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LUCKNOW: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the inaugural Joint Commanders’ Conference (JCC) in Lucknow on Thursday, emphasising the need for jointness and integration among the three services for future challenges.
He commended the Armed Forces for their invaluable contribution in safeguarding national interests and advancing the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, and appreciated the efforts being undertaken for furthering jointness and integration among the three Services.
In line with the theme of the conference, ‘Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat : Transforming the Armed Forces’, Singh stated that India is a peaceloving nation and the Armed Forces need to be prepared for war in order to preserve peace.
He stressed upon the significance of evolving joint military vision and preparing for the type of challenges the country may face in future wars, while emphasising on synergised, swift and proportionate response to provocations.
Referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts and the current situation in Bangladesh, the Defence Minister exhorted the Commanders to analyse these episodes, predict the problems that the country may face in the future, and stay prepared to deal with the “unexpected”.
He emphasised on the need of a broader & deeper analysis by the top military leadership in view of the situation along the Northern border and the happenings in neighbouring countries, which are posing a challenge to peace & stability in the region.
“Despite global volatility, India is enjoying a rare peace dividend and it is developing peacefully. However, due to the increasing number of challenges, we need to remain alert. It is important that we keep our peace intact during Amrit Kaal. We need to focus on our present, keep an eye on the activities happening around us at present, and focus on being future-oriented. For this, we should have a strong and robust national security component. We should have fail-proof deterrence,” Singh said.
Singh called upon the Commanders to identify and include the right mix of traditional and modern warfare equipment in the Armed Forces arsenal. He stressed on capability development in space and electronic warfare, describing them as integral to tackle modern-day challenges.
He also urged the military leadership to focus on increasing the use of the latest technological advancements in the fields of data and artificial intelligence.
“These components do not participate in any conflict or war directly. Their indirect participation is deciding the course of warfare to a great extent,” he added.
He once again voiced the government’s resolve towards the welfare and well-being of the soldiers, both serving and retired, and their families.
The conference, which commenced on September 4, 2024, brought together the combined apex-level military leadership of the country, who deliberated upon the current and future challenges to the nation in the context of national security.
The conference provided an opportunity for the commanders to review national and international developments that impact India, while discussing measures to further improve the country’s defence capabilities.
In the sidelines of JCC, Singh also launched eight innovative applications, including e-Museum and e-Granthalaya, along with one publication on ‘Colonial Practises and the Armed Forces – A Review,’ marking a significant step towards greater cohesion and synergy among the three services.
The conference was also attended by MoS Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and other senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Defence.
