Why in news
- Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff and CENJOWS concluded the five-day tri-service CORE 2026 programme in New Delhi.
Key terms
Cognitive Warfare
Tactics aimed at destabilizing an adversary's decision-making by altering perceptions through information operations and propaganda.
Jointness
Cross-service integration where land, air, and naval assets plan and execute military operations under a unified command structure.
What is the CORE Programme?
- An operational review and joint strategic exercise organized by Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and conducted by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).
- Brings together senior leadership from the Army, Navy, Air Force alongside representatives from Defence, External Affairs, and Home Affairs Ministries.
Key focus areas
- Integration & Jointness: Standardizing inter-service operational doctrine across domain-specific commands.
- Technology Integration: Assessing battlefield application of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Quantum Computing, and autonomous systems.
- Non-Kinetic Warfare: Deliberations on cognitive warfare, strategic communication, and counter-disinformation strategies.
Why it matters
- Institutionalizes joint civil-military decision-making structures required for national security challenges.
- Acts as an operational precursor to civil-military realignment under proposed Integrated Theatre Commands.
Prelims facts
- HQ IDS was established following recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee / Group of Ministers on reforming the national security system.
Mains discussion
- Discuss the role of joint military-civilian programmes in enabling integrated theatre commands and counteracting non-kinetic security threats.
Source: PIB
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