The Ministry of Defence has concluded the Combined Operational Review and Evaluation (CORE) Programme 2026, a five-day gathering of senior military officers and civilian officials held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The programme, organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and run by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies, brought together leaders from the three armed services along with representatives from the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to discuss pressing security challenges facing India.
What the programme covered
The CORE Programme ran from September 14 to 18, 2026. Participants examined how the armed services can work together more effectively, discussed current military conflicts and modern combat methods, and explored non-military aspects of national security including defence production and weapons development. The programme also examined newer military concerns such as artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, cognitive warfare, strategic messaging and countering false information campaigns.
A notable feature was direct engagement with top military brass. The Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Integrated Staff (CISC) attended sessions and discussed current security threats and decision-making at senior levels. The Vice Chief of Air Staff and Vice Chief of Army Staff also participated and shared their views on contemporary warfare challenges.
Beyond the military, the programme included subject matter experts from universities, research institutions and various government departments. Scenario-based exercises focused on cognitive warfare and strategic communication were conducted to deepen learning. These discussions emphasised the need for coordination between defence, foreign policy, economic and information strategies when responding to security threats.
What this means for you
The CORE Programme reflects the Indian government’s push to ensure that military, diplomatic and domestic security agencies work in sync rather than in isolation. The focus on artificial intelligence, cognitive warfare and information operations signals that India views modern security threats as extending far beyond traditional military combat. By bringing civilian government ministries into military strategic planning, the programme aims to build a more unified national security approach.