Headquarters Southern Command organised a landmark two-day seminar titled ASCEND 2025 – “Aligning Strategic Communication for Enduring Narrative Dominance” on 10–11 October 2025 at RSAMI, Pune, marking a pioneering initiative to institutionalise India’s efforts toward narrative dominance in the information age.
The seminar brought together an esteemed gathering of senior defence officials, policymakers, veterans, academicians, media professionals, and industry leaders to deliberate on the role of Strategic Communication as a vital component of national power.
Delivering the Keynote Address, Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, emphasised that Strategic Communication has emerged as a core pillar of national security, stating that India’s narrative must be rooted in truth, anchored in values, and aligned with decisive actions to ensure enduring influence and credibility.
Shri Alok Joshi, Chairman, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), graced the event as the Chief Guest. In an engaging fireside chat with senior journalist and defence strategist Shri Nitin Gokhale, Shri Joshi highlighted the need for a Whole-of-Government approach and a well-defined roadmap to enhance India’s Strategic Communication capabilities and counter emerging information threats.
Dr. Mayank Sharma, Financial Advisor (Defence Services), presented insights from his deep research on Strategic Communication, offering a financial and structural perspective on building sustainable institutional mechanisms to strengthen India’s narrative capabilities.
Engaging panel discussions, chaired by national security experts Shri Vikram Sood (Former R&AW Chief) and Lt Gen Gautam Moorthy (Retd), focused on Winning the Strategic Communication Domain and Institutionalising Strategic Communications. The sessions brought together eminent panellists who deliberated on the urgent need for a Unified National Strategic Communication Framework, the integration of technology, fostering synergy among institutions, and invoking national resolve to achieve cognitive and narrative superiority.
The seminar addressed critical themes such as:
- Institutionalising Strategic Communication within national frameworks
- Strategic Communication as part of national security doctrine
- Countering disinformation, misinformation, and hostile propaganda
- Leveraging technology for narrative shaping and outreach
Organised in collaboration with the Pune International Centre (PIC) and the Centre for Advanced Studies in Current & Strategic Affairs (CASA), the seminar concluded with a strong consensus on institutionalising Strategic Communication as a core element of India’s national power.
ASCEND 2025 marks a significant milestone in shaping India’s Strategic Communication architecture, aligning with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, and reaffirming the Indian Army’s commitment to narrative resilience, cognitive preparedness, and whole-of-nation synergy.
