Army’s ASCEND 2025 Focuses on India’s Info-War Strategy, Narrative Building, Lessons from Op Sindoor

Pune:

In an era where perception defines power as much as firepower, the Indian Army’s Southern Command has taken a pioneering step to institutionalise India’s national effort toward narrative dominance.The Command organised a two-day seminar titled ASCEND 2025: Aligning Strategic Communication for Enduring Narrative Dominance at RSAMI, Pune, on October 10–11.The event marked a significant stride in shaping India’s strategic communication framework for the information age.

Bridging Messaging and Perception Beyond the Battlefield

Conceptualised as more than a military event, ASCEND 2025 aimed to bridge the gap between operational success, national messaging, and global perception.

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The initiative draws from lessons learnt during Operation Sindoor, where coordinated information handling amplified operational outcomes—underscoring the growing importance of communication in modern warfare.Delivering the keynote address, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, said that Strategic Communication has become a core function of national security. He emphasised that India’s story must remain “rooted in truth, anchored in our values, and aligned with firm actions” to achieve enduring narrative dominance.

Information is the New Frontier of Power, Says Lt Gen Seth

Lt Gen Seth underlined that the information domain has emerged as the new frontier of national power, and that aligning communication with national intent is essential to build credibility, influence, and resilience. The seminar’s focus echoed the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, where information superiority and cognitive preparedness are viewed as key to national strength.

Lessons from Operation Sindoor

The significance of ASCEND 2025 also stems from the Army’s recognition that the next battles will be fought as much in the information domain as on the battlefield. During Operation Sindoor, the Army’s synchronised communication and proactive narrative control set a precedent, which has been widely discussed during the ongoing Army Chiefs’ Conclave of UN Troop Contributing Nations.

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A special fireside chat between Alok Joshi, Chairman, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), and senior journalist and defence strategist Nitin Gokhale provided key insights into India’s evolving information landscape.Joshi called for a Whole-of-Government approach and a national roadmap to strengthen communication resilience. Gokhale highlighted the need for trained communicators, faster response mechanisms, and data-driven tools to counter adversarial narratives effectively.

Misinformation Propaganda and AI

Panel discussions chaired by former R&AW Chief Vikram Sood and Lt Gen Gautam Moorthy (Retd) examined themes such as Winning the Strategic Communication Domain, Countering Misinformation and Hostile Propaganda, and Integrating Emerging Technologies like AI and Data Analytics. Dr Mayank Sharma, Financial Advisor (Defence Services), presented his research-based insights into the economics of influence and its role in strategic communication.Organised in collaboration with the Pune International Centre (PIC) and the Centre for Advanced Studies in Current & Strategic Affairs (CASA), the seminar concluded with a consensus on institutionalising Strategic Communication as a core component of national power. Participants across the defence, media, policy, and academic sectors agreed that cognitive preparedness and communication discipline must become integral to leadership training and strategic planning.ASCEND 2025 reflects the Indian Army’s commitment under the Southern Command’s leadership to strengthen India’s cognitive security and narrative resilience. As India moves toward 2047, the initiative underscores a maturing understanding that wars of the future will be fought not only with weapons, but also with words, ideas, and information.