Commanders Conference: Biennial Commanders Conference will be held for the first time on INS Vikrant, Rajnath will address

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and top commanders of the Indian Navy will comprehensively review India's maritime security challenges at a major conference to be held on board the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant on Monday. For the first time, this biennial Commanders' Conference is being held on an aircraft carrier. It is being seen as a symbol of India's priority in the maritime domain amid China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean region.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will address

Indeed, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will address top naval commanders on board the 40,000-tonne ship, which was commissioned into the Navy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last September. Built at a cost of around Rs 23,000 crore, INS Vikrant has a sophisticated air defense network and anti-ship missile system and can hold 30 fighter jets and helicopters.

PM Modi had said- 'Floating City'

At the commissioning ceremony of the vessel, Prime Minister Modi called it a floating city. He had said that this is a reflection of India becoming self-reliant in the defense sector. A senior Navy official said the conference would have its significance because of the prevailing geo-strategic situation in the region. Rajnath Singh will address the naval commanders aboard the indigenous aircraft carrier as part of the first phase of the conference.

The first phase of the conference being held at sea

The Navy said 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 aboard India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Manoj Pandey, and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary will also hold talks with the Navy Commanders to address the convergence of the common operating environment of the three services.