K&K 3.0 · May 14, 2026
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K&K 3.0 · May 14, 2026
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Kalam &
Kavach 3.0
Defence Strategic Dialogue
May 14, 2026
JAI — The Theme
K&K 3.0 advances the vision of Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and Innovation — a unified call for India’s armed forces, industry, and policymakers to converge around self-reliance, inter-service coordination, and cutting-edge technology that will define the nation’s strategic posture for the next decade.
India’s premier platform bringing together military leadership, policymakers, and industry pioneers to shape the future of national security.
Secure Your Spot
Date14 MAY 2026
VenueManekshaw Centre
Attendees500+ Leaders
ThemeTaking ‘JAI’ Forward
Don’t miss
K&K 3.0
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About
K&K 3.0
Kalam & Kavach 3.0 is India’s most anticipated defence innovation dialogue, convening the nation’s top military commanders, policymakers, think tanks, and industry leaders for a transformative day of high-impact conversations.
The third edition carries the bold theme of JAI — Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, and Innovation — a call to action for India’s defence sector to achieve self-reliance without sacrificing strategic depth.
Edition Theme
Taking ‘JAI’ Forward
Note from Convener
Kalam & Kavach was born from a conviction that India’s defence transformation requires honest, high-level dialogue. Each edition has grown in depth, reach, and impact — K&K 3.0 will be the most consequential yet, with a sharper focus on outcomes, not just conversations.
Mission & Vision
Mission: To create India’s most credible annual platform for defence dialogue, connecting military leadership, policy, and industry around actionable outcomes.
Vision: A self-reliant, technologically superior, and strategically autonomous India — defended by innovation, united by jointness.
Past White Papers
Access the policy briefs and strategic recommendations published after each edition of Kalam & Kavach.
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K&K 1.0
White Paper 2024
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K&K 2.0
White Paper 2025
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Agenda
K&K 3.0 Programme
JAI — Three Pillars
JJointnessPillar 01
01 / JointnessIntegrated Multi-Domain OperationsUnified command structures, seamless inter-service coordination, and theatre command frameworks for modern warfare across land, sea, air, space, and cyber.
AAatmanirbhartaPillar 02
02 / Self-RelianceIndigenous Defence ManufacturingReducing import dependency through domestic R&D, private sector participation, and creating a robust defence industrial base capable of global export.
IInnovationPillar 03
03 / InnovationCutting-Edge Defence TechnologyAI integration, autonomous systems, hypersonic technologies, and next-generation solutions for 21st-century national security challenges.
I² — Dual Imperatives
I¹IndigenousFocus 01
01 / Indigenous DevelopmentBuilding India’s Defence EcosystemStrengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities, fostering innovation hubs, and creating sustainable supply chains to reduce dependence on imports while boosting export potential.
I²International CollaborationFocus 02
02 / International CollaborationStrategic Global PartnershipsLeveraging technology transfers, co-development opportunities, and strategic alliances to accelerate capability building while maintaining strategic autonomy.
K&K 3.0 Schedule
Date
14 May 2026
Starts
9:00 AM
Venue
Ashoka Hall, Manekshaw Centre
RSVP
+91 99587 99771
Register Now →
09:00 – 10:00
Opening Session:
Imperatives of JAI
Opening
Welcome Address — Mr Rajan Arya, MD Pentagon Press LLP
Opening Address — Lt Gen AK Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd.), Member NSAB
Keynote Address — Mrs Dipti Mohil Chawla, Additional Secretary DoD
Special Address — Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM, CISC
Industry Address — Mr Ashish Kansal, Director SMPP Limited
10:00 – 10:30
Fireside Chat:
India’s Strategic Future
Fireside
Mr Alok Joshi, Chairman NSAB — in conversation with Mr Shivam Arya
10:30 – 11:00
High Tea
11:00 – 12:00
Inaugural Session:
Defence Reimagined
Inaugural
Ambassador’s Address — HE Antonio Enrico Bartali, Ambassador of Italy to India
Ambassador’s Address — HE Vahagn Afyan, Ambassador of Republic of Armenia to India
Strategic Address — Dr Vivek Lall, CEO General Atomics Global Corporation
Keynote Address — Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary Department of Defence Production
Inaugural Address — Shri Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence
12:00 – 12:15
Special Address:
AI and Autonomy Go to War
Special
Lt Gen Raj Shukla PVSM, YSM, SM (Retd.), Hon’ble Member UPSC
12:15 – 12:45
Fireside Chat:
Global Partnerships, Indian Advantage
Fireside
Prof Harsh Pant, Vice President ORF — in conversation with:
Mr Sankalp Shrivastava, Country Head & Director Embraer (Defense & Security), India
Mr Jetendra S Gavankar, CEO & Head Safran India
Mr Sarjan Shah, MD Shield AI
12:45 – 13:00
Special Address:
R&D and Innovation Ecosystem
Special
Dr Chandrika Kaushik, Distinguished Scientist & Director General PC&SI, DRDO
13:00 – 14:00
Session 1:
Future-Proofing India’s Warfighting Edge
Session 1
Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria PVSM, YSM (Retd.), Former CAS
Rear Admiral Monty Khanna AVSM, NM (Retd.), Member NSAB
Lt Gen Vipul Singhal AVSM, SM, DCOAS IS&T
Mr Pranit Mehta, Co-Founder & VP Sales, Galaxeye
Mr Kiran Raju, CEO & Founder, Indrajaal · Mr Nrupul Rao, CEO ProDiscover · Mr JVS Rama Krishna, CEO ParadigmIT
14:00 – 15:00
Lunch
15:00 – 16:00
Session 2:
From Partnership to Capability
Session 2
Lt Gen Rakesh Kapoor PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd.), Former DCOAS (IS&T)
Mr Amit Shivkumar Telang, JS International Cooperation
Mr Praveen P A, Director Aerospace & Defence, Govt of Telangana
Mr Manoj Jain, CMD BEL · Mr Ashish Kansal, Director SMPP Limited · Mr Pankaj Chadha, VP L&T Defence
16:00 – 17:00
Session 3:
Accelerating Atmanirbharta, Scaling Defence Manufacturing
Session 3
Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva AVSM (Retd.), Former DCIDS PP&FD
Air Marshal Praveen Keshav Vohra UYSM, AVSM, VM, DCIDS PP&FD
Lt Gen Rajiv K Sahni AVSM, VSM PhD, DG EME
Capt (IN) S Sanooj (Retd.), AGM BD & MKtg BDL
Maj Gen Ashwani K Channan (Retd.), Advisor KSSL · Cmde Anil Jai Singh (Retd.), VP TKMS
17:00 – 17:30
Fireside Chat:
Mission KK4.0
Fireside
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi PVSM, AVSM, NM, CNS — in conversation with Prof Dattesh Parulekar & Mr Shivam Arya
17:30 – 18:15
Fireside Chat:
India’s Military Future
Fireside
General Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, CDS — in conversation with Mr Shivam Arya
18:15 – 18:30
Closing & Vote of Thanks
Closing
Strategic Takeaway — Maj Gen (Dr) Ashok Kumar VSM (Retd.), CENJOWS
Vote of Thanks — Mr Shivam Arya
Session Snapshots
K&K 2.0 Snapshots Edition 2025
01
Defence Industry Requirements
Capability gaps, priority areas, and indigenous development pathways in India’s rapidly evolving defence manufacturing ecosystem.
02
Funding Defence Innovation
iDEX, IDCF, venture capital mechanisms, and financial pathways fuelling India’s defence startup and deep-tech transformation.
03
International Collaboration
Strategic partnerships, co-development projects, tech transfer frameworks, and lessons from the world’s most successful defence alliances.
04
India as Manufacturing Hub
From Make in India to Make for the World — charting India’s roadmap to becoming a top-5 global defence manufacturing and export powerhouse.
K&K 1.0 Snapshots Edition 2024
01
Inaugural Session
The first edition of Kalam & Kavach brought together India’s top military commanders and policymakers to chart the course for defence self-reliance.
02
Policy & Indigenisation
Deep dives into India’s defence procurement policy, DPP reforms, and the pathway towards meaningful indigenisation of critical platforms.
03
Industry & Startups
Showcasing India’s growing defence startup ecosystem — from iDEX winners to established MSMEs carving out a niche in precision manufacturing.
04
Book Launches & Releases
K&K 1.0 hosted landmark book launches and the release of the first edition White Paper — landmark publications shaping defence discourse.
Watch K&K 2.0
India’s Finest
Minds
Chief of Army StaffGeneral Upendra DwivediIndian Army
Air Chief MarshalV R ChaudhariAir Force
Chief of Defence StaffGen. Anil ChauhanIndian Army
Honorable Member of UPSCLieutenant General Raj ShuklaIndian Army
Principal AdviserLieutenant General Vinod KhandareMinistry Of Defence
Chief of the Air StaffAP SinghAir Force
Air Vice MarshalAnil GolaniDirector General, CAPS (Moderator)
Naval ExpertCmde. Anil Jai SinghDefence Analyst
Deputy Chief of Army StaffVipul Shinghal AVSMDCOAS (IS&T)
Why Attend
01
Policy AccessEngage directly with senior bureaucrats and armed forces leadership shaping India’s defence procurement and indigenisation policy.
02
Innovation ExposureDiscover cutting-edge startups and deep-tech companies from the DRDO, iDEX ecosystem, and private defence corridors of India.
03
Global ConnectionsBuild relationships with delegates from 15+ countries including strategic partners across the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
04
Media Amplification2 million+ media impressions across print, digital, and broadcast — maximum visibility for your organisation and announcements.
05
Partnership DealsStructured B2B sessions, bilateral meetings, and MoU signings create concrete commercial outcomes, not just conversations.
06
Exclusive InsightsAccess to the K&K 3.0 White Paper — a comprehensive post-event report capturing session outcomes, recommendations, and action items.
Kalam & Kavach 2.0 was the most substantive defence dialogue I’ve attended in India. The quality of discourse and the calibre of participants were exceptional.
Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar SinghIndian Army
The platform successfully bridges the gap between the armed forces, policymakers, and private industry — a conversation that India desperately needs at scale.
Rear Admiral Monty KhannaNSAB
This is exactly the kind of strategic dialogue India needed. K&K has created a rare space where candour meets consequence — where real decisions take shape.
Lieutenant General Raj ShuklaFormer Chief of the Army Training Command
K&K brought together voices that are rarely in the same room. The depth of conversation on indigenisation was unmatched by any conference I have attended.
Lieutenant General Vipul ShinghalIntegrated Defence Staff
As a defence startup founder, the access to senior military decision-makers at K&K was transformative. Two B2B meetings at the event turned into real contracts.
Pankaj SaranFounder, Defence Tech Startup
The K&K 2.0 White Paper is now referenced in three ministry working groups. That’s the measure of its impact — policy conversations that don’t end at the venue.
Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram ChaudhariIndian Air Force
Past Success
K&K 2.0
0Attendees
0Expert Speakers
0Countries
2M+Media Impressions
Opening K&K 2.0
Panel Discussion
Registration
Sessions
Book Launches
Partners &
Sponsors
Knowledge Partners
Diary Of A Publisher
CENJOWS
Strategic Partners
PENTAGON PRESS
BHISM
Media Partners
Aviation Defence Universe
Interested in partnering with Kalam & Kavach 3.0?
Latest Insights
Policy AnalysisTheatrisation: India’s Journey Towards Joint OperationsAn in-depth look at India’s progress in creating integrated theatre commands and the strategic implications for modern warfare readiness.Read More →
Industry ReportiDEX at 5: How India’s Defence Startups Are ScalingFrom ADITI to DISC, the Innovations for Defence Excellence ecosystem has catalysed over 300 startups in five years. What’s next?Read More →
Technology BriefAI on the Battlefield: Ethical Frameworks for Autonomous WeaponsAs AI-enabled warfare becomes a reality, India needs urgent ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to govern lethal autonomous systems.Read More →
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Kalam & Kavach 3.0 — Live from Manekshaw Centre
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DateMAY 14, 2026
Starts9:00 AM IST
PlatformYouTube
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