Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the country’s top military commanders in Kolkata next month during the Combined Commanders’ Conference, which will take place for the first time in the West Bengal capital, defence sources said on Monday.
The conference, scheduled for the third week of September, will bring together senior commanders from the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with senior officials from the Defence Ministry. Sources indicated that Modi would outline his long-term vision for national security and review the progress of key defence reforms initiated over the past two years.
A major focus of the closed-door deliberations will be the creation of three theatre commands aimed at improving joint planning and operational coordination. The Integrated Defence Staff, led by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, has been tasked with finalising the structure of the commands and incorporating lessons from Operation Sindoor into the overall framework.
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According to the proposal, theatre commands would be established at Jaipur, Prayagraj and Karwar, taking responsibility for the western, northern and maritime fronts respectively.
The Prime Minister is also expected to receive a presentation on the development and battlefield performance of indigenous weapon systems under the Make in India programme. Defence officials said the presentation will include operational feedback from Operation Sindoor, during which BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Nagastra loitering munitions were used against terrorist and military targets across the border.
A selection of domestically developed platforms is likely to be showcased during the conference — a first for such an event in Kolkata. Until recently, the Combined Commanders’ Conference was held annually; it is now convened every two years. Last year’s session in Lucknow was addressed by the Defence Minister.
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