In a significant move to ensure long-term coherence and effectiveness in military training, the Indian Army has revamped its training policy, extending the periodicity of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Training Directive from two years to four years.
The COAS Training Directive, which forms the backbone of the Army’s training framework by defining key objectives, modalities, and result areas, will now be issued once every four years instead of the earlier biennial schedule.
Lt Gen Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), explained at ARTRAC’s 35th Raising Day in Shimla on Wednesday that this change “ensures longer-term coherence and gives formations and units adequate time to implement directives effectively.”
The first COAS Quadrennial Training Directive for 2025–29, prepared by ARTRAC, was issued earlier this year. Army officials noted that the previous two-year cycle was considered too short for full implementation of guidelines and achieving measurable outcomes. The new four-year cycle provides sufficient time for units to adopt training protocols, integrate niche technologies, streamline operational focus, and maintain continuity across training programs.
ARTRAC has also accelerated the introduction of drone training, in line with the Army’s vision of having drones act as an “Eagle on the Arm of every Soldier.” Over the past year, more than 18,000 soldiers have received advanced training in 34 specialized technologies, with plans to train an additional 12,000 personnel in the coming year. By 2030, ARTRAC aims to integrate all 34 technologies into its core curriculum.
To strengthen technology adoption and innovation, ARTRAC has signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding with leading institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology, to promote joint research initiatives. Additionally, the Army has institutionalized the concept of ‘Red Teaming,’ a contrarian strategy tool, sharing insights and expertise with the other two armed services.
Established on October 1, 1991, at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, ARTRAC serves as the Indian Army’s central think-tank for doctrine and training. Since relocating to Shimla in 1993, the Command has expanded its role to oversee 34 ‘Category-A’ training establishments nationwide, ensuring the highest standards of institutionalized training, doctrinal development, and operational planning with an adversarial perspective.
In August 2025, ARTRAC hosted India’s first-ever tri-service seminar, Ran Samwaad – 2025, at the Army War College, Mhow, bringing together participants from the Army, Navy, and Air Force to deliberate on next-generation warfare and strategic constructs in the Indian context.
This overhaul reflects the Army’s commitment to modernizing its training ecosystem, leveraging advanced technologies, and preparing soldiers for future operational challenges while ensuring long-term continuity in doctrine and operational preparedness.
