(Web Desk) – Under the BJP government, India’s armed forces are witnessing an unprecedented rise in saffronization, marked by Hindu religious symbolism, politicised military leadership, and increasing pressure on minority personnel.
Analysts warn that this shift risks eroding the military’s longstanding secular and apolitical character, aligning it instead with majoritarian political agendas.
Religious symbolism in military spaces
A series of symbolic changes has raised concerns about deliberate ideological shifts within military institutions. In January 2025, the historic 1971 war painting in the Army Chief’s South Block lounge was replaced with Karam Kshetra, an artwork featuring Hindu mythological figures such as Krishna and Chanakya beside modern military equipment.
Similarly, in December 2024, the Fire and Fury Corps installed a statue of the Hindu king Shivaji at Pangong Tso in Ladakh, positioned next to a saffron flag in a highly sensitive border region.
Rituals, political posturing by senior officers
Senior military leaders have increasingly participated in public Hindu religious ceremonies. On National Unity Day 2025, the army chief received a tilak and garland from priests while in uniform, sparking debate over the erosion of institutional neutrality. In May 2025, the COAS visited the ashram of Hindu spiritual leader Rambhadracharya in Madhya Pradesh, where he reportedly received religious initiation—further blurring lines between military duty and religious influence.
Politicization of military operations
Operational nomenclature has also undergone an ideological shift. Missions named “Sindoor” and “Mahadev” reflect a move away from neutral terminology toward overt religious branding.
Meanwhile, statements by senior officers echo ruling-party rhetoric, including hardline comments against Pakistan, suggesting closer alignment between military discourse and BJP political narratives.
Recruitment, institutional influence
Long-term structural changes are also reinforcing ideological shifts. The Agnipath recruitment scheme, launched in 2022, has reportedly introduced large numbers of personnel connected to RSS-linked networks. Sainik Schools—key feeder institutions for future officers—are increasingly influenced by organizations such as Vidya Bharati and groups linked to the Ram Mandir movement, embedding Hindu nationalist values early in the leadership pipeline.
Cultural shifts and symbolic messaging
Symbolic actions continue to add to concerns. The army’s replacement of the iconic 1971 war surrender artwork with Hindu-themed imagery underscores the broader cultural recalibration. During a post-ceasefire visit in May 2025, the COAS’s appearance at Rambhadracharya’s ashram in uniform drew sharp criticism from security and minority networks. The spiritual leader later claimed to have given the COAS diksha and requested the “reclaiming of AJK” as dakshina, a statement seen as deeply inappropriate for a serving military chief.
Minority officers report discrimination
Minority officers—including Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians—report growing pressure to conform to Hindu rituals and practices. Complaint records highlight cases such as Lt. Samuel Kamalesan, a Christian officer dismissed in 2025 after refusing to take part in Hindu ceremonies, a decision upheld by the Delhi High Court. Minority personnel describe social exclusion, stalled promotions, and coercive environments, prompting some to resign or consider leaving service.
Human rights concerns
Human Rights Watch’s 2025 report cited over 520 custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings in military settings, attributing some cases to rising ideological extremism among security forces.
The ongoing saffronization of India’s Armed Forces—visible in symbolism, leadership behavior, recruitment patterns, operational language, and treatment of minorities—signals a major transformation. Critics argue the military is increasingly seen as “Modi ki Sena,” compromising its secular ethos, professional integrity, and institutional credibility. As ideological influence grows, analysts warn that the cohesion and neutrality of one of India’s most critical institutions stand at serious risk.