Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 Begins in Delhi, Focus on Combat Readiness, Tech Adoption
Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, and Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, at the first edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 commenced at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, on Wednesday.
Indian Navy reviews operations, maritime security and future war preparedness amid evolving geopolitical landscape
New Delhi: The first edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 commenced at Nausena Bhawan, with Indian Navy leadership outlining priorities around combat readiness, technology adoption and maritime security in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.
The conference was inaugurated by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, who addressed senior naval leadership, including operational and area commanders, as well as personnel from command headquarters and naval headquarters.
Highlighting recent operational achievements, the navy underscored its role in safeguarding India’s maritime interests, including ensuring energy security amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The leadership noted an increased tempo of operations and stronger inter-service coordination.
The chief of the naval staff stressed the need to build a future-ready force, with a continued focus on combat preparedness and the integration of emerging technologies across domains.
The conference also reaffirmed the navy’s strategic commitment to the Indian Ocean Region and beyond, with emphasis on strengthening partnerships through bilateral and multilateral engagements with friendly foreign countries.
Key discussions during the conference covered a wide spectrum of operational and strategic areas, including capability enhancement across platforms, maintenance and refits, multi-domain safety practices, training, human resource management, innovation and indigenisation.
Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, addressed the commanders and highlighted the need to prepare for the changing character of warfare, shaped increasingly by economic and technological factors.
He called for forward-looking planning to address emerging security challenges and to strengthen India’s defence preparedness in a dynamic global order.
