Tripura journalists attend Indian Army Strategic Communication Conclave in Lucknow. Defence experts, diplomats and media discuss information warfare, perception management, and national security strategies in the evolving information domain under Central Command’s landmark communication initiative.
Journalists from Tripura participated in the first-ever Strategic Communication Conclave organised by the Indian Army under the Central Command of the Indian Army at Lucknow Cantonment on March 7. The landmark event, hosted at the Surya Auditorium, brought together nearly 500 participants, including senior military officers, diplomats, communication professionals, and prominent media representatives from across the country.
The conclave was designed to examine the growing importance of strategic communication within the national security architecture. Members of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) media delegation from Tripura, currently on an official media tour in Lucknow, attended the session and engaged with experts and policymakers during the deliberations.
The event featured high-level discussions, expert lectures, and thematic panel sessions aimed at understanding how communication strategies influence modern security challenges. Speakers included senior diplomats, government communication specialists, defence analysts, and experienced journalists who have long worked on issues of defence and foreign policy.
Senior officers from the Central Command of the Indian Army also attended the conclave, along with communication professionals from government institutions and the private sector. Their participation reflected the increasing need for collaboration between military institutions, policymakers, and the media to ensure effective communication during complex security situations.
One of the key segments of the conclave was the Expert Policy-Level Session that explored the institutional and national security dimensions of strategic communication. The session focused on how coordinated communication strategies can help strengthen national preparedness and counter misinformation during times of crisis.
The programme also included two thematic media panel discussions addressing perception management and the growing power of information in shaping geopolitical narratives. Experts emphasised that information has become a strategic tool capable of influencing public opinion, diplomatic relations, and even battlefield outcomes.
Another important segment of the event was the Special Interaction Session on Multi-Domain Operations. This discussion brought together policymakers and military professionals to examine how communication strategies must adapt in an era where conflicts extend beyond traditional battlefields to include cyber, information, and cognitive domains.
In his opening address, Anindya Sengupta, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Central Command, highlighted the transformation in the nature of modern warfare. He said that the battlefield has expanded beyond physical territories and now includes information and cognitive spaces where narratives play a decisive role.
According to Lt. Gen. Sengupta, perception management has become a crucial factor in modern conflicts. “Perception shapes legitimacy, legitimacy shapes influence, and influence shapes outcomes,” he remarked, stressing that narratives can significantly affect the strategic environment.
He further warned about the growing threat posed by the weaponisation of information and conflicts that occur below the threshold of conventional warfare. To counter such challenges, he emphasised that strategic communication must not remain reactive or personality-driven. Instead, it should be institutionalised, supported by doctrine, and developed as a structured capability.
Renowned defence and strategic affairs expert Nitin Gokhale delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the discussions. His speech focused on the conclave’s central theme — “Strategic Communication in the Emerging Info Space” — and highlighted the importance of coordinated narratives in safeguarding national interests.
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The conclave marked a significant step by the Indian Army to strengthen engagement between the defence establishment, policymakers, and the media in an era where information warfare has become a decisive element of global security dynamics.
