Priority Will Be To Ensure Very High Standards Of Preparedness: Army Chief

His comments came in the midst of India's continuing standoff in several friction points in eastern Ladakh as well as cross border terrorism.

In the backdrop of India's lingering standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Sunday said his "utmost and foremost" priority would be to ensure "very high standards" of operational preparedness to face current, contemporary, and future security challenges across the entire spectrum of conflict.

A day after taking the reins of the force, Gen Pande said the global geopolitical situation is changing rapidly "as a result of which we have multiple challenges ahead", asserting that the Army, along with the Navy and the Air Force will deal with any situation jointly.

The Army Chief said he would focus on the ongoing reforms, restructuring and transformation of the Army to enhance its operational and functional efficiency besides giving importance to achieving self-reliance in defence.

The Army Chief was speaking to the media after he was presented a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block lawns. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar were also present at the guard of honour ceremony.