As per The Print, In a major push to elevate India’s voice on the global military stage, the Ministry of Defence is set to launch its own strategic conference—‘Ran Samvad’—focused exclusively on warfare and defence cooperation. Modelled after renowned international events like the Raisina Dialogue and Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Ran Samvad aims to emerge as a premier forum on military affairs, conducted by each armed service in rotation.
Sources said the inaugural edition will be hosted by the Indian Army at Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, from August 26 to 27, 2025. The event will feature defence attachés posted in India and serve as a foundational step towards establishing India as a leading voice on warfighting and global security dynamics.
The conference will be organised in partnership with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a tri-services think tank that will serve as a permanent institutional fixture for the dialogue. Future editions will rotate among the Indian Navy and Air Force, with a long-term vision of attracting prominent foreign dignitaries such as the US Secretary of Defence and senior global military leaders.
While the Raisina Dialogue, run by the Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation, includes a defence component, Ran Samvad is envisioned as a focused military dialogue that addresses operational, strategic, and doctrinal challenges in warfare. Unlike Raisina, which covers a wide range of geopolitical issues, Ran Samvad will be dedicated to the armed forces and security strategy.
The Defence Ministry’s initiative also aims to position India as a leader in the Global South, advocating for a cooperative and inclusive approach to global security. By institutionalising such a platform, India hopes to fill the strategic void in multilateral military dialogue from the perspective of developing nations.
The Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually in Singapore by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), has long been a prominent forum on Asia-Pacific security issues. Ran Samvad is intended to complement, and eventually rival, such platforms by offering a distinct and India-led perspective on emerging global military trends.
