The Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE), in association with the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) and knowledge partner Deloitte, organised the National Defence Talent & Capability Conclave 2026 in New Delhi. The initiative focused on developing a skilled workforce and strengthening leadership capabilities to support India’s rapidly evolving defence ecosystem.
The first-of-its-kind conclave brought together more than 50 participants, including Chairmen, Managing Directors, and Directors from 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), alongside senior representatives of leading private defence companies.
The deliberations centred on developing a sustainable talent pipeline, enhancing technical and managerial competencies, and preparing the defence industry for emerging technological and operational challenges.
Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence Production; K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises; Alkesh Kumar Sharma and Roop Narayan Sunkar, Members, PESB; and Atul Sobti, Director General, SCOPE, addressed the conclave.
Senior officials from the Department of Defence Production, including Joint Secretaries Vijay Namdeorao Zade, Manisha Chandra and Meera Mohanty, were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjeev Kumar emphasised that a corresponding increase in skilled human resources must support the continued expansion of India’s defence industry. He highlighted the importance of identifying promising professionals, nurturing their capabilities, and giving them meaningful responsibilities early in their careers to prepare them for future leadership roles.
K. Moses Chalai underscored the need for an integrated approach to defence sector development, encompassing production capabilities, supply chains, technology advancement and workforce development. He observed that human capital would remain critical to sustaining the sector’s long-term growth.
Highlighting leadership development strategies, Alkesh Kumar Sharma stressed the value of cross-functional exposure and structured professional assignments in preparing executives for senior responsibilities.
Roop Narayan Sunkar emphasised that leadership development should extend beyond technical and manufacturing functions to include finance, legal and other specialised disciplines, ensuring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to organisational leadership.
Atul Sobti described the conclave as an important platform for encouraging collaboration between public and private defence enterprises. He highlighted the need to cultivate leaders with strategic vision, technological expertise, and the ability to navigate an increasingly competitive, innovation-driven environment.
Representatives from prominent private defence organisations, including Tata Advanced Systems Limited, L&T Precision Engineering & Systems, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited and Astra Microwave Products Limited, participated in the discussions.
Industry leaders exchanged perspectives on attracting and retaining young professionals, encouraging multidisciplinary skills, integrating artificial intelligence into organisational processes and strengthening industry-academia partnerships.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of offering early leadership opportunities and creating professional development pathways that help employees adapt to emerging technologies and changing industry requirements.
As India continues to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, technically proficient professionals and capable leadership are becoming increasingly important.
The National Defence Talent & Capability Conclave 2026 represents a collaborative effort to address these priorities by bringing together policymakers, public sector enterprises and private industry stakeholders.
The initiative reinforces the importance of human resource development, institutional collaboration and strategic leadership in building a competitive, technologically advanced and self-reliant Indian defence industry.
