Joint VIF-ARTRAC-IIM Indore Capsule on Strategic Leadership and Perspective Planning Programme (23-26 Aug 2022)

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VIF in collaboration with Army War College/Army Training Command and IIM Indore organized a three day capsule on “Strategic Leadership and Perspective Planning” programme for recently approved three star generals at the Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi from 23 to 26 August 2022. The capsule saw participation of 17 general officers from the Army. This was second such programme organised at the VIF. The programme covered a wide range of topics pertaining to the armed forces, emerging strategic environment, strategic culture, ethical decision making, visionary leadership and many others.

On 23 Aug Lt Gen SS Mahal, AVSM, VSM, GOC-in-C ARTRAC gave the opening address which was followed by an enunciation of ‘Joint Capability Development: Indian Army in 2030 and Beyond by Lt. Gen. S Dayal. UYSM, AVSM, DCOS (CD &S).

Thereafter, Deputy National Security Advisor, Amb Vikram Misri spoke on “India’s Security Strategy in Today’s Context: Defeating Threats and Ensuring Prosperity”. This session was moderated by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF. The next session was on “Advancing India’s Interests in the World: Role of Indian Armed Forces”. The main speaker was Mr. Sanjay Jaju, Additional Secretary (Defence Production); Dr Arvind Gupta was in Chair.

On 24 Aug morning Gen. Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, the Chief of Army Staff addressed the participants. The Army Chief also had separate interaction with the Director VIF, Dr. Arvind Gupta. Later there was a session on “Leveraging ‘Atam Nirbharta’ as a Tool for Capability Development”; the presentation was made by Dr G Satheesh Reddy, DD R&D, Chairman DRDO and the session was chaired by Dr. Arvind Gupta. The balance of the the sessions for the day were purely on Army subjects.

Third day i.e. 25 Aug was entirely devoted to geostrategic subjects largely in the form of panel of discussions. The first session was on “India’s Strategic Culture” which was chaired by Dr Arvind Gupta and the speaker was Shri S Gurumurthy, Chairman VIF. The presentation was very well received and there was an animated Q & A Session. The next three sessions were in the form of panel discussions. The first panel discussion was on “Strengthening Comprehensive National Power in the Evolving Strategic Calculus” which was moderated by Amb. PS Raghavan, Chairman National Security Advisory Board and the panel comprised of Amb. Pankaj Saran, former Deputy NSA and Lt. Gen. Anil Ahuja (formerly Deputy Chief, Integrated Defence Staff). The second panel discussion was on “China’s Evolving Strategic Course on India” which was moderated by Amb. Pankaj Saran, former Dy. NSA. The panel comprised of Amb Ashok Kantha, Distinguished Fellow, VIF and former Ambassador to China, Amb. DB Venkatesh Verma, former Ambassador to Russia and Lt. Gen. Rakesh Sharma, former Commander of Ladakh Corps. All the panel discussions were followed by a long and vigourous question and answer session.

The last day of the capsule was devoted to a Leadership Workshop organised by IIM Indore where Admiral Arun Prakash, former Chief of the Indian Navy spoke on “Ethical Decision Making” and Dr. Himanshu Rai, Director IIM-Indore conducted the workshop on leadership aspects. The closing address was made by the Commandant, Army War College. Overall, the capsule was much appreciated by the participants and other attendees.