Bengaluru, India: Senior Indian Army leadership has emphasised the urgent need to evolve traditional concepts of operational art to meet the demands of multi-domain warfare, as the second edition of ‘Ran Samwad’ progressed into its first technical session today.
In Session 1, titled ‘MDO Evolution: Requirements and Options’, participants examined real-world applications of Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) in recent conflicts, drawing lessons from global battlefields where operations now seamlessly span land, air, maritime, space, cyber and information domains. The session underscored how modern adversaries increasingly employ integrated, non-kinetic tools alongside conventional forces to achieve strategic objectives.
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), delivered a detailed presentation on ‘Re-imagining Operational Art for MDO’. Gen Sharma, who heads the Indian Army’s apex training organisation responsible for shaping future doctrinal and operational thinking, highlighted the classical domains of operational art, sequencing, convergence, simultaneity, and depth, while stressing that these must now be fundamentally re-conceptualised for the 21st century battlespace.
Lt Gen Sharma exhorted military leaders and planners to move beyond legacy frameworks and develop a new intellectual architecture capable of orchestrating effects across multiple domains simultaneously. He argued that operational art can no longer be viewed through a primarily land-centric or sequential lens but must embrace the speed, complexity and interconnectedness of contemporary conflicts, where information dominance, cyber resilience and space-based capabilities often prove decisive before kinetic engagements begin.
His address aligned closely with the broader objectives of ‘Ran Samwad 2026’, a practitioner-driven tri-service seminar organised by the Indian Air Force under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff. The event aims to foster candid discussions on the changing character of war and to translate emerging concepts into actionable strategies for India’s armed forces.
As GOC-in-C ARTRAC, Lt Gen Sharma brings significant weight to the discussion. His command plays a pivotal role in driving training reforms, doctrinal development and the integration of new technologies across the Army, positioning it as a key contributor to India’s joint warfighting transformation.
The session also featured analysis of MDO employment in recent conflicts, including lessons on cross-domain synergy, decision superiority and the blurring of lines between peace and war. Participants discussed how leading militaries are adapting command structures, investing in resilient networks and developing leaders capable of operating in highly contested, transparent environments.
‘Ran Samwad’, now in its second edition, continues to establish itself as a premier platform for strategic dialogue. With senior representation from all three services, academia, industry and friendly foreign nations, the seminar is expected to generate valuable recommendations on doctrinal adaptation, capability development and training philosophies necessary for effective multi-domain operations.
Further sessions over the concluding day will delve deeper into training imperatives, civil-military fusion and command-and-control challenges in MDO environments. Proceedings are being live-streamed for wider professional audiences.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
