India’s Army Chief Confirms No Plans to Reduce Troops Along the LAC: What It Means for National Security

The Indian Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, recently spoke about the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. He described it as “sensitive but stable.” For now, he confirmed that troop levels will stay the same during the winter months.

General Dwivedi explained that a decision on troop levels will be made before summer. This will depend on how trust is built through upcoming meetings between the two sides. He assured that the army is ready for any situation that may arise.

At a press conference in New Delhi before Army Day, he emphasized the need for both countries to come together and restore trust. When asked about reducing troop levels for the upcoming patrolling arrangements tomorrow, he noted that troop deployment is closely tied to the trust between the armies and the capabilities on both sides. As of now, maintaining troop levels is essential.

General Dwivedi stated, “We are not looking at reduction in troop levels along LAC during winters.” A review will take place as summer approaches. He also mentioned the next round of talks involving Special Representatives and the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs.

The Army chief shared updates on patrolling in traditional areas, noting that both sides have conducted two rounds of verification and are satisfied with the progress. These patrols focus on areas like Depsang and Demchok in Eastern Ladakh.

Regarding the buffer zones after the Galwan clash, he clarified that there aren’t any. Instead, a temporary agreement was reached where troops would refrain from entering disputed areas to avoid conflict.

General Dwivedi also reported positive developments in enhancing capabilities along the northern borders. He confirmed that the ceasefire along the Line of Control with Pakistan remains intact since the agreement reached in February 2021.

This year has been identified as the “year of reforms” for the Indian Army. The goal is to ensure full readiness while making the army more self-reliant. General Dwivedi outlined five key areas for improvement: force restructuring, joint operations, modernization, technology, and human resource management.

Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced 2025 as the year of reform, focusing on operational readiness, technology adoption, and improved coordination.

The five pillars of the reform strategy include jointness and integration; force restructuring; modernization and technology; effective systems and processes; and enhanced human resource management.