Overview
- General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized a policy of gender neutrality and said performance data from current roles will guide a phased opening from support arms to combat arms and eventually special forces.
- He cited about 8,000 women officers, 60 women Army cadets at the NDA with an intake plan of 20 per year, and roughly 120 annual inductions via Officers’ Training Academy, with wider Other Ranks entry requiring a change to Section 12 of the Army Act.
- The Army is scaling drone capability with new formations and in-house manufacturing capacity of up to 5,000 drones per command, expandable to 20,000 or even 100,000 based on threat levels.
- Thirteen Bhairav battalions have been raised to enhance infantry capabilities, a Divyastra artillery battery has been created for divisional support, and a counter‑UAS regiment is adding three units now with plans for 12 more.
- Over 90% of ammunition categories have been indigenised, and a possible Rocket and Missile Force remains under active discussion with its final structure yet to be decided.