Secunderabad: The MITRA seminar CDM brought together senior defence leaders and experts to discuss the future of warfare and strategic transformation of the Indian Armed Forces.
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan addressed the annual seminar at the College of Defence Management (CDM) on February 24. He emphasised that warfare is expanding from physical battlefields into synthetic and cognitive domains. Therefore, the Armed Forces must transition from net-centric operations toward intelligent warfare.
The CDS stressed the need to move beyond Multi-Domain Operations to All Realm All Domain Operations. According to him, this shift reflects the “Third Revolution in Military Affairs,” driven by convergence warfare. This approach integrates contact and non-contact, kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities across multiple domains.
He also underlined the importance of establishing credible non-nuclear strategic deterrence. Such capability, he noted, ensures preparedness at every level of escalation.
MITRA seminar CDM focuses on convergence warfare
The two-day seminar took place on February 24 and 25, with the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, serving as knowledge partner. This year’s theme, “Multi-Domain Integrated Technologically-Empowered Resilient Armed Forces,” reflects the changing nature of global conflict and technological disruption.
Participants included senior defence officials, scholars, industry representatives and practitioners. Consequently, the platform enabled in-depth discussions on aligning global conflict lessons with India’s operational requirements.
The seminar aimed to develop armed forces that are multi-domain in vision, integrated in action, technology-empowered in execution and resilient in purpose. Moreover, speakers highlighted the need for self-reliance and structural reform to strengthen national security.
Established in 1970, the College of Defence Management remains a premier tri-service institution. Over the years, it has shaped military leadership by integrating contemporary management practices with strategic foresight. Its annual seminars consistently address themes such as geopolitical shifts, defence self-reliance and leadership transformation.
Overall, the latest seminar reinforced India’s commitment to adapting its military doctrine to emerging realities. By embracing intelligent warfare and all-domain integration, defence planners aim to build a resilient force prepared for future contestations.
