Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday, 31 May 2025 declared that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing and that all three services of the Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high state of preparedness for any future contingency — including what he termed 'Operation Sindoor 2.0' — should the situation demand it. He made the remarks at a press conference following the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 150th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.

Operation Sindoor Still Active, Says Army Chief

General Dwivedi was unambiguous about the current status of the operation. 'Operation Sindoor is still continuing. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. Therefore, the Indian Army, along with all three services, is preparing well for 'Operation Sindoor 2.0', if it takes place,' he said. He added that the focus at present is on enhancing synergy across the three services while simultaneously equipping the forces for the next generation of warfare.

This comes amid a fragile pause in hostilities, with the Army Chief's remarks signalling that the military considers the situation unresolved and retains full operational readiness.

New Domains: Space, Cyber and Cognitive Warfare

General Dwivedi underscored that the character of warfare is transforming at an accelerating pace, extending well beyond the conventional domains of land, sea, and air. 'The future warfare will not be limited to land, maritime and air domains alone. The new domains — space, cyber and cognitive warfare — will play a very important role,' he said.

He also highlighted how technological advances have made modern battlefields highly transparent, with troop movements increasingly visible to adversaries in real time. 'The battlefield operates 24/7 and has become highly transparent, with every movement being visible to the other side. Therefore, we have to be very cautious in terms of deployment, employment and the protection required to safeguard our troops as well as civilians living in border areas,' he said.

Information Warfare and National Unity

The Army Chief placed particular emphasis on the role of information warfare, arguing that public trust is as decisive as battlefield capability. 'Victory is always in the mind, not on the ground. Therefore, information warfare is only successful if the whole nation comes together and trusts the people who are providing information,' General Dwivedi said. He added that a nation whose citizens and stakeholders trust one another will, in his assessment, always prevail in war.

Notably, this framing positions civilian morale and information cohesion as strategic assets — a doctrine increasingly reflected in how modern militaries approach hybrid conflict.

Operation Sindoor as a Template for Precision Response

General Dwivedi cited Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India's capacity for calibrated military action. 'Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's resolve and the Armed Forces' ability to deliver a calibrated, precise and purposeful response. This operation underlined the importance of integrated planning, real-time Intelligence, precision targeting, strong air defence, secure communications and synergy across domains,' he said.

He described the Indian Army as actively transforming into a 'future-ready force', with technology, integration, and jointness becoming central pillars of military preparedness. He noted that the younger generation of officers and soldiers would be pivotal in driving this transformation across multiple security domains in the years ahead.

What This Means Going Forward

The Army Chief's public articulation of readiness for a potential Operation Sindoor 2.0 is a significant signal — both to adversaries and to domestic audiences — that India views the current ceasefire as temporary rather than conclusive. With the tri-services focused on cross-domain integration and next-generation warfare capabilities, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the pause in hostilities holds or escalates.