expected to be Fully Operational in the next four to five years. General Manoj Pandey will have to make every effort to transform at least one Field Army Command into an Integrated Army Command during his tenure. For this, he will have to/has to overcome so called Military Stubbornness of Army in particular and Air Force officers in general, coming under jurisdiction of envisaged Theater Command. Instructions will have to be issued and implementation assured to Officers/Men in Theater Command to soften/change their deep rooted Concepts/Opinion, willingly Receive and Implement Fresh Direction, Increase their Strategic/Administrative/Operational Vigilance as well as safeguard their Interests. General Manoj Pandey will have to develop/inculcate Art of Logical Thinking and Convincing Men under his Command without hurting/trampling on their ego.

Priority of General Manoj Pandey will be to adapt to ever changing Geographical and Political Situation/Equation for Today's War, be Aware of Advanced Technology being developed for fighting the same and to modify/change his Own Thinking/Perception about what effect it may have on India. It is not easy to Grasp and Implement such Geographical, Political and Strategic Equation, which change every Six Months. Once understood, he will have to convince Powers That Be, for making suitable changes in Strategic Policy of the Country. This is Tight Rope Walk and every one cannot make it. To do that one has to have; Resilience, Patience, Negotiation Skills and Power of Conviction. General Manoj Pandey will also have to come up with a Proposal on how to bring the Army Commanders working under him to this required level, how to bring/adopt War Worthiness/Readiness in given ambit of Available Resources. On other hand; under prevailing volatile and fluid Military Environment / Situation of the World, General will have to convince/prove to Government and Country that every paisa spent on Weapons/Ammunition/Resources will get its full Strategic Value. This is more so when, the sword of the Chinese and Pakistani Single/Joint Aggression is hanging on India and Government is reluctant to allocate more funds to Defence.

In light of Changing Tactics of War as is evident in Ukraine; new COAS will have to conduct a "Deep Strategic Study” of concepts and lessons emerging from ongoing Russia Ukraine War and behavior of UN and Western Countries, Military Treaties and so called Friends, as this is how Next War will be fought. China is also watching and will decide her course of action based on outcome of this War. This study will lead to Development of New Strategic Warfare Systems and Tactical Strategies. The Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973 changed the definition of Air Defence and Mechanized Warfare, bringing in "Suitcase Missiles" and "Umbrella Air Cover" Warfare Systems. Similar change occurred after the 1990 Gulf War when importance and contribution of Information Technology was studied and adopted by China as “Information Warfare Doctrine”. This exposed concept of Information Wars to world.

Now; India will have to create/implement New Dimensions of Resource Creation under Atma Nirbhar Bharat and enhance Tactical and Productive Capabilities in the Defence Sector based on outcome of/after Ukraine war. General Manoj Pandey will have to scrutinize when, how, how much and what kind of benefits the Defence Sector could/will get from the ongoing Self Reliant India Scheme. As per Government Orders, 1800 types of Weapons, Ammunition, Infrastructural Items, and surmountable which have been discarded from the import clause, will be produced in India under this scheme. Since this would be a long drawn process, General Manoj Pande will have fight with what he has, an epitome of then COAS General V P Malik during 1999 Kargil War, till these are made available to Army. General will have to exert all the pressure he can, on Government and Defence Manufacturers for earliest procurement as well keep Morale of his Troops High to bear the deficiencies till then.

For this, General Manoj Pande will have to prepare Strategic Warfare Teams to include Skilled Tactical Technicians and Military/Civilian Scientists. Such officers will work for at least five years on job, to ensure that Strategic Integration is maintained. For this, the General will have to issue a new/revised Posting Criteria. No Chief of Army Staff decentralizes his authority or delegates to any of his subordinates his Authority. An officer under the yoke of "Short Tenure Syndrome" is unwilling to trust his subordinates. It is not only the Army that is suffering from this dilemma/disease, but also all Government Departments and Higher Administrator Echelons therein. General Manoj Pandey is expected to save himself from this by appointing his trusted "Principal Staff Officers: PSOs" and giving them Decision Making Authority/Privileges. In fact, it is essential today. He has made small beginning by agreeing to the appointment of Lieutenant General BR Raju, Director General of Military Operations, as his Vice Chief. VCOAS, by virtue of his being a DGMO is well conversant with and can tackle Internal/External Security Issues very well. The General can oversee it from time to time.

By delegating this responsibility to his Vice Chief; General Manoj Pandey will be able to fight the Administrative Problems of Serving/Retired Soldiers. The issue of Non Functional Financial Up Gradation: NFFU is pending before the Supreme Court and a re appeal is required for "One Rank One Pension: OROP" dismissed by Supreme Court. Most importantly, General Manoj Pande will have to work very hard to make Army palate recent unilateral decision of the Government to recruit Soldiers under the "Tour of Duty : Short Term Recruitment of Soldiers Scheme” and begin the process of enforcing it. Most of serving Officers and Soldiers scoff at this decision. The General will have to work hard to quell all the Latent Internal Opposition in Army. Ground Forces fighting the enemy ‘Head On’ are going to be badly affected by this Government decision, which has shaken very Foundations of the Army.

At present, India is witnessing a growing influence of Separatist Forces. Whole society is affected by it. Soldiers who hail from same society cannot be expected to stay aloof. At present; a Soldier is not and General Manoj Pandey, will have to take care that his Soldiers do not join divisive elements. With over one million Troops in the Army, it is it, who is going bear the brunt of the Separatist Tendencies according to the Law of Average. Over four lakh out of ten lakh Ground Troops are facing enemy in "Eye Ball to Eye Ball Position”. There is no denying the fact/possibility that the divisive conditions in his Country/Province/District/Village can/ may/will affect him also. This is Extremely Dangerous for the Country and Nation can ill afford it. General Manoj Pandey will have to keep a strict watch on this aspect.

The best Professional Officers in Army are available to help General Manoj Pandey. "Hai Usise Ladhenge : Kabhi Haar Nahi Manenge" is the motto of our Army, which is always in the forefront to take on/shoulder any responsibility. General is in Command. His Tactical Knowledge of Warfare is omniscient. He is a Professional Par Excellence. General will face all above challenges with élan. But for that he needs Good Wishes of all in India. He will surmount these challenges with the help of such Good Wishes.