In a step towards strengthening self-reliance in defence technology, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday inaugurated ‘Agnishodh’, the Indian Army Research Cell (IARC), at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
Indian Army Chief Inaugurates ‘Agnishodh’ Research Cell
Agnishodh: Boosting Defence Innovation and Self-Reliance
🔹 1. Inauguration of Agnishodh – Indian Army Research Cell (IARC)
- Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, inaugurated Agnishodh at IIT Madras.
- The research cell is designed to bridge academic research with real-time military operations.
- It supports the Army’s modernization under the Five Pillars of Transformation framework.
🔹 2. Vision for Self-Reliance and Technological Dominance
- General Dwivedi stressed India’s preparedness for fifth-generation warfare, focusing on:
- Non-contact warfare
- Psychological dominance
- Advanced technology
- He reiterated the Indian Army’s commitment to “Swadeshikaran Se Sashaktikaran” (Empowerment through Indigenization).
- Mentioned alignment with key national tech missions:
- INDIAai
- Chip-to-Startup
- Project QuILA
🔹 3. Academic and Technological Collaborations
- AGNISHODH is built on successful collaborations with:
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Kanpur
- IISc Bengaluru
- Aims to convert academic excellence into battlefield innovation, aiding the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047.
🔹 4. Focus Areas of Agnishodh
- Collaborates with IIT Madras Research Park, AMTDC, and Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
- Focuses on transitioning lab-scale innovations into deployable military technologies.
- Key emerging domains include:
- Additive manufacturing
- Cybersecurity
- Quantum computing
- Wireless communication
- Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
🔹 5. Upskilling and Training Military Personnel
- The centre will contribute to upskilling soldiers and officers in emerging tech domains.
- Promotes technological readiness among the Indian Army’s ranks.
🔹 6. Address at OTA Chennai
- General Dwivedi addressed officers at Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai.
- Emphasized the rise of grey zone conflicts and the need for integrated, modern responses.
- Recalled Operation Sindoor, a successful tri-service mission:
- Achieved precise and coordinated military action.
- Forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire within 88 hours.
- Stated: “Future conflicts will demand a blend of conventional strength and modern capabilities, where boots must share space with bots.”
🔹 7. Honour to Veterans
- Interacted with veteran soldiers.
- Honoured four former servicemen with Veteran Achievers Awards for their continued service to the nation.
