The upcoming Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC), scheduled from September 15 at the Eastern Command headquarters in Fort William, Kolkata, is set to become a pivotal event in India’s strategic and defence policymaking calendar.

As the supreme forum for the uniformed leadership to chart long-term military objectives, threat perceptions, and inter-services integration, the CCC frequently serves as both an operational review and a forward-looking exercise to shape India’s security doctrine.

Importantly, this year’s conference is drawing added national attention with the confirmed participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, underscoring the political and strategic significance of the event.

Modi’s address on the opening day is expected to outline the government’s strategic vision for the armed forces, placing emphasis on self-reliance, preparedness for multi-domain warfare, and the strengthening of joint operations under the theatre command system presently in the pipeline.

The attendance roster highlights the forum’s strategic weight. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, the primary architect of India’s ongoing theatre restructuring and integration efforts, will brief the political leadership alongside the Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, focusing on the evolution of operational doctrines, lessons from recent conflicts worldwide, and the recalibration of India’s defensive posture in light of ongoing regional challenges.

The presence of officers who actively participated in Operation Sindoor, the notable anti-terror campaign mounted in recent months along sensitive zones, signals the likelihood of in-depth after-action reviews feeding into broader doctrinal refinements in counter-terror, counter-insurgency, and hybrid-warfare strategies.

The anticipated participation of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval indicates the overlap of military strategy with national security planning, particularly in areas such as cyber defence, intelligence coordination, and cross-border counterterror measures.

The decision to host the CCC at Fort William, the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, reflects both historic symbolism and clear political calculus. The Eastern Command oversees one of the most sensitive theatres of India’s security environment, covering frontiers with China, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, as well as handling insurgency-prone northeastern states.

The proximity of Fort William to these zones makes it a natural fit to review live challenges ranging from China’s assertive manoeuvres along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh to unrest spilling over from Nepal’s recent political turbulence.

However, political observers point out that convening the conference in Kolkata, as opposed to the usual capital-centred choices, also echoes a political message, with Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections potentially shaping the optics.

By highlighting the eastern theatre’s importance on both national security and political maps, the government signals its dual attention to strategic exigencies and regional politics.

According to local state-government sources, Prime Minister Modi will be accommodated at the Governor’s House in Kolkata on the evening of September 15, underscoring the ceremonial weight attached to the inauguration.

His interaction with commanders on-site is expected to review live operational scenarios and possibly witness classified briefings on border security, maritime posture in the Bay of Bengal, and readiness against both conventional and sub-conventional threats.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likewise expected to amplify the themes of indigenisation, enhanced force mobility, and greater tri-service coordination, anchoring them in the policy framework of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence.

His likely messaging will focus on scaling up indigenous platforms ranging from Tejas fighters and Arjun tanks to next-generation missile systems and naval assets under construction, ensuring that procurement policy remains closely aligned with strategic planning.

The forum is also expected to address technological transformations in warfare, such as the integration of artificial intelligence in surveillance and logistics, satellite-enabled command systems, and the operationalisation of indigenous ballistic missile defence layers.

The Eastern Command, in particular, has been at the forefront of rehearsing real-time joint exercises, including air-land battle integration and amphibious drills along the Bay of Bengal, experiences that are likely to shape the discussion agenda.

Furthermore, lessons from global security trends, including Russia-Ukraine warfare and evolving Indo-Pacific maritime coalitions, are anticipated to blend into the joint doctrine considerations.

The Kolkata edition of the Combined Commanders’ Conference represents more than just a military conclave. It is positioned at the intersection of strategic recalibration, inter-service integration, regional political messaging, and national security imperatives.

Beyond reviewing immediate operational concerns, it will shape the doctrinal evolution of the Indian Armed Forces over the medium to long term, while simultaneously reinforcing a message of political commitment and regional focus at a time when domestic and international security challenges are converging.

Agencies