Vivek Chadha

Col Vivek Chadha (Retd), served in the Indian Army for 22 years prior to taking premature retirement to pursue research. He joined the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in November 2011 and is a Senior Fellow at the Military Affairs Centre.

Colonel Chadha’s areas of research include counter terrorism and military studies. His single author books on counter terrorism include Low Intensity Conflicts in India: An Analysis; Lifeblood of Terrorism: Countering Terrorism Finance and Company Commander in Low Intensity Conflicts. His single author books on military subjects include, Even if Ain’t Broke Yet, Do Fix It: Enhancing Effectiveness Through Military Change; Kargil: Past Perfect: Future Uncertain; CDS and Beyond: Integration of the Indian Armed Forces. He has also written the book, Indo-US Relations: From Divergence to Convergence.

His current area of research focusses on the strategic lessons of the Mahabharata.

He was part of the team that wrote the Indian Army’s first Sub Conventional Doctrine in 2006.

Col Chadha is on the Editorial Committee of the Journal of Defence Studies.


Senior Fellow

Publication

CDS and Beyond Integration of the Indian Armed Forces

  • Publisher: KW Publishers
Defence reforms are a challenge for most countries. The lessons from India’s experience suggest that major change has almost always been mandated from the very top. The ongoing structural changes are also being driven by the highest political office in a bid to seek integration, indigenisation and greater effectiveness of the armed forces.

The ongoing military reforms began with the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and creation of the Department of Military Affairs. Future changes are likely to include the creation of theatre commands, functional commands, restructuring of Army Headquarters and a number of other associated shifts in conjunction with these big bang reforms.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that these changes are perhaps the most far-reaching military reforms in India’s post-independence history.

The book undertakes a focussed assessment of the changes that commenced with the appointment of CDS. This includes the role and inter-se co-relation between major stake holders and defence departments. Keeping in view the need to enhance operational effectiveness, recommendations regarding the chain of command, rank structures and role of service chiefs have been made. The book will also analyse the structure and role of the future Air Defence and Logistics Command.

  • ISBN: 978 819 52 858 4 6 ,
  • Price: ?. 918/-
  • E-copy available

India executed manoeuvre warfare in 1971. It has answers to China’s LAC misadventures too

Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, Col. Vivek Chadha’s article on ‘India executed manoeuvre warfare in 1971. It has answers to China’s LAC misadventures too’ has been published in 'The Print' on July 31, 2020.

Col. Chadha argues that while India should block China along the LAC, pressure can be built in the oceanic region. Block surfaces and hit the gaps, to create collapse of enemy intent, the essence of manoeuvre warfare.

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In mountains, China’s military prowess has a vertical limit. 1962 is a half truth

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col. Vivek Chadha's article titled 'In mountains, China’s military prowess has a vertical limit. 1962 is a half truth', has been published in ‘The Print’ on July 27, 2020.

Col. Chadha argues in favour of India's strength against China given its experience of fighting in mountains and the challenges an attacker faces. He also highlights past achievements that debunk ‘military strength through numbers’ logic often being quoted these days.

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Tour of Duty: Explosive Idea or Dud Grenade?

Research Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col. Vivek Chadha’s article on the Tour of Duty (ToD) proposal of the Indian Army, titled ‘Tour of Duty: Explosive Idea or Dud Grenade?’ has been published by News18 on May 18, 2020.

The article offers several suggestions for the proposal to succeed and serve the purpose it is intended to achieve.

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The McMahon Line: A Century of Discord, by J.J. Singh

The Sino-Indian boundary dispute remains the most enduring and challenging problem that bedevils relations between India and China. With a history of well over a century of differences on the border alignment, and a war that represented its lowest point in their relations, the two countries remain suspicious of each other’s motives, actions and statements emanating from them and their possible implications.