The Navy, for the first time, will start its commanders’ conference from the recently- inducted indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the inaugural session of the meet onboard the carrier on Monday off the coast of Goa.
The aircraft carrier was commissioned into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year. India now has two aircraft carriers, including INS Vikrant and Russian-built INS Vikramaditya.
As regards the Commanders’ meet, it is held twice a year where the top echelon of the force reviews the operational readiness in the maritime domain. The situation in the strategically important Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean will be discussed in detail in the backdrop of China adopting an aggressive stance there in the upcoming meet. Giving details of the five-day conclave beginning Monday, Navy officials said here on Sunday the conference serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to discuss important security issues at the military-strategic level as well as interact with senior Government functionaries through an institutionalised forum. The novelty of this year’s conference lies in the fact that the first phase of the Commanders’ Conference is being held at sea, and for the first-time, onboard India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
