The second edition of the biannual Naval Commanders' Conference 2026 was conducted from September 29 to October 1, 2026, at New Delhi. This apex-level conference served as a comprehensive review of the Indian Navy's operational and materiel preparedness at the military-strategic level. During the three-day conference, senior officials including Shri Rajnath Singh (Raksha Mantri), Shri Jitin Prasada (Minister of State for Electronics and IT), Gen NS Raja Subramani (Chief of Defence Staff), and Gen Dhiraj Seth (Chief of the Army Staff) interacted with the Naval Commanders.
The conference brought together naval commanders to deliberate on operational preparedness, logistics and maintenance milestones, and reforms undertaken in training and HR management. These discussions occurred against the backdrop of the evolving global security environment and rapid technological advances, including the absorption of artificial intelligence and the growing role of autonomous and uncrewed systems.
Shri Jitin Prasada highlighted the importance of accelerating technology adoption and strengthening domestic capabilities in key sectors such as semiconductors, AI, and quantum technologies. He specifically lauded the Indian Navy's role in ensuring India's energy security and highlighted the government's focus on strengthening sovereignty in semiconductor and chip production.
Gen NS Raja Subramani underscored the Navy's role as a strategic force multiplier in safeguarding national interests and commended its operational commitment to maintaining energy security, along with sustained efforts toward technology absorption and indigenization. He emphasized the need for technology-driven transformation, resilience, and greater integration among the Defence Forces.
Gen Dhiraj Seth outlined the preparedness of the Indian Army to address regional security challenges and shared perspectives on the contemporary security environment, focusing on strengthening tri-service synergy, interoperability, and integrated responses to emerging security challenges.
The key deliberations during the conference emphasized jointness, interagency coordination, optimal utilization of resources, and strategic alignment toward building a Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive, and Future Ready force.
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