Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, 7 May 2026 attended the second edition of the Joint Commanders' Conference in Jaipur, themed "Military Capability in New Domains". The high-level conclave, which also marks the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, brings together the country's top military leadership to chart India's defence roadmap across cyber, space, and cognitive warfare domains.

Key Attendees and Agenda

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan is also attending the conference alongside Rajnath Singh. Officials said the event will serve as a critical platform to assess emerging threats and lay out a roadmap for building a future-ready, resilient military with a decisive strategic edge. New doctrines related to next-generation warfare concepts and operational strategies are expected to be unveiled during the proceedings.

The conference will also feature live demonstrations of advanced technologies and futuristic applications developed by the armed forces, offering a glimpse into India's evolving military-technological capabilities.

Focus on AI, Unmanned Systems and New Warfare Domains

Modern warfare is rapidly shifting from conventional battlefields to technology-driven arenas, and the conference reflects that transition. A central focus is the growing role of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, and emerging threats in cyber, space, and cognitive warfare. Officials indicated that the armed forces are actively preparing doctrines and capabilities to counter these evolving challenges.

This comes amid a broader global trend of militaries integrating AI-driven decision-making and autonomous systems into operational planning — an area where India is looking to rapidly close the gap with advanced defence powers.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Civil-Military Collaboration

A major thrust of the conference is accelerating indigenisation and strengthening the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Officials emphasised promoting innovation and deepening civil-military collaboration within India's domestic defence ecosystem. The push aligns with the government's broader strategy to reduce dependence on foreign arms imports and build a self-sustaining defence industrial base.

Notably, India has set an ambitious defence exports target and has been steadily expanding its list of items under the positive indigenisation list, banning their import in favour of domestic production.

Operation Sindoor: One Year On

Operation Sindoor was launched on 7 May 2025 as a landmark tri-service military campaign involving the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force, and the Indian Navy. The operation carried out precision strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and is regarded as one of India's biggest coordinated military actions against cross-border terror infrastructure in recent times.

Defence observers noted that the mission demonstrated growing coordination among the three forces in both planning and execution. The operation had triggered strong political and diplomatic reactions at the time of its launch. Rajasthan, given its strategic location as a border state, played a crucial role during the operation, making Jaipur a fitting venue for the anniversary event.

As its first anniversary is observed, Operation Sindoor remains a defining reference point in discussions around India's security strategy and its resolve to respond to cross-border terror threats.

What's Next

The outcomes of the Joint Commanders' Conference — including any new doctrines, technology demonstrations, and indigenisation targets — are expected to shape India's defence priorities for the coming year. The conclave's deliberations will likely feed into the Ministry of Defence's strategic planning cycle, with implementation timelines to be announced in the weeks ahead.