The second edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 was conducted from 22 to 24 Oct 2025 at the Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi. The three-day, apex-level conference served as a vital forum for the Naval Commanders to deliberate on issues of operational preparedness, maritime security, capability development, and Tri-Service integration.
The conference commenced with the inaugural address by the Chief of the Naval Staff. Emphasising the evolving geostrategic environment, the CNS highlighted the Navy’s role in safeguarding national maritime interests through preparedness, adaptability, and regional engagement. Reaffirming the Navy’s status as a ‘Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future-Ready Force’, the CNS lauded recent operational deployments, capability augmentations, and joint missions. He also underscored progress towards a fully Aatmanirbhar Navy by 2047, driven by innovation, technology induction, and iDEX initiatives.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressed and interacted with the Naval Commanders on 23 Oct 2025. He acknowledged the Indian Navy’s vital role in safeguarding national interests and commended its high level of operational readiness and robust deterrent posture. He affirmed that the Indian Navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region is a matter of comfort for the friendly nations, while it is a source of discomfort for those who seek to destabilise the region. He also reiterated that a self-reliant Navy is the foundation of a confident and powerful nation, and Indian Navy’s efforts towards enhancing its capabilities through indigenous equipment has made it the flag bearer of Aatmanirbharta. He outlined the need to harness technology and tactics urgently to out-manoeuvre our adversaries. He also highlighted the importance of uncrewed and autonomous systems in modern warfare.
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of the Air Staff, and the Cabinet Secretary also interacted with the Naval Commanders. CDS during his address outlined the importance of integration, jointness, and resource optimisation.
During the conference, five naval publications, such as the Regulations for Naval Armament Service, GeM Handbook, and the Foreign Cooperation Roadmap, were released. Additionally, a one-stop-solution portal ‘NIPUN’ (Naval Intellectual Portal for Unified Knowledge) was launched as an online aggregator of intellectual work of the naval fraternity in various domains.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Sagar Manthan event held on 22 October, brought Naval Commanders, subject matter experts, and thought leaders together to deliberate on contemporary issues.