Second edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 was held at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, serving as a three-day apex-level strategic forum for top naval leadership. The conference provided a platform for deliberations on operational preparedness, maritime security, capability enhancement, and Tri-Service integration.
It also facilitated high-level interactions with national leadership and senior bureaucrats, aligning the Indian Navy’s strategy with India’s broader national security and maritime objectives amid the evolving Indo-Pacific geopolitical environment.
2nd Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025- Highlights
Objective:
- To evaluate the Navy’s combat readiness, capability development, and integration with the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard.
Strategic Purpose:
- Strengthening India’s maritime posture as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the Indo-Pacific.
Key Initiatives & Announcements
Launch of Naval Publications
Five key naval documents were released during the conference, including:
- Regulations for Naval Armament Service
- GeM Handbook
- Foreign Cooperation Roadmap
- (and two other classified publications relevant to naval policy and modernization)
These publications aim to strengthen the Navy’s operational efficiency, procurement reforms, and international cooperation mechanisms.
Launch of ‘NIPUN’ Portal
- Full form: Naval Intellectual Portal for Unified Knowledge
- Purpose: A one-stop online platform aggregating intellectual and research contributions of the naval fraternity across various domains.
- Utility: Serves as a knowledge repository for policy research, doctrinal evolution, innovation, and strategic studies.
‘Sagar Manthan’ Event
Held on the sidelines of the conference, this special event brought together Naval Commanders, maritime experts, and strategic thinkers to deliberate on contemporary security and technology challenges.
- Focus on combat readiness, interoperability, and joint operations with other defense forces.
- Reinforced the Navy’s role in promoting maritime domain awareness (MDA), technological advancement, and strategic deterrence in the IOR and Indo-Pacific.
Strategic Focus Areas
- Enhancing combat capabilities through indigenous shipbuilding and modern technology.
- Promoting jointness and interoperability with the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
- Strengthening India’s maritime diplomacy and partnerships through defense cooperation.
- Reinforcing India’s image as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Adapting to multi-dimensional maritime challenges such as piracy, illegal fishing, and grey-zone conflicts.
India’s MAHASAGAR Vision
MAHASAGAR stands for Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region. It is an advanced strategic initiative aimed at fostering cooperation among Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations through shared security and economic objectives.
Origin & Linkage
- Rooted in SAGAR Vision (2015): Security and Growth for All in the Regio- unveiled by India to promote maritime cooperation and security partnerships.
- MAHASAGAR extends this framework, shifting focus from purely maritime security to economic, strategic, and geopolitical collaboration.
- The term “MAHASAGAR” (meaning Great Ocean) symbolizes India’s broader and more ambitious maritime outreach in the Indo-Pacific.
Objectives of MAHASAGAR Vision
- Foster Cooperation among IOR nations through institutional dialogues and high-level maritime engagements.
- Enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and combat illegal activities like smuggling, IUU fishing, and piracy.
- Strengthen Connectivity– promoting regional trade, blue economy projects, and digital maritime networks.
- Promote a Rules-Based Maritime Order in line with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
- Balance Great-Power Competition by offering smaller nations credible partnerships independent of U.S.-China rivalry.
Benefits for India under MAHASAGAR
Geopolitical Leverage
- Strengthens India’s maritime leadership in the IOR.
- Counters China’s growing presence through proactive regional engagement.
- Enhances India’s role in Quad and Indo-Pacific frameworks.
Economic and Strategic Gains
- Facilitates trade expansion, blue economy development, and regional economic stability.
- Promotes maritime infrastructure and investment projects across coastal nations.
Security and Maritime Protection
- Improves surveillance of sea lines of communication (SLOCs).
- Enhances naval presence and security cooperation with friendly nations.
Strengthening Regional Leadership
- Projects India as a leader of the Global South and a key actor in maritime diplomacy.
- Builds trust with smaller IOR nations through capacity-building initiatives.
Technological & Infrastructure Development
- Expands India’s participation in regional infrastructure, digital connectivity, and shipbuilding collaborations.
- Encourages innovation, maritime startups, and defense tech advancements.
Strategic Significance
The 2nd Naval Commanders’ Conference 2025 reaffirmed India’s maritime priorities of readiness, modernization, and regional partnership.
- It underlined the Navy’s shift from traditional sea control to multi-domain dominance across cyber, space, and undersea domains.
- Through MAHASAGAR, India positions itself as a responsible maritime power, balancing security, prosperity, and sustainability in the Indo-Pacific.
Key Facts
- Indian Navy Headquarters: New Delhi
- Current Chief of Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (as of 2025)
- Motto of Indian Navy: “Sham No Varunah” (May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us)
- Founding Year: 26 January 1950 (as Indian Navy under the Republic)
- Naval Command Structure:
- Western Naval Command – Mumbai
- Eastern Naval Command – Visakhapatnam
- Southern Naval Command – Kochi
- Major Exercises:
- MILAN – Multilateral naval exercise hosted by India
- VARUNA – Indo-French exercise
- MALABAR – Quad exercise (India, US, Japan, Australia)
- MAHASAGAR Vision complements India’s Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): Established in 2008 to enhance maritime cooperation among Indian Ocean nations.
- UNCLOS (1982): Defines maritime territorial rights and international sea laws.