Pune, 19th September 2026: Modern warfare leaves very little time for analysing situations and making decisions, with commanders sometimes having only milliseconds to act.
The Indian Army is therefore increasing its use of artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, 6G and quantum technology, Lieutenant General Vipul Singhal, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Information Systems and Technology), said.
Singhal was speaking at the inauguration of the two-day IEEE International Conference on the Nexus of Digitisation, Intelligence and Applications (ICNDIA-2026), organised jointly by the Army Institute of Technology (AIT), Dighi, and IEEE.
He said the Army is focusing on developing indigenous information, technologies and systems needed for these applications.
Explaining how Army command centres have changed over the past 35 years, Singhal said battlefield information was earlier received through telephones and other communication channels. The information was then marked on maps before commanders took decisions. Modern command centres now receive information directly from multiple systems and equipment operating in the air and on the ground.
This information can be displayed on large screens and analysed using AI, which can also suggest possible options to commanders.
The use of autonomous systems and AI is expected to increase further, he said. At the same time, the Army needs to ensure that these systems function accurately and reliably.
IIIT Allahabad Director Dr Mukul Sutawane said knowledge and information alone would not be enough in the age of AI. People would also need wisdom, ethics and strong human values to use the technology responsibly.
He said AI should work as a partner and co-creator with humans rather than replacing human thinking or interfering with human values.
Lieutenant General (Retd) Dr S. P. Kochhar, Director General of the Cellular Operators Association of India, said India has expanded its 5G network rapidly and that AI will become an integral part of 6G technology. Satellite communication and AI are also expected to bring significant changes to the telecommunications sector.
Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, who addressed the conference through video conferencing, said AI is changing areas such as military strategy, logistics, surveillance and cybersecurity.
However, he said technology alone cannot determine the outcome of warfare. Leadership, discipline and human values will continue to play an important role.
Singhal also highlighted the importance of developing skills alongside technical knowledge. He said confidence, knowledge and practical skills are important elements of a strong personality. While institutions can provide knowledge, students must develop the ability to adapt to changing situations through their own efforts.
He also noted that technology could affect some basic jobs, making communication, writing, storytelling and multitasking skills increasingly important for students. The conference was attended by IIIT Allahabad Director Dr Mukul Sutawane, COAI Director General Lt Gen (Retd) Dr S. P. Kochhar, AIT Chairman Major General P. S. Sidhu and other experts and officials.
