Combined Commanders Conference 2025

The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the Army’s Eastern Command Headquarters in Kolkata. The conference was in line with 2025 being the ‘Year of Reforms’ in defence.

About the Conference

• Frequency: Held once every two years.

• Purpose: Apex-level brainstorming forum of the armed forces that brings together the nation’s top civilian and military leadership to exchange views and plan future military preparedness.

• Theme (2025): “Year of Reforms – Transformation for the Future.”

• Previous Edition: 2023, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).

Key Participants

• Prime Minister

• Defence Minister

• National Security Adviser (NSA)

• Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force

• Senior commanders from the three Services

Key Discussions

• Holistic review of structural, administrative, and operational matters.

• Feedback-based assessment from across the forces.

• Preparedness of the armed forces amid increasing global uncertainties.

Practice Question

Q1. With reference to the Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC), consider the following statements:

1. It is the highest-level forum of India’s military leadership, held once every two years.

2. The 2025 edition was held at the Army’s Eastern Command Headquarters in Kolkata.

3. The theme for CCC 2025 was “Year of Reforms – Transformation for the Future.”

4. The Prime Minister does not participate in the CCC; it is chaired only by the Defence Minister.

Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a)