Kalam & Kavach 3.0 Inaugurated in New Delhi

Kalam & Kavach 3.0, India’s defence and strategic dialogue platform, was inaugurated on 14 May 2026 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The third edition carried the theme “Taking JAI Forward With I²”, where JAI stands for Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation, and I² stands for Indigenisation and International Collaboration.

Platform and Theme

Kalam & Kavach is a defence dialogue platform associated with strategic and military discussions in India. The 2026 edition used the theme “Taking JAI Forward With I²”, which combines three defence concepts and two industrial concepts in one framework.

Key Participants

Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth delivered the inaugural address on 14 May 2026. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the conclave through a video message on the same day. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also participated in the event.

Strategic and Technological Focus

The discussions covered future warfare and emerging technologies relevant to modern military systems. The topics included AI-enabled warfare, autonomous systems, hypersonic technologies, quantum-enabled C4ISR capabilities, and challenges in low-earth orbit. Integrated theatre commands formed part of the discussion on joint military planning and command structures. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit stated at the conclave that Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation are interlinked in defence capability development.

Important Facts for Exams

• Manekshaw Centre is a defence venue in New Delhi used for official military and strategic events.
• C4ISR stands for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.
• iDEX refers to Innovations for Defence Excellence, an Indian defence innovation ecosystem.
• Low-earth orbit is the region of space used by many satellites and space-based military systems.

Defence Industrial Ecosystem

The event aimed to strengthen MSME participation in the defence sector. It also referred to defence industrial corridors, indigenous production, and the goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Related Defence Concepts

Jointness is a military concept linked to coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force. Aatmanirbharta is the Indian policy term for self-reliance, and indigenisation refers to domestic development and production of defence equipment.