Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to West Bengal on September 15, 2025, marks a significant event focusing on India's defence preparedness and national security. The Prime Minister inaugurated the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the Indian Army's Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata. This biennial conference is the highest-level forum where India's top military and civilian leadership come together to discuss strategic, institutional, and operational priorities for the country’s armed forces. The 2025 edition, held from September 15 to 17, carries the theme "Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future," emphasizing reforms, transformation, and operational readiness in the military.

The CCC highlights critical topics such as technological modernization, multi-domain operational readiness (land, sea, air, cyber, and space), and deeper integration of the armed forces to maintain a strategic edge in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Inclusive engagement is a unique feature of this forum, allowing officers and personnel from various ranks to provide ground-level insights, ensuring that reforms and strategies are practical and operationally effective. This approach supports a bottom-up decision-making process that aligns high-level policy with the realities faced by troops on the ground.

PM Modi’s visit to Kolkata also fits into a broader multi-state tour that includes Bihar, where he inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 36,000 crore. In Bihar, notable initiatives include launching the National Makhana Board to boost production and marketability of Makhana, a prominent agricultural product for the state. He also inaugurated the new Interim Terminal Building at Purnea Airport, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and economic development. The PM’s projects in Bihar also extend to energy infrastructure and river-linking projects which are expected to improve flood control and irrigation, benefitting farmers and regional growth.

This visit represents Modi's ongoing commitment to strengthening India’s defence capabilities alongside boosting infrastructure and economic development in eastern India. The convergence of national security discussions with grassroots regional development initiatives highlights a strategic blend of India's priorities—ensuring a strong, future-ready military while empowering local economies.

From a broader perspective, the emphasis on reforms and preparedness at the Combined Commanders’ Conference signals India’s adaptive strategy in response to complex security challenges, including rapid technological advancements by potential adversaries. By fostering innovation and integrating multi-domain operations, India aims to safeguard its sovereignty with agility and cutting-edge capability, setting a roadmap for military modernization and operational excellence.

PM Modi’s West Bengal visit and the inauguration of the Combined Commanders’ Conference underline the dual focus of the current government on national defence transformation and regional development—an integrated approach that reflects India’s evolving role as a regional power with a keen eye on security and sustainable growth. This adds valuable insight for readers in understanding how India's defence preparedness links closely with broader socio-economic progress.