General Bikram Singh on the strain in civil-military relations in the recent past: "I have had five tenures in Army Headquarters and this will be the sixth one. We have had no problems in the past at least. Let me see what the problems are and we will take it forward. "I am certain that given the wisdom on both sides, given the commitment on both sides, I am sure that there will be no problems," he said.

The deficiencies pointed out by his predecessor and the army's readiness for operations: "It will be my endeavour that army remains operationally ready and worthy of expectations of our people and is able to fulfil its role in the correct manner. I would work towards this."

VK Singh's priority of improving the internal health of the force: "In any
organisation, it is an issue that its internal health should remain good and under this many things have been done and it will continue."

AFSPA revoked from areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeastern states: "We have already given our views to the Government and it is for them to decide on them. The army shall continue to carry out its tasks, fulfil its constitutional obligations and perform its role as per desired norms and make sure it remains most accountable, most responsive and most disciplined and most worthy of national power."