TOP MILITARY CONFERENCE A ‘MULTI-LAYERED’ EVENT THIS YEAR

The scope of the Combined Commanders’ Conference, to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 6, has been expanded this year to make it “a multi-layered, interactive and informal event”, with the added participation of 30 officers and soldiers of various ranks from the three services, the department of military affairs (DMA) said in a statement on Thursday.

The focus of the conference, being conducted at Kevadia in Gujarat from March 4-6, is on evolving a joint military vision.

“The three-day conference will have the combined apex level military leadership of the country reviewing the security situation and defence preparedness of the armed forces, and deliberating pertinent organisational issues for evolving a joint military vision for the future,” the statement said.

It will be attended by defence minister Rajnath Singh, chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat, the three service chiefs and top military officials. The PM will chair the valedictory session on Saturday. National security adviser Ajit Doval will also be present.

The conference was traditionally held in Delhi. But it has been organised outside the national capital after 2014.