For the first time, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and jawans will take part in India’s top military conference to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat’s Kevadia this weekend. Top government sources have told that the suggestion to include jawans in the conference came from the prime minister himself.
“Jawans would be participating in discussions and give their valuable suggestions on topics related to operations and functioning of the defence forces,” a source to the development said. This would be the first time that jawans would be part of this high-level military conference. So far, only the topmost brass of the three services – Army, Navy and Air Force — was allowed to participate in this conference. The prime minister is expected to deliver his address on the last day of the conference on Saturday. The conference would also see briefings by top officials on the ongoing projects of their respective departments along with future projects they would be undertaking. Defence minister Rajnath Singh Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and senior officials of the defence ministry and the armed forces will attend the conference.
