In a significant post-Operation Sindoor development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation’s top military leadership during the Combined Commanders’ Conference, scheduled to be held in Kolkata in the second half of September.

The event will bring together the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), tri-services Chiefs and top commanders of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as senior civilian officials from the Ministry of Defence. The Combined Commanders’ Conference was supposed to happen earlier in Kolkata but it got delayed due to Operation Sindoor.

Security insight

The PM will speak on the second day of the conference to give his insight into national security challenges faced by the country and the armed forces response to Operation Sindoor, dismantling the terror and military infrastructure of Pakistan.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address the top brass of the armed forces on the third day, sources aware of the development stated.

Key to agenda that would be discussed threadbare during the conference is increasing the retention rate of Agniveers beyond their four-year-stint under the Agnipath schemes and presentation on the creation of Theatre Commands — which has been hanging for long in the Ministry of Defence.

One of the administrative topics which is supposed to come up is bringing parity in personnel promotion timelines in Army, Navy and Air Force, said sources.

With Indian Air Force (IAF) playing a leading role in the Operation Sindoor to neutralise Pakistan’s threat, sources said, they are seeking again their pound of flesh in the proposed jointness which would be dominated by the Army. The proposed Theatre Command structure would see units from all three services operating under a single theatre commander for a particular area or function.

As per the proposal, the proposed commands will be geographically structured: Western Theatre Command at Jaipur, Northern Theatre Command at Prayagraj and Karwar will house Maritime Theatre Command. In the existing format, IAF will not get a chance to lead any of the three commands.

Sources said deliberations would take place on tri-services trying to bring the cyber agencies under the command structures.

Another major presentation for the Prime Minister will highlight the growing capabilities of indigenous defence platforms which Modi has also lauded in his public speeches several times since Operation Sindoor. A detailed assessment will be shared on the performance of Indian-made weapons during Operation Sindoor.

Published on August 18, 2025