Navy ,for the first time, will start its commanders’ conference from the recently inducted indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the inaugural session of the meet onboard the carrier on Monday off the coast of Goa.
The aircraft carrier was commissioned into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year. India now has two aircraft carriers including INS Vikrant and Russian built INS Vikramaditya.
As regards the commanders’ meet, it is held twice a year where the top echelon of the force review the operational readiness in the maritime domain. Situation in the strategically important Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean will be discussed in detail in the backdrop of China adopting an aggressive stance there in the upcoming meet.
Giving details of the five-day conclave beginning Monday, navy officials said here on Sunday the conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as interact with Senior Government functionaries through an institutionalised forum.
The novelty of this year’s conference lies in the fact that the first phase of the Commanders' Conference is being held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
Rajnath will address the Naval Commanders onboard INS Vikrant on the conference's opening day. The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chiefs of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force will also interact with the Naval Commanders on subsequent days to address the convergence of the three Services vis-à-vis common operational environment, and avenues of augmenting Tri-Service synergy and readiness towards the defence of the nation and India’s national interests. An operational demonstration at sea is also planned as part of the activities on Day one.
Navy chief , along with other Naval Commanders will review major Operational, Materiel, Logistics, Human Resource Development, Training and Administrative activities undertaken by the Indian Navy in the last six months and further deliberate upon future plans for important activities and initiatives.
During the conference, Naval Commanders would also be provided with an update on ‘Agnipath Scheme’ executed in the Indian Navy in November last year.
The first batch of Agniveers, which also includes the first batch of women Agniveers of the Indian Armed Forces, is scheduled to pass out from INS Chilka in March end.
Due to the prevailing geostrategic situation in the region, the Conference has its own significance and relevance. The Navy has witnessed significant growth in its operational tasking over the years in consonance with India’s growing maritime interests.
The Commanders would also deliberate the Navy’s readiness to address the challenges to our Maritime interests. The Indian Navy remains focused on being a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force and continues to assiduously execute its mandate as the maritime security guarantor of the country.
