Sri Vijaya Puram, Sep 21: The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), India’s only operational Joint Services Command, successfully conducted the third edition of the Dweep Diksha Dialogue 2025 on 19–20 September at Sri Vijaya Puram. Held on the theme “Evolution of ANC as a Strategic Hub and Beyond”, the two-day event brought together eminent personalities from the Armed Forces, Diplomatic Community, Academia, Media & Strategic Affairs, and witnessed wide-ranging deliberations on the changing character of warfare, emerging operational concepts and ANC’s expanding role in providing decisive leverage in both conventional and grey zone environments.
Instituted in 2023, the Dweep Diksha Dialogue has grown into a premier strategic forum, reflecting ANC’s unique position in safeguarding India’s maritime interests and projecting influence across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Over successive editions, the Dialogue has emerged as a confluence of ideas, where serving officers, veterans, subject experts and thought leaders examine military security concerns alongside broader themes such as disaster response, strategic cooperation and evolving regional challenges. This year’s edition continued that tradition, reinforcing ANC’s stature as the intellectual and operational fulcrum of India’s security vision in the Indo-Pacific.
The proceedings began with a welcome address by Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, PhD, Commander-in-Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN). This was followed by inaugural address by Admiral DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd), Hon’ble LG of A&N Islands. The Keynote address was delivered by Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC, Chief of Defence Staff through video conference, setting the tone for the dialogue.
Ambassador Sujan R Chinoy, former Indian Diplomat, steered an engaging discussion featuring Admiral Arun Prakash, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM (Retd), former Chief of Naval Staff and the first CINCAN, and Lt Gen Ajai Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd), former CINCAN. Their deliberations focused on the development of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the historic journey of ANC from an island outpost to a strategic hub, and the opportunities and challenges of its transformation.
Further sessions saw Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, AVSM, NM (Retd), moderating discussions with Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, SYSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM***, DCOAS (Strategic), and Vice Admiral Anil Chawla, PVSM, AVSM, NM, VSM, (Retd), on evolving security postures and harnessing ANC’s potential in the maritime domain.
The dialogue resumed on 20 September under the chairmanship of Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, (Retd), with Maj Gen BK Sharma, AVSM, SM** (Retd), DG United Service Institution of India (USI), Mr Nitin Gokhale, National Security Analyst, and Rear Admiral Sudarshan Y Shrikhande, AVSM (Retd), offering incisive perspectives on cognitive warfare, strategic signalling and enduring concepts of maritime power.
A high-level panel discussion, moderated by Rear Admiral Sudarshan Y Shrikhande, AVSM (Retd), brought together Admiral Karambir Singh, PVSM, AVSM, (Retd), Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, AVSM, NM (Retd), Ambassador Sujan R Chinoy and Mr. Jiten Jain, National Cyber Security Expert, who articulated a blueprint for achieving ANC’s strategic goals.
The seminar culminated with summing up remarks by Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, PhD, CINCAN, followed by a vote of thanks from Rear Admiral Biplab Hota, VSM, COS HQ ANC.
The Dweep Diksha Dialogue 2025 reaffirmed ANC’s stature as a dynamic centre of strategic thought and operational excellence. By fostering knowledge exchange, professional military education and operational innovation, ANC continues to strengthen synergies across domains, consolidate India’s position as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region, and evolve into a decisive strategic hub anchoring national interests in the Indo-Pacific.
