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Second Naval Commanders Conference 2026 Opens in New Delhi

The second edition of the Naval Commanders Conference 2026 began at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh addressing the Navy’s top leadership.

By Published · 2 min read
Second Naval Commanders Conference 2026 Opens in New Delhi

Why in News

On 30 September 2026 the Ministry of Defence announced that the second edition of the Naval Commanders Conference 2026 had begun at Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi, with the Raksha Mantri, the CDS and the Army Chief addressing the Navy’s top leadership.

The second edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 opened at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, on 29 September 2026. The three-day meeting brought the senior leadership of the Indian Navy together, including its Operational and Area Commanders, to review operational readiness, maritime security and the building of future capability.

Who said what

The opening address was delivered by Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, who surveyed the maritime security environment and the Navy’s present posture at sea. He asked for combat readiness, agility and quicker absorption of new technology as challenges in the maritime domain change shape.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh told the commanders that India’s responsibilities at sea are growing and described the Indian Navy as a First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region. He asked for stronger maritime surveillance, better analytical capability and faster operational response. Turning to West Asia, he pointed to Operation Urja Suraksha and the Navy’s part in protecting India’s energy security, and he linked Aatmanirbharta and indigenous capability to the wider goal of a secure and developed nation, noting that secure seas are inseparable from a secure country.

Tri-service thread

Chief of the Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan’s successor, General NS Raja Subramani, called the Navy a strategic force multiplier and praised its work on technology absorption, self-reliance and energy security. He spoke of the changing character of warfare and asked for faster technology transformation, seamless data sharing and greater resilience, all resting on jointness across the services. Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth also met the naval commanders, and that exchange focused on tri-service synergy, interoperability and integrated responses.

What the rest of the conference covers

Over the remaining sessions the naval leadership will take up operations, materiel, logistics, human resources, training, force development and the induction of emerging technologies. Steps to optimise force levels, sharpen combat readiness and speed up capability development are also on the table.

Important Facts

EventNaval Commanders’ Conference 2026, second edition
VenueNausena Bhawan, New Delhi
Began29 September 2026; a three-day conference
Inaugural addressAdmiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff
Raksha MantriShri Rajnath Singh
Chief of the Defence StaffGeneral NS Raja Subramani
Chief of the Army StaffGeneral Dhiraj Seth
Operation namedOperation Urja Suraksha, linked to energy security
Navy’s role statedFirst Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region

Exam Point of View

Note the venue (Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi), that this is the second edition of the conference in 2026, the Chief of the Naval Staff (Admiral Krishna Swaminathan), the CDS (General NS Raja Subramani), the Army Chief (General Dhiraj Seth), the Navy’s description as First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region, and Operation Urja Suraksha for energy security.

Practice Questions

Q1.DefenceEasy

Where was the second edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 held?

  1. A.Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi
  2. B.Southern Naval Command, Kochi
  3. C.Western Naval Command, Mumbai
  4. D.Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam
Show answer

Correct answer: A. Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi

Explanation

The correct answer is Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence stated that the second edition of the conference commenced there, bringing together the senior leadership of the Indian Navy, including Operational and Area Commanders, for deliberations on operational preparedness, maritime security and future capability development. Options B, C and D name naval commands at Kochi, Mumbai and Visakhapatnam. Those are headquarters of the Navy’s commands and their commanders attended the conference, but none of them hosted this edition. The venue matters for the examination because the conference was held at the Navy’s headquarters building in the capital, where the Raksha Mantri, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Chief of the Army Staff could address and interact with the naval leadership during the same three-day sitting.

Q2.DefenceMedium

Which naval operation did the Raksha Mantri link to safeguarding India’s energy security?

  1. A.Operation Sankalp
  2. B.Operation Samudra Setu
  3. C.Operation Urja Suraksha
  4. D.Operation Sagar Rakshak
Show answer

Correct answer: C. Operation Urja Suraksha

Explanation

The correct answer is Operation Urja Suraksha. Referring to the situation in West Asia, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh highlighted the Navy’s conduct of this operation and its contribution to safeguarding India’s energy security, in an address that also stressed Aatmanirbharta, indigenous capability development and technology absorption. Option A, Operation Sankalp, and option D, Operation Sagar Rakshak, were not named in this address. Option B, Operation Samudra Setu, is associated with the evacuation of Indian citizens by sea and not with energy security. For the examination, the point to carry away is the pairing of the operation’s name with its purpose: protecting the sea lanes that carry India’s energy supplies, which the Raksha Mantri tied to his wider argument that secure seas are integral to a secure and developed nation.

Q3.DefenceMedium

Who delivered the inaugural address at the conference as Chief of the Naval Staff?

  1. A.General NS Raja Subramani
  2. B.Admiral Krishna Swaminathan
  3. C.General Dhiraj Seth
  4. D.Shri Rajnath Singh
Show answer

Correct answer: B. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan

Explanation

The correct answer is Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the Chief of the Naval Staff, who opened the conference by reviewing the prevailing maritime security environment and the Indian Navy’s operational posture, and who underlined combat readiness, agility, responsiveness and faster technology absorption. Option A, General NS Raja Subramani, is the Chief of the Defence Staff; he addressed the commanders separately and called the Navy a strategic force multiplier. Option C, General Dhiraj Seth, is the Chief of the Army Staff, who interacted with the naval commanders on tri-service synergy, interoperability and integrated responses. Option D, Shri Rajnath Singh, is the Raksha Mantri, who addressed the commanders on India’s growing maritime responsibilities. Only the Chief of the Naval Staff delivered the inaugural address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the second Naval Commanders Conference of 2026 held?

At Nausena Bhawan in New Delhi. The three-day conference began on 29 September 2026 and brought together the Indian Navy’s Operational and Area Commanders.

Which operation did the Raksha Mantri mention for energy security?

Operation Urja Suraksha. Referring to the situation in West Asia, Rajnath Singh highlighted the Navy’s conduct of this operation and its contribution to safeguarding India’s energy security.

Who is the Chief of the Naval Staff?

Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, who delivered the inaugural address at the conference and reviewed the maritime security environment and the Navy’s operational posture.

Sources