Kharga Corps operational preparedness was reviewed by Gen Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), on Wednesday during a visit to one of the Indian Army's three strike corps. He also took stock of the formation's ongoing capability development initiatives.

Commanders briefed him on operational readiness and on the steps being taken to use emerging technologies and innovative solutions to improve combat effectiveness.

Gen Dhiraj Seth commends all ranks of Kharga Corps

Gen Seth commended all ranks for their professionalism and high state of readiness.

He then reiterated the thrust areas of VIJAY. Innovation, jointness and technology-enabled transformation, he said, are what will keep the Army's decisive operational edge across the full spectrum of operations.

Photographs of the visit were released by the Indian Army: 


VIJAY thrust areas set out on 30 June

Gen Seth laid out the VIJAY framework on 30 June, the day he took charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff. V stands for Vigilance. I is Innovation and Transformation, J is Jointness and Integration, and A is Aatmanirbharta, the self-reliance drive also pursued by the Ministry of Defence. Y is Yoddha First, which puts the soldier at the centre.

Drones and new technology shown to the Army Chief

Technology took a large share of the review.

Among the systems displayed under camouflage netting was a fixed-wing drone fitted with four lift rotors on twin booms. The design lets it take off and land vertically and then fly on its wings, so it needs no runway. Officers took the Chief through each item in turn.

Kharga Corps operational preparedness review follows Chinar and Spear Corps visits

The Kharga Corps operational preparedness review is the latest in a series of formation visits since Gen Seth took office. On 25 September he reviewed Chinar Corps operational preparedness along the Line of Control in Kashmir, where he also asked troops to embrace the five principles of VIJAY. In early September he was with Spear Corps in the North East.

Kharga Corps is a strike formation of Western Command

Kharga Corps, also called 2 Corps, is headquartered at Ambala in Haryana and comes under Western Command. Along with 1 Corps at Mathura and 21 Corps at Bhopal, it is one of the three strike corps of the Indian Army. These formations are built around armoured and mechanised forces for offensive operations on the western front, and are the Army's main punch in any major conventional battle.

Gen Upendra Dwivedi, the previous Chief, visited the Corps in November 2025 and commended it for its performance during Operation Sindoor, according to reports at the time. He also praised its work on drone design and training.

The Corps was raised in October 1971 and fought on the eastern front in the war that year. It moved to Ambala in January 1985. It completes 55 years this month.