Former CDS warns of cognitive warfare and calls for strategic education
General Anil Chauhan says India must integrate strategic thinking into the national education system to counter emerging security threats.
Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has warned that cognitive warfare, including the use of deepfakes and information manipulation, poses a growing threat to India's national security. Speaking at Jawaharlal Nehru University on November 3, Chauhan said these tools are used to shape public perception and can create societal divisions before facts are verified, according to reports by ANI and The Times of India.
The former CDS argued that national security preparedness must move beyond the military and government to include universities and the general public. He stated that the primary task is to incorporate strategic thinking into the country's national education framework.
Chauhan suggested that academic discussions should include topics such as diplomacy, military history, technology, statecraft, and Indian political thought. He also recommended strengthening the connection between military war colleges and academic institutions.
Addressing the changing nature of global competition, Chauhan noted that economic interdependence is being weaponised. He listed trade, finance, energy, critical minerals, supply chains, data, and technology as areas being used as instruments of pressure.
The former CDS emphasised that India should combine the ethical restraint of dharma with the strategic realism of Kautilya. He added that a nation's frontiers cannot be threatened if its citizens remain well-informed and aware of emerging risks.