Third Edition of Kalam & Kavach Defence Conference Held in New Delhi
The third Kalam & Kavach defence conference was held at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on 14 May 2026, focusing on Jointness, self-reliance and innovation (JAI) in indigenous defence technology.
The third edition of the Kalam & Kavach strategic defence conference was inaugurated at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on 14 May 2026. It was inaugurated by Minister of State for Defence (Raksha Rajya Mantri) Shri Sanjay Seth.
The conference was built around the vision of Jointness, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), and Innovation, together called JAI. Its main goal was to promote indigenisation, meaning the development of defence equipment within India, along with international collaboration in defence technologies.
Discussions at the event covered Artificial Intelligence-enabled warfare, autonomous systems, hypersonic technologies, quantum-enabled C4ISR capabilities, and emerging threats in space. The conference also highlighted the role of iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence), Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and defence industrial corridors in strengthening India's defence ecosystem.
For exam aspirants, this links to India's push for self-reliance in defence and the long-term goal of Viksit Bharat@2047. Terms like iDEX, defence corridors, and C4ISR are commonly tested in current affairs.
Key Points to Remember
- Third edition of the Kalam & Kavach defence conference held on 14 May 2026
- Venue: Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi; inaugurated by MoS Defence Sanjay Seth
- Theme: Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation (JAI)
- Covered AI warfare, autonomous systems, hypersonics, quantum C4ISR, space threats
- Highlighted iDEX, MSMEs and defence industrial corridors; aligned with Viksit Bharat@2047
Exam Relevance
Relevant for UPSC Prelims & Mains (Defence & Security, Science-Tech), CDS/NDA/CAPF (Defence Affairs), SSC CGL (General Awareness).
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