The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) has announced a five-day programme called Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) to examine current security threats facing India. The event will run from 14 to 18 September 2026 at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi and will bring together senior military officers along with officials from the Defence, External Affairs and Home Affairs ministries.
What the programme will cover
The CORE programme is designed to give senior military and civilian leaders direct access to experts and thought leaders who specialise in security matters. The curriculum spans several key areas:
- Emerging security challenges in the region and globally
- How technology is changing military strategy and warfare
- Strategic communication approaches
- Strengthening ties between the civilian government and defence establishment to tackle complex security questions
HQ IDS states that the programme aims to build deeper insight into new threats and help participants make sound, well-considered decisions when they move into higher leadership positions. The initiative also emphasises developing jointness—the ability of different defence services to work together—and promoting integrated thinking across defence and civilian agencies.
What this means for you
If you are a competitive exam candidate studying Indian defence and security policy, this programme signals official focus on how India’s military and civilian leadership prepare for modern threats. The topics covered reflect areas likely to feature in exam syllabi: technological warfare, regional tensions and civil-military coordination. For defence aspirants and civil service candidates, understanding these priorities helps explain how India’s security establishment thinks about its challenges.