Gold Medal Essay Competition

Subjects for 2020

Rules
Stylesheet
 

Subjects for 2020

Group ‘A’ : Open to All Officers

“Emerging Dynamics of Warfare – Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
and Robotics and how India can exploit it”

National aspirations, environmental realities and disruptive technologies will

determine the nature of future military operations. The current linear
battlefield is likely to be replaced by a 360 degree view with heavy
information overloads. Strategic military objectives will be achieved by Joint
operations with increasing emphasis on Navy and Air Force. Army will be
employed in swift, highly mobile, and lethal operations against traditional
adversaries and cross border terrorist groups or hybrid of the two, making
optimum use of advancement in technology. Special Forces operations even
in peace time are likely to be conducted more frequently. Our adversaries
are developing a broad range of advance Robotic and Autonomous Systems
(RAS) technologies as well as employing new tactics to disrupt our military
strengths and exploit our perceived weaknesses. RAS are increasingly
important to ensure freedom of manoeuvre and mission accomplishment.

A new dimension of Communication networks are emerging. We are soon

likely to witness weaponized Information Communication Technology
Electronics and Cyber (ICTEC) increasingly being employed in battle with
communication networks as platform of delivery and information as
 ammunition. Data, information and derived cognitive wisdom therefrom will
become synonymous with military technologies and will be used for war
fighting to beat the enemy.

New age technologies that will effect the military operations are as under :-
(a)Network Centric Warfare (NCW). Standards based networks and
compatible devises are increasingly making advent into the warfighter’s
domain. Structured data is being generated by connected devices, platforms
and organisations for processing. NCW is likely to follow, once doctrine,
policies and common platforms are clearly defined, drawn and implemented.
We are increasingly getting digitized, which sets the base for rapid induction
of new technologies for effect

(b)Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics. It is the ability of machines

to take near human logical decisions and perform tasks based on patterns,
machine learning, deep learning and fuzzy logic. AI alongwith robotics and
Internet of Things (IOT), will take over or aid in many data intensive tasks
thus leading to simplified human decision making. Operationally, AI and
Robotics will aid in some of the following ways :-

1. Define Mission Parameters.

2. Terrain Analysis

3. Battle indicators and warnings.

4. Countering enemy propaganda.

5. Supporting Decision Support System (DSS).

6. Enabling blending use of manned and unmanned systems.

7. Simplify any function where speed, information and synchronisation
may impede human decision making.

8. Robots will be helpful in conduct of dangerous and dirty tasks.

Research on manufacture of speaking Robots is going on. If it succeeds,
robots will have enhanced capabilities.

(c) Facial recognition, image enhancement and other Digital Signal

Processing (DSP) applications..

(d)Autonomous Systems Vehicles and Automation.

(e) Drones.

(f) Cloud Technologies and Virtualisation

(g) Social media.

(h) Swarm Technologies.

(j) Smart Ammunition.

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Autonomous Systems Capabilities will

allow future army formations and units to conduct operations consistent with
the concept of multi-domain battle, projecting power outward from land into
maritime, space and cyberspace domains to preserve Joint Force freedom of
movement and action. Executing this strategy will require commanders to
think clearly about how to integrate RAS into operations and learn through
experimentation. There is need to focus and prioritise efforts and implement
technology enabled concepts across doctrine, organisation, training,
 leadership, education of personnel, facilities and policy.

There will be a complex interplay of humans and technology to improve our

war winning potential in the future. Therefore, insertion and use of
technology should be with a clear aim towards this objective. Concurrently
there must be evolution in concepts, doctrines, Organisations and policies to
adopt these technologies optimally. Also intelligence regarding progress on
our adversaries fielding autonomous systems in their armed forces should be
kept in mind.

With the above as background, carry out an analysis of Role of AI and

Robotics and how we can exploit them. What Are the emerging trends in the
field of military applications. The essay should also address the following
issues :-

a. Increased Situational Awareness.

b. Facilitate Mobility and Manoeuvre. How can we use new age
technology combination to extend own depth of operations, overcome
obstacles and also provide kinetic and non-kinetic responses to the enemy.
c. Increase Protection of Own Forces.
d. Reduce Soldier’s Physical and Cognitive Load.
e. Improve Sustainability of Forces. Use of unmanned autonomous
vehicles and air unmanned systems for logistics support to remote but
urgent points may be of help.
Common Control. A single software platform to control Autonomous
systems like robots, Decision Support System (DSS) and so on.
A vision, road map for India and Capability Enhancement. It will take
time to develop / procure and introduce autonomous systems. These require
resources and must, therefore, be prioritised. In the interim, a road map
must be clearly defined, drawn and accepted. The road map should be
divided into three phases – Short Term (three to five years) Mid Term (six to
ten years) and Long Term (eleven to fifteen years). Some of the actions that
can be taken in each phase should be spelt out to exploit new age
technologies. This will enable seizing and utilising opportunities leading to
the identified goal.

Group ‘B’: Open to Officers up to 14 Years of Service

“Space the Next Frontier: Opportunities and Challenges for India”

Technology has always been a major driver of Revolution in Military Affairs.

Since World War II, nuclear weapons added an edge to the warfighting
capabilities of the then two super powers. The resultant cold war led to
exploration of outer space. Outer space, or simply called ‘space’, refers to
the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of
celestial bodies. Outer space is used to distinguish it from airspace (and
terrestrial locations). The ‘Space Age’ dawned in 1957 with the success of
the world’s first satellite, launched by the then Soviet Union. This led to a
strategic race for space usage between Soviet Union and the US. Today,
around 5000 satellites of 50 countries are in space orbit, with nearly half of
these being actually operational. The space has, thus, become the ‘new
frontier’ in the 21st century. Outer space assets are vital today in providing a
number of services for the betterment of the humanity. These include
satellite aided weather forecasting, communication, internet and internet
based applications like banking, financial services, navigation etc. However,
most of the technologies have a dual-use character and civilian satellites are
increasingly being used for military purposes.

Militaries all over the world rely on satellites for Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
(C4ISR). The Network Centric Warfare (NCW) is completely based on the
integration of information from varied sources through satellites into a jointly
used information network which then optimises decision making and force
planning. For conventional military operations, satellites serve as force
multipliers through target identification, direct bombing raids, ballistic
missile defence and global strike capability.

Space warfare refers to the combat that may take place in outer space. The
scope of space warfare includes ground-to-space warfare, such as attacking
satellites from the earth; space-to-space warfare, such as satellites attacking
satellites; and space-to-ground warfare, such as satellites attacking earth-
based targets. No actual war has ever taken place in space, though a
number of tests and demonstrations have been performed by a few nations.
A number of international treaties and conventions are in place to regulate
conflicts in space and limit the installation of space weapon systems,
especially nuclear weapons.

Weaponisation of outer space refers to the placement of space-based

devices in orbit that have a destructive capacity. Space, though has been in
use to assist military missions, is not weaponised yet. Ground based systems
used for targets in space or weapons which transit through space to reach
the target are space weapons but do not constitute space weaponisation
technically since these are not placed in the orbit. The existing treaties have
only been able to keep the outer space free from weapons of mass
destruction but have contributed little to keep the space free from military
technology. The military use of outer space, which reduced after the end of
Cold War, has seen increasing trend in last two decades or so, mainly due to
the US, China and Russia rivalry. There has been a growing trend of space
weapon systems ranging from ground and space based anti-satellite missiles
to railguns and directed energy weapons to development of ‘microsats’ and
‘picosats’. The trend is likely to grow.
Today, more and more nations are getting active in space usage by investing
in and operating space based systems. Even private entities are vying for
share of space. The space is, thus, likely to get increasingly congested and
contested. Therefore, informed debates on space governance assume high
relevance

India’s space progress is more than five decades old and the nation today
has come to be acknowledged as an established space power. The Indian
Space Programme, spearheaded by the Indian Space Research Organisation
(ISRO), has largely focused on civilian uses of space technology. The major
thrust areas have been satellite communications, remote sensing, and
weather and navigation services. More recently India has undertaken high
profile missions to the Moon and Mars. In March 2019, India carried out the
demonstration of its anti-satellite (ASAT) capability when it destroyed a ‘live
satellite’ in low earth orbit at an altitude of 283 km. India, thus, became only
the fourth nation to possess the ASAT capabilities. As a consequence, there
is growing international recognition of India’s emergence as a space power.

India’s civil dependency on space based assets is increasing at an alarming

pace. The current government’s emphasis on digitisation and transparency
has made Indian banking and financial sector largely dependent on satellites
usages. Other major areas of space dependency include energy sector,
electricity grids, transportation, navigation and internet and internet based
applications. Similarly, there is an ever increasing dependency of military on
satellite inputs. One can’t think of any military mission today, whether
conventional or asymmetric, which does not depend on space.

With the above background, carry out an analytical review of space being
the next frontier. Further, analyse the challenges it poses and opportunities
it provides to India. What in your view are the implications for India and how
to address these? The essay must also address the following:-
a. What are the macro level strategic developments in the outer space?

b. Where does India stand in the global space domain?

c. What are the major trends in the militarisation of outer space?

d. How it impacts India’s national security?

e. Finally, the vision and a road map for India to enhance capabilities to
counter challenges and exploit opportunities?

Rules

1. Competition Group 'A' is open to all commissioned officers of the

Armed Forces of India, officers of the Territorial Army and the Senior
Division of National Cadet Corps, and Gazetted Officers of the Civil
Administration in India including retired officers.

2. Competition Group 'B' is restricted to officers upto 14 years service.

3. Essay may vary in length between 3,000 to 4,000 words. The word
length should be shown in brackets at the end of the essay. Entries
violating the length are liable to be rejected.
4. Essays should be typed on one side of the paper in double space and
should be submitted in TRIPLICATE.

5. Entries will be strictly ANONYMOUS. No detail pertaining to the officer

is to be mentioned on the essay or in the covering letter. The officer is to
select a MOTTO (which should not be more than ten words) and type it on
all copies of the first page of his essay. One sealed envelope is to
accompany the essay with a paper indicating the MOTTO, personal number,
rank, name, date of commission, unit, address and e-mail written on it. On
the outside of the envelope, only the MOTTO is to be written. These
 envelopes will be opened during the USI Council meeting, after the judges
have given their decision. Essays violating anonymity rule will be rejected.

6. The essay must be an officer's personal and original effort without

plagiarism and cut-paste job. Jointly written essays are not accepted.

7. Three judges chosen by the USI will adjudicate. Marks will be given on
the basis of the following:-

a. The extent to which the contribution throws fresh light on the

subject.

b. Whether in the whole or in large part it is in a form suitable for

publication.

c. Understanding of the subject.

d. Thought, logic, development of theme.

e. Language / expression.

8. The award of the judges will be final. They may recommend the Gold
Medal to the winners and/or a cash prize of Rs.15,000/- as well as cash prize
of Rs 10,000/- to the runner-up. The names of the winners of the essay
competition will be published in the USI Journal. Winning essay in each
group, if found suitable will be published in the USI Journal.

9. The Institution reserves the right not to make an award, if none of the
essays submitted is of a standard which the judges consider adequate.
Cases of plagiarism will invite disqualification

10. Copyright of all essays submitted will be reserved by the United

Service Institution of India.

11. All essays should be sent to the Director, United Service Institution of
India, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Post Bag No.8, Vasant Vihar PO, New Delhi-110
 057, to be received not later than 15 September 2020. The envelop should
be marked as follows :-

a. OPEN TO ALL OFFICERS : Essay Competition Group 'A'.

b. OPEN TO OFFICERS UPTO 14 YEARS OF SERVICE : Essay
Competition Group 'B'.
Stylesheet

1. General
a. All diagrams, charts and graphs should be referred to as 'Figures'
and consecutively numbered. Tables should carry only essential data and
should complement the text rather than repeat what has already been
said. They should carry a short title, be numbered and carry the source at
the bottom

b. The paper should have centre, group, paragraph and sub-

paragraph headings to make it more reader-friendly.

c. Use British spellings.

d. Write dates by beginning with the day followed by the month and
the year (e.g. 11 September 2014).

e. In the text, write numbers in words till the number nine and then
in numerals (e.g. two, four, nine; then 10,11,12 and so on).

f. Write 'per cent' and not % or percent.

g. Acronyms and abbreviations should carry the full form at the first
mention with the acronym in bracket; and thereafter the abbreviated
version
 h. Names of books, journals, newspapers and foreign terms in the
body of the text should appear in italics, eg: Asian Security in the 21st
Century; Strategic Analysis; The Hindu.

i. While referring to currency, use Rs. 2,000 crores, not 2000 crores
of rupees. Similarly, $ 8.5 million, not 8.5 million dollars.

2. 2. References / End Notes

a. It is desirable that the author furnishes complete details of the
books/journals referred to in the article as endnotes. This includes full
name of writer of article or book referred to, title of book/article, journal in
which published (in case of articles); issue details, and page numbers.
Besides end notes, if the author so desires, bibliography may also be
included.

b. While referring to a book, follow the example below:-

Lt Gen CK Kapur, Chinese Military Modernisation, (New Delhi: Manas
Publications, 2003), pp. 17-18.

c. While referring to an article in a journal, follow the example

below:-
Lt Cdr Neeraj Malhotra, 'Pratap Singh of the Indian Legion'. The Journal of
the United Service Institution of India, Vol. CXXXIV, No. 556, p.283.

d. While referring to a website, follow the example below:

"Escalation Control in a Nuclear Environment", Report of a Seminar
organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies on 17 November
2004 at New Delhi. Available at: www.ipcs.org. Accessed on 08 February
2005

e. If two successive citations/references refer to the same source,

use Ibid.
f. If the same reference is to be cited after a few other references
or citations, write the name of the author followed by the citation number
e.g.: Imran Khan, op. cit.

RESULTS : USI GOLD MEDAL ESSAY COMPETITON 2019

GROUP ’A’

Subject: :“Water War – Implications for India”.

First:

05839W Cdr Hitender, DSSC, Wellington (Nilgiris) - 643231(TN), Email : hitender.chaudha

9946808451

Second:

IC- 59490W Col Sourabh Chatterji, Skinner’s Horse (1 Horse), PIN – 912601,C/o 56 APO, E
ms.sourabh_chatterji@rediffmail.com, Mob : 8376983381

GROUP ’B’

Subject : “Social Media – The New Dimensions of Warfare”

First:

IC-71205Y Maj Akshat Upadhyay, ADGPI,DGMI,B-30,South Block,IHQ of MoD (Army), New

Email : aksmav12rick@gmail.com

Second:

IC – 67907A Lt Col Saurabh Kumar Misra, 25 MADRAS, AMS2c, MS-2,MS Branch, IHQ of M
110011, Email : saurabhmisra26@gmail.com, Mob : 9958364437
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