India has taken a decisive step towards shaping the future of its defence preparedness. On August 27, 2025, during the inaugural tri-services seminar Ran Samwad 2025 at the Army War College, Mhow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled two landmark documents that will define the path of India’s armed forces modernization—the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap 2025 (TPCR).
These strategic frameworks are designed to strengthen jointness, modernize capabilities, and ensure the armed forces remain future-ready in an era of rapid technological change and complex security challenges.
Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
The new doctrine sets a unified framework for coordinated operations across land, sea, air, space, cyber, and cognitive domains. Its core objectives include:
- Strengthening jointness among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Enhancing operational readiness for future conflicts.
- Laying the groundwork for theatre commands, enabling better integration of resources and command structures.
The MDO doctrine acknowledges that modern warfare is no longer confined to physical battlefields—it spans digital, space, and psychological dimensions, making integrated responses essential.
Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap 2025 (TPCR)
The TPCR 2025 provides a 10-year modernization blueprint for the Indian armed forces. This roadmap:
- Identifies future capability requirements across all operational domains.
- Aims to bridge current and emerging capability gaps.
- Encourages collaboration with Indian industry, startups, and research institutions under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
- Seeks to reduce import dependence by promoting indigenous defence technologies.
The TPCR not only defines the armed forces’ modernization path but also provides guidance to the Indian defence ecosystem, ensuring long-term synergy between the military, industry, and policymakers.
Additional Doctrines Released
In addition to MDO and TPCR, two more specialized doctrines were introduced:
- Special Forces Operations Doctrine – Establishes interoperability standards, operational concepts, and future weapon requirements for tri-service special forces.
- Airborne & Heliborne Operations Doctrine – Provides principles for joint airborne missions, integrating advanced technology for swift and precise responses.
All these doctrines were developed collaboratively by the Doctrine Directorate of the Integrated Defence Staff, with active participation from the three services.
Strategic Significance
The release of these doctrines marks a transformative shift in India’s defence posture by:
- Embracing emerging domains such as cyber, space, and cognitive warfare.
- Strengthening India’s march toward self-reliance in defence technology.
- Preparing the armed forces for future conflicts that demand speed, precision, and multi-domain integration.
- Reinforcing a whole-of-nation approach to national security, where military preparedness aligns with industry innovation and technological growth.
Conclusion
With the unveiling of the Joint Doctrine for Multi-Domain Operations and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap 2025, India has signaled its commitment to building a future-ready, technologically advanced, and self-reliant military force. These frameworks not only modernize operational strategies but also empower India’s defence ecosystem to innovate, integrate, and lead in an era of evolving global security dynamics.
The message is clear: India’s armed forces are moving towards becoming more joint, more technology-driven, and more self-reliant by 2035.
