PM Modi inaugurates 16th Armed Forces' Conference in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the three-day 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the Eastern Command headquarters of the Indian Army at Vijay Durg, the historic Fort William, in Kolkata. The biennial event serves as the apex brainstorming forum of the armed forces, bringing together the country’s top civil and military leadership to deliberate on strategic, operational, and institutional priorities.Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force were among those attending the conference,according to information.
This year’s edition, themed “Year of Reforms — Transforming for the Future,” is the first CCC since Operation Sindoor, a punitive tri-services campaign aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. A senior defence official said the operation demonstrated “precision, professionalism, and purpose” in India’s calibrated military response.“The focus of the conference reflects the armed forces’ commitment to institutional reforms, deeper integration, and technological modernisation, while sustaining a high level of multi-domain operational readiness,” the official added.
Over three days, interactive sessions involving officers of various ranks are expected to address reforms, transformation, and operational preparedness of the armed forces, alongside discussions on future challenges and opportunities.The Prime Minister arrived in Kolkata on Sunday evening from Assam and is scheduled to leave for Purnea in Bihar later on Monday afternoon. This marks Modi’s fourth visit to West Bengal in the past five months, and his second within a month.The last Combined Commanders’ Conference was held in Bhopal in 2023.