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New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday said that wars are won by clear, purposeful action and not just by rhetoric. While addressing newly recruited officers at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, he said that the officers have joined at a very crucial time, when the Indian subcontinent is under continuous threat.
Speaking at the Combined Graduation Parade of the Autumn Term, December 2025, Chauhan asserted that the present security environment demands constant readiness and professionalism from India’s military leadership.
The CDS reminded the graduates that they were starting their careers at a time when the atmosphere is eerie and uncertain. “You are joining the force when Operation Sindoor is on,” he said, stressing that the responsibility on their shoulders would be immediate and real.
He urged the officers to understand that modern military service is not defined by isolated moments of crisis, but by sustained preparedness. According to him, alertness and agility must become daily habits rather than occasional responses. “Our strength will lie in the ability to remain alert, agile, and prepared every hour, every day,” Chauhan added. He stressed that achieving victory each time needs to become the new normal.
In his address, the CDS warned against empty words and symbolic gestures. “Wars cannot be won by rhetoric, but by purposeful action,” he said. The CDS mentioned that real strength comes from discipline, planning, and decisive execution.
Highlighting the worsening situation in many countries, Chauhan said that regions witness menacing situations due to faulty institutional structures and reactive decision-making. Such fragility, he said, paves the way for prolonged conflict and insecurity. General Chauhan presented a contrasting picture, claiming that India’s strength lies in its solid institutions and democratic stability. He praised the armed forces for their unwavering professionalism and commitment to duty, which he described as the backbone of national security.
According to him, the Indian military’s credibility comes from its ability to adapt while remaining rooted in strong values and institutional discipline. He told the young officers that they were now custodians of this legacy.
Concluding his speech, the CDS called on the graduating officers to lead by example and remain focused on their mission. He emphasised that vigilance, readiness, and professionalism would define their success—not only in times of war, but throughout their service.
