Indian Army’s 10th Chiefs’ Conclave Begins in New Delhi, Former Chiefs Attend

New Delhi: The Indian Army today commenced its 10th Chiefs’ Conclave in New Delhi, bringing together senior military leaders and former Chiefs to deliberate on operational preparedness, strategic continuity, and contemporary security challenges. The two-day event will run through Feb 28.

The conclave opened with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, where participants paid homage to soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Senior Army leadership and former Chiefs of the Army Staff of both India and Nepal are attending the event.

Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, along with other top officials, is briefing the distinguished guests on major transformations within the force, particularly measures to address the challenges of modern warfare, according to defence sources.

Among the former Indian Army Chiefs likely to attend the conclave are General Vijay Kumar Singh (Mizoram Governor and former Chief of Army Staff), General Manoj Mukund Naravane, General Manoj Pande, General Deepak Kapoor, General J.J. Singh and General N.C. Vij. The next of kin of former Chiefs including the late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and the late General Bipin Rawat have also been invited. Four former Chiefs of the Nepal Army are participating as honorary Chiefs, reflecting the longstanding military tradition between India and Nepal.

The Chiefs of the Nepal Army serve as honorary Chiefs of the Indian Army, and reciprocally, Indian Army Chiefs are honorary Chiefs of the Nepal Army – a unique tradition that underscores deep defence ties between the two countries.

During the conclave, discussions are expected to cover key aspects of contemporary defence strategy, force modernisation and lessons drawn from recent operations. Former Chiefs will also visit selected Army establishments and cultural landmarks as part of the scheduled programme to reinforce institutional memory and professional dialogue.

The conclave comes at a time of sustained emphasis on enhancing the Army’s operational capabilities, as demonstrated by recent exercises such as Exercise Agni Varsha at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges, which validated integrated combat and network-enabled operations in a multi-domain environment.

The 10th Chiefs’ Conclave reaffirms the Indian Army’s focus on preserving institutional wisdom, fostering inter-generational professional interaction and strengthening preparedness across evolving security landscapes.