With the standoff continuing along the disputed boundary in Eastern Ladakh, the situation on the ground in Ladakh as well as the Army’s winter preparations will be reviewed at the highest level at the Army Commanders conference chaired by Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane beginning on Monday. The conference also has a series of reforms on its agenda for discussion.
“The first day will be spent deliberating on matters related to human resource management,” an Army source said. The Commanders will brainstorm on a series of reforms to cut down on ceremonial practices among other measures, a second source said.
There will be a comprehensive review of the situation across all the borders, including Ladakh, the second source said. China has deployed close to 50,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control which has been matched by India and with no breakthrough in talks for disengagement both sides have made preparations to be deployed at high altitudes in the harsh winters.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat as well as the Navy and Air Force Chiefs are scheduled to address the conference on Tuesday. The biennial conference is attended by senior officers of the Army, including the Vice Chief, all Army Commanders, Principal Staff Officers of the Army headquarters and other senior officers.
On Wednesday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, the only triservice command, will give an update to the Army commanders. Several studies are currently under way for the formation of integrated triservice commands beginning with a joint air defence command.
The last day of the conference will include an update by the Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on the various infrastructure development projects being undertaken by the BRO and allied formations. Automation initiatives to optimise utilisation of manpower at various levels of the Army will also be discussed, the first source added.