Exercise KOOTNEETI, an annual event designed by the USI for the Higher Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, was conducted from 15 to 17 Nov 2023. As different from the earlier practice of it being a Net Assessment exercise, this year it was changed and upgraded to a scenario-based Strategic Gaming exercise to make it more relevant to national security perspective.

Two likely scenarios viz. ‘Escalation of tensions at the border’ and ‘Taiwan contingencies by 2027’ and its bearing on India’s national security were  analysed:-  

·         Global power play between the two contending giants i.e. the US and China (with their respective allies/partners), and its impact on global
geo-politics.

·                Predicaments of and options for the emerging Middle Powers and their groupings (to include their strategic options and policy dilemmas).

·           The stance, stand and response of various countries during the two scenarios, to get clarity on the challenges which India faces/may face.

·                   And the following specifics with regards to India:

§Differentiate between ‘Big Power Interests’ and ‘Own National Interests’.

§Need and dynamics of ‘External Balancing’ (Strategic Management), to retain strategic autonomy.

§Assess the nuances of ‘Hybrid Threats’.

§Assess the military technology Gap, and feasibility under Atma Nirbharta Initiative.

§Assess implications for India in the event of military confrontation in Taiwan.

§Deduce contours for national security strategy, military security strategy, and requirement of structures and systems to improve upon the ‘Response Mechanism’ (needed to energise the ‘Whole of Government Approach’).

            An experienced team of mentors consisting of five ambassadors and senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force guided the course members through the invigorating sessions to evoke responses and address all possible queries and aspects regards geo-strategic developments and national security.

The exercise has been well received by the faculty and course members of the Higher Command Course, and evoked a matching excitement amongst the mentors to follow up with a more exhaustive and challenging settings next time.

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