The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) has officially announced the second edition of ‘RAN SAMWAD’, India’s premier Tri-Services seminar dedicated to ‘Conversations on War, Warfare and Warfighting.’ Scheduled for April 9-10 this year, at the Air Force Training Command in Bangalore, the event will convene senior military leaders, Defence experts, and thought leaders to deliberate on one of the most pressing imperatives in contemporary security: multi-domain operations.The theme for RAN SAMWAD 2026 is “Multi Domain Operations: An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats.”
Organised as a structured and inclusive platform, the seminar will facilitate informed discourse on the evolving character of modern conflict, where land, sea, air, cyber, space, and information domains converge. It builds directly on the foundation laid by the inaugural edition and underscores the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to jointness, technological integration, and strategic foresight under the overarching guidance of the Chief of Defence Staff.
Building on a Landmark Inaugural Edition, Last year’s ‘RAN SAMWAD 2025’, held on August 26-27 at the Army War College in Mhow (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh, marked a historic milestone as India’s first-ever Tri-Services seminar of its kind. Hosted by the Indian Army on behalf of HQ IDS and the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, the event brought together serving officers, top military leadership from all three services, defence industry representatives, and international security professionals.The 2025 edition focused on the impact of emerging technologies on future warfare and reforms in institutionalised training to catalyse technological enablement. Key sessions explored information warfare, grey-zone threats, integrated operations, autonomous systems, AI-enabled decision support, cyber and space capabilities, and resilient networks. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan delivered the keynote address, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh provided the plenary address on the concluding day.Notable outcomes included the release of new Joint Doctrines and the Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap, aimed at enhancing interoperability and aligning innovation with operational needs. The seminar emphasised practical, battle-hardened insights from in-uniform practitioners rather than purely academic perspectives, reinforcing India’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) in defence. It also laid the groundwork for rotational hosting across the services, a model now being followed with the Indian Air Force taking the lead for 2026.
At the conclusion of RAN SAMWAD 2025, General Chauhan announced the next edition’s focus on multi-domain operations, signalling a deliberate progression in the seminar series to address hybrid and irregular threats alongside conventional challenges.
Why Multi-Domain Operations Matter Now, in an era of rapid technological disruption and hybrid warfare, multi-domain operations represent a paradigm shift. They demand seamless integration across traditional and non-traditional battle spaces to achieve decisive effects. The 2026 theme is particularly relevant amid India’s complex security environment, including border tensions, maritime challenges, and the rise of irregular tactics such as cyber intrusions, disinformation campaigns, and proxy conflicts.The seminar is expected to explore rapid deployment, coordinated precision strikes, battlefield mobility, and Army-Air Force integration, topics highlighted in the official announcement. By fostering open dialogue among military practitioners, industry innovators, and strategic thinkers, RAN SAMWAD 2026 aims to translate conceptual frameworks into actionable strategies that strengthen the Indian Armed Forces’ readiness and deterrence posture.
A Platform for the Future RAN SAMWAD has quickly established itself as more than a routine conference; it is evolving into a flagship annual forum that bridges operational experience with forward-looking reforms. The rotational hosting model, Army in 2025, Air Force in 2026, and presumably Navy thereafter, embodies the spirit of true jointness envisioned under theatre commands and integrated theatre commands.Further details on speakers, session themes, and participation will be released in the coming weeks. Defence observers anticipate high-level attendance, including the three Service Chiefs, senior tri-service commanders, and key representatives from academia and industry.As India positions its armed forces for the challenges of 2030 and beyond, events like RAN SAMWAD underscore a clear message: the future of warfighting is joint, technology-driven, and multi-domain. The Bangalore edition promises to take that conversation to the next level.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
