For decades after Independence, India’s military posture was defined by defensive restraint—often necessary, often costly. From the trauma of 1962 to the surprise of Kargil, our armed forces were too frequently asked to fight with limited technological support, outdated doctrinal thinking, and a political class nervous about projecting power. But over the last decade, that paradigm has shifted dramatically. India is no longer content with reactive defence. It is building a military machine designed for precision, deterrence, and dominance across multi-domain battlefields.
Nothing illustrates this transformation better than Exercise Ram Prahar, conducted by the Indian Army’s Ram Division of the Kharga Corps under the Western Command. Held near Haridwar, this all-arms and all-services manoeuvre is far more than a routine field drill—it is a declaration of intent. And a warning.
Ram Prahar showcased a force that is no longer limited to boots and bravery. The drill integrated armoured columns, infantry units, engineers, artillery, combat aviation, UAVs, battlefield surveillance systems, satellite-based ISR, and AI-enabled decision tools. The seamlessness with which these elements operated reflects the Army’s rapid adaptation to multi-domain warfare—the reality of global conflict in the 21st century.
The exercise validated real-time battlefield decision-making involving land, air, space, and cyber. For a military once criticised for lagging behind global digitisation trends, this doctrinal leap is monumental. Network-centric warfare—once an aspiration—is now being visibly realised.
Ram Prahar stands on the shoulders of a decade of reforms:
- Indigenisation and Modernisation: From Make-in-India artillery (Dhanush, ATAGS) to the induction of LCH ‘Prachand’ helicopters, Pinaka Mark-II systems, and advanced communication networks, the thrust is unmistakable.
- Infrastructure & Forward Posturing: India has overhauled its border roads, tunnels, and airfields, ensuring faster mobilisation across both the Western and Northern theatres.
- Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs): Leaner, quicker, and lethal formations designed for swift offensive operations.
- Theatre Commands & Jointness: Under implementation, but already leading to deeper interoperability between Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Strong Political Will: Surgical strikes and Balakot marked the end of India’s “strategic patience” era. The message: provocation will be met with calibrated but decisive force.
Leading the review, Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar, GOC-in-C Western Command, emphasised the Army’s commitment to agility and readiness. The choice of Uttarakhand terrain was deliberate—its riverine challenges mirror the canal-based defensive lines Pakistan has constructed across its Punjab sector. Training on such terrain enhances the credibility of India’s armour-led offensive strategy.
A senior Army officer noted that the drill strengthened synergy across domains, honing the ability to strike deep, fast, and intelligently.
Former DDGMO Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retd) put it bluntly: “Ultimate victory comes under the boots of infantry on enemy soil. Exercises like this ensure that when the time comes, our forces know every inch of the battlefield.”
The Western Command spokesperson didn’t mince words. Referring to Operation Sindoor, where Indian forces inflicted “extensive damage” on Pakistan’s positions, he questioned whether Islamabad had learnt its lesson. His caution was unmistakable: “If there is another mischief, we are prepared to respond with far greater force—even by entering Pakistan from Punjab.”
This is not chest-thumping. It is calibrated deterrence backed by capability.
Ram Prahar symbolises a nation that has finally aligned its defence thinking with its global aspirations. India is no longer merely defending borders—it is shaping the strategic environment.
A military once hesitant to showcase power is today confident, technologically empowered, and politically backed. Whether neighbours choose to misread this shift is their problem. India, for the first time in decades, is not just prepared for conflict—it is prepared to dominate one.
In an increasingly hostile neighbourhood and an uncertain world, Ram Prahar is India’s way of saying: the era of strategic restraint is over.
