Category Archives: Higher Defence Management

Seniority or Merit – The Dilemma of Higher Military Appointments

Posted on February 27, 2026 by sword

For decades, the established convention in India for appointing the Chief of Army Staff and other apex military positions was straightforward: the senior-most eligible officer was elevated. Critics often dismissed this system as mechanical or overly rigid. Yet it rested … Continue reading →

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Dissent, Disobedience and Defiance

Posted on February 7, 2026 by sword

Constructive dissent is essential to good military leadership — but it must occur within the decision-making process, not after the fact. Public post-retirement criticism by senior commanders risks crossing from professional dissent into defiance or disobedience. There is a  deeply … Continue reading →

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Politicisation of the Armed Forces: Examining the Claims

Posted on October 24, 2025 by sword

A lot has been spoken and written about the politicisation of the Armed Forces in the recent past. The latest is a recent article in Deccan Herald by AVS Namboodiri which claims that in the recent past—presumably during the tenure of the current NDA … Continue reading →

Posted in Appraisal System, Civil Military Relations, COAS, Democracy, Higher Defence Management, Military, National Issues, Politics, Promotion System | Leave a comment

Mind Over Merit

Posted on January 11, 2025 by sword

In a recent piece in The Print, Gen Panag discusses the recent government decision to adopt a ‘merit based’ approach over ‘seniority based’ on the promotion of Lt Gens, and opines it is a move in the right direction. He also … Continue reading →

Posted in Appraisal System, Blogitorial, Higher Defence Management, Military, Promotion System, Reforms | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Line of succession – myth vs reality

Posted on June 8, 2012 by sword

The media war centering around former COAS Gen VK Singh the last few months has, amongst many other effects, thrown around a number of ‘Red Herrings’. The aspects of honour and morale have been talked about in earlier posts. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogitorial, COAS, Higher Defence Management, Military | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Flawed DNA?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by sword

Delays in defence procurements and the resultant lack of preparedness have received much attention ever since the Army Chief’s secret letter to the Prime Minister was leaked to the media recently. The alarming status of induction of desperately required weapons … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Military Relations, Higher Defence Management, Politics, Reforms | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Jointmanship Chimera

Posted on October 17, 2011 by sword

According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, novelist and short story writer, “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” Reports emanating from … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogitorial, Higher Defence Management, Military | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

JOINTMANSHIP EXPERIENCED

Posted on May 26, 2011 by sword

  “I have visited nineteen countries in my career of two decades. Do you know that your Navy is interoperable with over twenty six other navies?” The dashing naval Commander from the visiting naval training squadron was not trying to … Continue reading →

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