The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) Headquarters will convene its Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) programme from 14 to 18 September 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, with top military leaders gathering to assess emerging challenges in national and regional security. A Defence Ministry official confirmed the five-day event, which brings together senior officers across the three armed services and key civilian ministries.

Programme Scope and Participants

The CORE programme is designed as an apex-level forum for senior officers of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Notably, officers from the Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, and Home Affairs will also participate, underscoring the programme's emphasis on bridging civil-military perspectives on complex security challenges.

The event is organised by the IDS — the tri-service organisation responsible for the higher management and integration of India's armed forces — and is intended to equip participants with a sharper understanding of the evolving strategic landscape before they assume senior leadership roles.

Key Themes on the Agenda

Over five days, the CORE programme will cover a wide spectrum of subjects, including emerging regional and global security challenges, technological transformation in warfare, strategic communication, and the imperative for enhanced civil-military cooperation in addressing multidimensional threats. Interactions with distinguished subject matter experts and speakers from diverse fields are planned throughout the programme.

Officials noted that the programme reflects IDS Headquarters' broader commitment to strengthening professional competencies, fostering jointness, and preparing senior leadership for a dynamic security environment.

Related Education Initiative at CDM Secunderabad

Separately, as part of ongoing professional military education, Major General Sanjeev Dogra (Retd) addressed mid-level and senior directional officers from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard at the Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC-22), hosted by the College of Defence Management (CDM) in Secunderabad, Telangana.

According to a post on social media platform X by IDS Headquarters, Major General Dogra examined the US–Israel–Iran conflict through a three-person Game Theory framework. The session reportedly demonstrated how the presence of a third player alters incentive structures, alliance calculations, and deterrence stability. Using analytical models, Dogra explained when countries may choose to cooperate, hold back, or confront — and why clear signals and firm commitments are critical to controlling escalation.

IDS Headquarters described the session as 'an immense value addition to professional military education,' noting that strategic clarity in multi-player situations stems from designing choices and understanding payoffs.

Significance of the Dual Initiatives

Taken together, the CORE programme and the HDMC-22 lecture signal a deliberate effort by the Indian military establishment to institutionalise strategic thinking at the senior leadership level. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of India's neighbourhood — from evolving dynamics along the Line of Actual Control to shifting alignments in West Asia — making joint analytical frameworks increasingly relevant for force planning and doctrine development.

The CORE programme concludes on 18 September; the outcomes and any policy directions emerging from the discussions are expected to inform higher-level defence management priorities in the months ahead.