Def X Tech India Conference which was held at the IIC in New Delhi on 05 July 2023, highlighted the Indian Special Operations with special emphasis on niche technologies and strategies for the cutting-edge force. The one-day event dedicated to the Indian Elite Forces had the theme of ‘No Ordinary Men, No Ordinary Technology and No Ordinary Nation.
The event was witnessed by both serving and retired officers of the three Services and CAPF’s including those who had participated in Special Forces Operations, decorated war-heroes defence analysts and commentators, members from Industry and the Press. The deliberations were carried out in a free, frank and mature manner and there were many positive outcomes as the audience which represented a wide cross section also contributed with their interactions and questions to the panellists. Along with them many dignitaries of the Indian Special Operation Forces, Ministry of Defence, NSG, CAPF’s , DRDO and various Embassies were present.
After Lieutenant General PJS Pannu, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) the driving force behind the Seminar gave his introductory remarks the Key Note Address was delivered by the former Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC (Retd) in whose tenure two surgical strikes were carried out by our Special Forces. The Special Address was delivered by Mr K Vijay Kumar, IPS who retired as DGP CRPF and has served in J&K and in Tamil Nadu.
There were wide ranging panel discussions which ranged from securing India’s global interests to the employment of SF Forces, the technology to equip them and the training of Special Forces.
Amongst those who participated in the deliberations were Ambassador Rakesh Sood who served as India’s Ambassador to Afghanistan and Nepal and was Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, mr Amitabh Tripathi, Member of the NSAB,Mr Sandeep Unnithan Editor, News 9 Plus, Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia PVSM, AVSM, SM (Retd) the Former DGMO and former Director, Centre for Joint Warfare Studies; Lieutenant General VG Khandare, PVSM, AVSM, SM ( Retd) , Principal Advisor, Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General PJS Pannu (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Former Deputy Chief of IDS, Colonel Arjun Katoch who had commanded a SF Battalion in Sri Lanka, Major General Ashok Dhingra,SM (Retd) who was the first Armed Forces Special Operations Division Commander , Major General Jagatbir Singh, VSM ( Retd) , Brigadier Ajoy Mukerjee Commodre Shiv Tewari of Arista Solutions, who had served with the MARCOS, Mr Vaibhav Gupta, Director MKU,Maj Ashish Sonal ( Retd) CEO Okarsh Labs,Mr Adarash Saxena of Royal Enfield ,Aseem Yadav MD Aimtrex and Mr Vishal Saxena of Ideaforge.
The Industry had also laid out excellent stalls showcasing a wide variety of their products which were visited by the participants who took great interest in understanding the products and many expressed a keen interest gor introduction of these products in their respective Services.
The concluding remarks were delivered by Captain Gurpawan Singh (Retd) President, IIRIS Consulting. He thanked everyone for their support, contribution and for the value added to the event by their inputs and deliberations.
There is no doubt that the conference the deliberations of which were conducted in a very professional manner bringing out both contemporary and futuristic issues was highly appreciated and brought out many valuable outcomes which need to be deliberated and acted upon to enhance the potential and capabilities of our Special Forces.