The Vyana Geo-Economic Forum (VGEF) formally commenced its strategic engagement initiative by hosting its inaugural national seminar, “National Security and Economic Resilience: India’s Strategic Imperatives in the Emerging Global Order,” at a city hotel in Kolkata. The event brought together some of India’s foremost military commanders, strategic affairs experts, economists and capital market professionals to deliberate on the evolving intersection of national security, economic resilience and geopolitical competition.
The seminar was graced by Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Command, and witnessed the participation of senior serving military officers, distinguished veterans, policymakers, industry leaders and members of the strategic community.
The event also marked the formal launch of the Vyana Geo-Economic Forum, an independent strategic platform established to promote informed discourse on geopolitics, geo-economics, national security and public policy. Founded under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich (Retd) with Mr Abhenav Khettry as the Founding Director, the Forum aims to facilitate evidence-based dialogue that contributes to India’s long-term strategic planning and policy formulation.
Delivering the inaugural address, Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich (Retd) underscored that contemporary national power extends far beyond military capability alone. He emphasised that economic resilience, technological superiority, secure supply chains, energy security and financial stability have become integral pillars of national security in an increasingly contested global environment. He observed that India’s aspiration of becoming a Viksit Bharat would depend upon successfully integrating these strategic domains into a comprehensive national security framework.
The opening plenary session, “India’s Defence Preparedness and Strategic Deterrence in the Emerging World Order,” featured an eminent panel comprising Lieutenant General Raj Shukla, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, Lieutenant General Dushyant Singh and Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor. The discussion examined the rapidly evolving global strategic environment and its implications for India’s security calculus. The panellists deliberated on lessons emerging from recent conflicts, including Operation Sindoor, the growing significance of Atmanirbharta in defence production, military modernisation, strategic deterrence, force readiness and the transformative impact of emerging technologies on future warfare. The session emphasised that sustained capability development, indigenous defence manufacturing and technological innovation remain essential to preserving India’s strategic advantage and credible deterrence.
The second session, “Economic Security as National Security: Present and Future Perspectives,” brought together Mr Karan Datta, Dr Ajit Ranade, Mr Sugata Ghosh Dastidar and Mr Siddharth Srivastava to examine the economic dimensions of national power. Discussions focused on strengthening India’s geo-economic resilience through secure supply chains, protection of critical industries, defence financing, technological competitiveness and economic policies capable of mitigating external strategic shocks. The panel also highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, increasing defence exports and the growing role of private industry in strengthening the country’s strategic industrial base.
The seminar concluded with a fireside conversation featuring General Manoj Pande, former Chief of the Army Staff. The discussion explored India’s preparedness for future multi-domain warfare, evolving threat perceptions, theatre command structures, military leadership, force transformation and institutional reforms required to prepare the Armed Forces for increasingly complex operational environments.
The day-long deliberations produced a broad strategic framework of recommendations aimed at strengthening India’s comprehensive national security architecture. Key recommendations included enhancing strategic deterrence, securing critical infrastructure and supply chains, strengthening energy security, deepening government-industry collaboration, accelerating indigenous capability development and improving preparedness for future multi-domain conflicts. Participants also identified long-term strategic priorities necessary to reinforce India’s resilience, economic competitiveness and leadership in an increasingly multipolar global order.
Concluding the seminar, the Vyana Geo-Economic Forum announced that this inaugural event marks the beginning of a sustained programme of strategic engagements designed to foster informed policy dialogue on national security, defence preparedness and geo-economic strategy. The Forum will continue to convene military leaders, policymakers, economists, industry experts and strategic thinkers to address emerging geopolitical challenges and contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards becoming a resilient, secure and globally influential Viksit Bharat.
