‘Indian Army to adopt 33 niche technologies’
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma has said that the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) was evolving its 15 major Training Establishments as Centres of Expertise for adopting 33 niche technologies, including drones and Artificial Intelligence (AI), for which a comprehensive plan had been evolved. The endeavour would be to adopt all these technologies by 2030.
“An amount of Rs 390 crore is planned to be invested in R&D, infrastructure development and training over the next five years,” he added.
Lt Gen Sharma, while addressing mediapersons after the Investiture Ceremony 2025, said the recent conflicts had clearly indicated that technology was going to play a decisive role in the outcome of all future conflicts. “Therefore, the vision of ARTRAC is to adopt, develop and imbibe niche technologies in the training curriculum to facilitate learning and exploit technology for exponential results during operations. This will require ‘Whole of Nation’ Approach, wherein, a niche technology available with the industry and premium academic institutions of the country will be absorbed by the Indian Army through a memorandum of understanding,” he added.
Earlier, during the Investiture Ceremony of ARTRAC, three Category ‘A’ Establishments and two affiliated units were conferred the prestigious ‘GOC-in-C Army Training Command Unit Citation’ for their exemplary performance in the Training Year 2023–24. The honoured establishments included the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow; Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS), Nasik; Army Airborne Training School (AATS), Agra; 4 MAHAR (BORDERS); and 118 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) GRENADIERS. Their contributions were recognised for significantly enhancing the Indian Army’s training ethos and operational preparedness. Commandants and Commanding Officers, along with their Subedar Majors, received the citations from Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC.
In recognition of excellence in financial governance, Financial Excellence Awards were presented to the Military College of Material Management (MCMM), Jabalpur; Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), Vairengte; and Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Secunderabad. Additionally, the MCMM and the Armoured Corps Centre & School (ACC&S), Ahilyanagar, were awarded the e-Office Excellence Awards for championing digital efficiency and reducing paper usage. Senior officers and Subedar Majors from these institutions received the awards for their commendable leadership and innovation.
In the individual category, several officers and junior commissioned officers were felicitated with the Award of Technical Excellence for innovations across various training institutions. Moreover, GOC-in-C Spot Commendation Cards were awarded to four individuals, including personnel from HQ ARTRAC, HP Police, CPWD, and the Amateur Dramatics Club, for distinguished service and noteworthy contributions to the ceremony and its objectives.
Himachal Tribune