Issues like tri-service synergy and the readiness of the maritime forces will figure prominently at the second edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference 2023, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 4-6 September.

The conference is the apex-level biannual event facilitating interaction between the Naval Commanders for deliberation and formulation of important policy decisions.

During the three-day conference, being conducted in a ‘Hybrid’ format, the senior leadership of the Indian Navy, under the Chairmanship of the Chief of the Naval Staff, will review major operational, materiel, logistics, HR, training, and administrative activities undertaken during the previous six months. The conference will also deliberate upon the course to be steered in the ensuing months.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the Naval Commanders during the conference and interact with them. The Chief of the Defence Staff will also be present.

The conference also provides an opportunity for institutionalised interaction of Naval Commanders with senior Government officials to take ahead several inter-ministerial initiatives towards the development of a safe and secure maritime environment essential for the holistic economic growth of the country.

The conference and the embedded interactions with the National Security Adviser, Chiefs of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force would also be utilised to analyse the operational environment.

The last six months have seen an intense operational tempo as the Indian Navy’s operations spanned from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Indian Naval ships were first responders for the evacuation of Indian nationals from Sudan as part of ‘Op Cauvery’ and HADR in Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha as part of ‘Op Karuna’.

In keeping with the expectations of IN being the preferred security partner and first responder to any crisis in the region, the forum will undertake a detailed review of the operational readiness of the Navy, with a particular focus on the performance of weapons/ sensors of the Naval platforms.

The Commanders will also review the ongoing Naval projects with a focus on enhancing indigenisation through ‘Make in India’ in consonance with the vision of achieving complete ‘AatmaNirbharta’ by 2047.

A demonstration of the indigenisation, Innovations and Tech initiatives by the IN is also planned on the sidelines of the conference. Various HR initiatives towards enhancing quality of life will be reviewed as well as the progress made towards identifying and removing archaic practices in the Indian Navy.