The inaugural edition of the Biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2024 took place from March 5th to March 8th, 2024. This conference serves as a crucial platform for discussing significant maritime security matters at the Military-Strategic level. The opening session was held aboard the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, followed by subsequent sessions in New Delhi on March 7th and 8th, 2024, in a hybrid format. The esteemed presence of the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh, alongside the Chief of the Defence Staff, Defence Secretary, and other senior Ministry of Defence officials, added gravitas to the inaugural session.
During the conference, the Raksha Mantri commended the Indian Navy for its swift and courageous response to recent incidents in West Asia and neighboring seas. He urged the Commanders to maintain readiness across all conflict scenarios and emphasized the Indian Navy’s pivotal role in fostering peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region. Furthermore, he stressed the significance of Tri-Services collaboration and integration in shaping the future battlespace.
The sessions in New Delhi on March 7th and 8th, 2024, encompassed comprehensive reviews of operational, logistical, and personnel-related initiatives. The naval leadership also deliberated on current and future plans, including enhancing capabilities in island territories to address contemporary and emerging maritime challenges. Additionally, the Indian Army and Indian Air Force Chiefs shared their perspectives on the operational landscape and readiness levels, fostering discussions on areas for enhancing Tri-Services cooperation.
In conjunction with the conference, Naval Commanders engaged with various ‘Think Tanks’ during the ‘Sagar Manthan’ event on March 8th, 2024. This forum facilitated interactions with MSMEs, innovators, and academia to explore avenues for bolstering self-reliance in defence production and advancing Aatmanirbharta initiatives.
