News: CORE Programme 2026, a 5-day programme, concluded at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhià It brought together senior leaders from the Tri-Services and civil administration to review modern warfare and national security challenges.

What is CORE?

• A civil-military strategic training and evaluation initiative.
• Provides a platform for senior military and civil leadership to develop a common understanding of contemporary warfare.

Launched

• Instituted in September 2025 by HQ IDS (Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff).
• Established as a permanent high-level civil-military interface.

Aim

• Strengthen inter-service jointness and civil-military synergy.
• Improve preparedness for multi-domain conflicts, technological disruption and hybrid
• Jointness + Civil-military synergy → Integrated national security response

Key Features

• Tri-Service & Civil Convergence → Army + Navy + Air Force + senior officials from MoD, MEA and MHA.
• Apex Military Interface → Interaction with CDS, CNS, CISC and Service Vice Chiefs.
• Emerging Technologies → AI + quantum computing + advanced robotics + autonomous systems.
• Non-Kinetic Warfare → Strategic communication + counter-disinformation + cyber deterrence.
• Multidisciplinary Exposure → Experts from academia, defence think tanks and intelligence agencies.

Significance

• Theatre Command Reforms → Promotes joint doctrine and inter-service trust.
• Whole-of-Nation Security → Brings together military + diplomatic + economic + internal-security capabilities.