New Delhi, 23rd September 2026: At a defining moment for global security, News18 is all set to host ‘DEFCON’ Summit 2026, in association with The Chanakya Dialogues on September 24, 2026, in New Delhi, from 10 AM onwards.
The event will bring together some of India’s most distinguished policymakers, military leaders, diplomats, industry pioneers, and strategic thinkers to examine the forces shaping India’s defence, aerospace, and security landscape, while exploring the country’s journey from self-reliance to becoming a trusted global defence partner.
As India navigates an increasingly complex and contested global security environment, DEFCON 2026 arrives at a critical juncture. From the rapid advancement of emerging technologies and the growth of indigenous defence capabilities, to evolving strategic partnerships and new-age threats in cyber, space, and unconventional warfare, the summit will put India’s most consequential defence and security conversations on one platform.
Conversations at DEFCON 2026 will span a broad canvas, examining how India can accelerate its Atmanirbhar Bharat ambitions in defence manufacturing, what the country’s expanding aerospace capabilities mean for its strategic posture, how India can deepen partnerships with key global allies while safeguarding its strategic autonomy, and what the next generation of threats in cyber security and unconventional warfare means for national security planning.
The summit will be headlined by Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence, Government of India, and will bring together a distinguished lineup including General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh(Retd.), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, Governor of Mizoram; Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM & Bar, Governor of Bihar; T. G. Bharath, Minister of Industries & Commerce, Andhra Pradesh; General NS Raja Subramani, PVSM, AVSM, SM and VSM, Chief of Defence Staff; Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy; Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary, GoI; Dipti Mohil Chawla, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence; and Sanjay Jaju, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana.
The line-up also includes Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM); Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador to the Republic of India; Dr Jasper Wieck, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to India and Bhutan; Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Denmark Ambassador; Lt Gen. Puneet Ahuja, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General Strategic Planning, IHQ, MoD; Dr. Amit Sharma, Additional Director General & Advisor (Cyber Security), DRDO, Ministry of Defence, GoI; General Manoj Pande, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Former Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army; Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria (Retd.), Former Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force; Admiral R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Former Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy; Lt Gen MU Nair, PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd.), Former National Cyber Security Coordinator; and Lt Gen Anil Kumar Bhatt (Retd.), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General, Indian Space Association (ISpA).
The event will further feature Jetendra (JS) Gavankar, CEO & Country Head, Safran India; Tarun Wig, Co-founder & CEO, Innefu Labs; Ashish Saraf, VP & Country Head India, Pratt & Whitney; Sourya Choudhury, Co-Founder & CTO, Apollyon Dynamics; Ashok Atluri, Chairman & Managing Director, Zen Technologies Limited; Vivek Krishnan, CEO, SSS Defence; Ashish Kansal, Executive Director, SMPP Group; and Amit Mahajan, Director, Paras Defence & Space Technologies Ltd.
Talking about the upcoming DEFCON event, Jyoti Kamal, Managing Editor, News18 India, said, “It is our great pleasure to bring together some of India’s foremost defence minds and experts, at a time when geopolitical dynamics are undergoing significant shifts. DEFCON will not only deliberate on what is happening right now but also look beyond the immediate to examine the larger forces shaping India’s defence and security. Our endeavour is to make these complex conversations accessible, insightful and impactful for our audiences, as we have consistently done through our platforms.”
News18 DEFCON Summit 2026 promises to be one of the most significant gatherings on defence and national security in the country, bringing together the voices and perspectives that will shape India’s strategic future.
Know more about the upcoming summit at https://www.news18features.com/defcon2026/.
