Organised as a focused professional forum, the seminar brought together senior military leadership, veterans, scientists, industry leaders, start-ups and academic experts to align strategy and action toward multi-domain readiness under a Viksit Bharat-aligned security framework.
Delivering the opening address, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, underscored the evolving character of warfare. He stated that integrated, innovation-driven and self-reliant forces are essential to retain operational advantage and strategic relevance in future conflicts. Describing JAI as more than a framework, he termed it a pathway to success — “JAI se Vijai.” He emphasised that the pillars of Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation must define how India trains, equips and employs its Armed Forces to address present challenges while anticipating emerging threats.
In his keynote address, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, highlighted Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation as the pathway to Vijai, stressing the importance of rapid technology absorption and institutional transformation to ensure future force readiness.
The seminar featured three thematic sessions focused on core elements of the JAI transformation agenda.
The first session, titled “Atmashakti: Joint Synergy for Combat Strength and Self-Reliance (рд╕рд╛рдВрдЭреА рд╢рдХреНрддрд┐, рд╕рд╢рдХреНрдд рднрд╛рд░рдд)” and held on February 13, was moderated by Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd). Discussions centred on joint operational integration, convergence of capabilities and innovation-led combat strength. Participants emphasised the need for institutionalised jointness and faster cross-domain integration to deliver decisive and coordinated operational outcomes.
The second session, “Aatmanirbharta: Building Defence Capability through Indigenous Ecosystems (рдЖрддреНрдордирд┐рд░реНрднрд░рддрд╛ рд╕реЗ рд░рдХреНрд╖рд╛ рд╕рд╛рдорд░реНрдереНрдп)”, moderated by Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd), focused on strengthening indigenous defence capability through research, innovation and industrial ecosystems. Deliberations highlighted self-reliant design, development and production, resilient supply chains and deeper collaboration between the Armed Forces, DRDO, industry and start-ups to achieve strategic autonomy.
The final session, “Military–Civil Fusion: Driving Defence Innovation for Jointness and Aatmanirbharta (рд╕реИрдиреНрдп рдирд╛рдЧрд░рд┐рдХ рд╕рдВрд▓рдпрди: рдПрдХ рд░рдгрдиреАрддрд┐рдХ рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧ)”, moderated by Lt Gen Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd), examined Military–Civil Fusion as a critical force multiplier. Speakers underlined the need for a Whole-of-Nation approach involving government, industry, academia and the technology sector to accelerate defence innovation, capability integration and multi-domain preparedness.
The seminar witnessed broad participation from industry stalwarts, defence manufacturers, start-ups, innovators, academic researchers and policy practitioners. Interactive discussions, candid practitioner insights and experience-based perspectives generated actionable ideas to strengthen joint capability, deepen self-reliant defence ecosystems and accelerate innovation-led transformation.
According to organisers, the seminar achieved its objectives by fostering a shared understanding of JAI as a comprehensive force transformation framework and generating recommendations to strengthen joint structures, advance indigenous capability, accelerate innovation adoption and deepen military–civil fusion. Key enablers identified included interoperable systems, integrated planning mechanisms, indigenous technology absorption and robust ecosystem partnerships.
Southern Command reaffirmed its commitment to advancing professional military dialogue and integrated capability development, ensuring that India’s Armed Forces remain resilient, adaptive and prepared to meet emerging multi-domain security challenges.
