Strategic Reflections Yearbook 2025

Strategic Reflections 2025: BANI World explores India's defence and security challenges amidst technological disruption and geopolitical volatility. Supporting the Indian Army's efforts in advancing the “Year of Reforms” and the “Year of Technological Absorption”, this Yearbook is a compendium of articles written by experts and emphasises on innovation, integration, and self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in the armed forces. Key discussions cover technology's increasing role in shaping the future battlefield, including usage of Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs), Nanotechnology, 3D printing, AI, cyber defence, and space capabilities. This Book also places a focus for India to work on its cyber and space capabilities, especially taking cognizance of the increasing rate of cyber crimes. It addresses contemporary requirements such as public-private partnerships for unmanned systems, blockchain in logistics, and human-robotic teams.

This Yearbook blends seamlessly the requirement of advanced technologies in today's Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible (BANI) World and advocates blending tech prowess, diplomacy, and resilience to navigate hybrid threats, regional dynamics, and global shifts in fortifying India's future.

The Yearbook is divided into Five Sections with each section offering pertinent lessons that can be considered/worked upon for improving one's capabilities especially while undertaking multi-domain operations.

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Chief Editor

Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) was commissioned into the Ninth Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment in December 1981 and is an alumnus of NDC, DSSC, CDM and Naval Post Graduate School, California, USA. Lt Gen Singh is a distinguished military leader with extensive experience in various operational theatres. He held key positions, including commanding infantry units, brigades, and divisions, and served twice in the elite National Security Guards. He is also a respected author and strategic analyst, contributing to defence journals and publishing notable works like the book “Grey Zone Warfare Way Ahead for India”. Presently, he is the Director General of the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi.

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Editors

Major General AK Chaturvedi, AVSM, VSM (Retd) was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers (Bengal Sappers) in December 1974, and after a distinguished career of 38 years, both in the Engineer Corps and various staff appointments, retired in July 2012. He is an alumnus of the CME, Pune, the IIT Madras, the CDM Secunderabad, and the NDC New Delhi. Post his retirement, he obtained a PhD, with his thesis focusing on the future of Indian Energy Security. Popularly referred to as an intellectual soldier, he is an active writer, and is quite active in the lecture circuit on National Security issues. His areas of interest include, but are not limited to energy, water and other elements of National Security.

Dr Roshan Khanijo is the Director, Projects & Events, at Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi. She is a strategic analyst. Her areas of focus are nuclear doctrines and nuclear force structure, CBRN, disarmament and arms control, niche and disruptive technologies, Indo-pacific, etc. Dr. Khanijo has authored, edited books, monographs and occasional papers. She has also worked in various 'Net Assessment studies like War Waging Potential of China, Net Assessment of Pakistan, SWOT Analysis Bangladesh etc. Dr. Khanijo also did a course on “Protection of Civilians in Peace Operations” in collaboration with UNITAR.