The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi, India is an independent think tank on strategic studies and land warfare in the Indian context. CLAWS is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is a membership-based organisation under the aegis of Indian Army. It is governed by a Board of Governors and an Executive Council.
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) pursues its mandate through diverse research verticals that comprehensively cover India’s strategic and security landscape. Its focus areas span traditional and emerging dimensions of warfare, including national security strategy, conventional and sub-conventional conflicts, border management, and regional dynamics. CLAWS also emphasises technological innovations in defence, cyber and information warfare, space and artificial intelligence, while exploring the human domain through military leadership, training and civil-military relations. By engaging with both traditional geopolitics and disruptive future challenges, these verticals enable CLAWS to provide holistic, policy-relevant research for India’s national security. It also has a university cell which facilitates Ph.D. programmes for scholars.
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) has steadily gained global recognition for its contributions to defence and strategic research. In the 2013 Global Go To Think Tank Report published by the University of Pennsylvania, USA, CLAWS was ranked 48th among the world’s top defence and national strategic think tanks. Demonstrating consistent progress, the 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report further acknowledged its influence by ranking CLAWS 17th out of 101 think tanks across China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, highlighting its growing regional and international stature.
The vision of CLAWS is “To be a premier think tank, to shape strategic thought, foster innovation and offer actionable insights in the fields of land warfare and conflict resolution. CLAWS aspires to attract leading strategic thinkers, defence analysts, scholars and academics and media persons to deliberate on all facets of land warfare up to the strategic level.
CLAWS in its outreach programme has signed MOUs with number of National & Inter-national Think-tanks. It organises seminars and conferences, round-table discussions, workshops and guest lecture and undertakes joint research projects with foreign & domestic thinktanks. CLAWS has the privilege of conducting Indian Army’s flagship international seminar, the “Chanakya Defence Dialogue” under the aegis of Indian Army, where till now more than 25 countries have participated.
The Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) maintains a rich and diverse publication portfolio that contributes significantly to defence and strategic discourse. Its flagship outputs include books, the bi-annual CLAWS Journal, the Scholar Warrior Journal, the Manekshaw Papers, Issue Briefs, Newsletters, and the annual compendium Strategic Reflections. In addition to these, CLAWS actively leverages digital platforms to broaden its reach. Its official YouTube channel, “Strategic Frontlines”, provides daily discussions and expert insights on contemporary security and strategic issues, fostering informed debate and awareness. All CLAWS publications are accessible online at https://claws.co.in, while “Strategic Frontlines” can be viewed at https://youtube.com/@centreforlandwarfarestudies.
Research at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) is futuristic in outlook and policy-oriented in approach, addressing both emerging challenges and long-term strategic imperatives. The findings and insights generated are disseminated widely among government officials, policymakers, members of the armed forces, the international strategic community, and informed civilians, ensuring their relevance across multiple domains. Through its research and outreach, CLAWS strives to nurture a proactive and robust strategic culture in India, fostering informed decision-making and strengthening national security discourse.
