Pune,: Headquarters Southern Command organised a landmark two-day seminar on strategic communication, titled ASCEND 2025 – Aligning Strategic Communication for Enduring Narrative Dominance, on 10–11 October 2025 at RSAMI, Pune. Conceived as a pioneering initiative, ASCEND 2025 aimed to institutionalise a consistent national effort towards achieving narrative dominance in the information age.
The seminar brought together senior defence officials, policymakers, veterans, media professionals, academicians, and industry experts to deliberate on strategic communication as a critical instrument of national power.
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, delivered the keynote address, emphasising that strategic communication has emerged as a core function of national security. He highlighted that India’s narrative must be rooted in truth, anchored in its values, and supported by decisive actions to achieve enduring narrative dominance.
Shri Alok Joshi, Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), was the chief guest. A special fireside chat between Shri Joshi and senior journalist and defence strategist Shri Nitin Gokhale provided insights into India’s evolving information environment and the need for a coordinated national approach. Chairman NSAB stressed the importance of a whole-of-government strategy and a focused roadmap to strengthen national capabilities in strategic communication.
Key topics discussed at the seminar included institutionalising strategic communication, integrating it as part of national security, India’s perspective on countering disinformation, misinformation and hostile propaganda, and the role of technology in shaping narratives. Participants emphasised the need for a unified National Strategic Communication Framework, with technology integration playing a pivotal role in expanding outreach and influence.
Organised in collaboration with the Pune International Centre (PIC) and the Centre for Advanced Studies in Current & Strategic Affairs (CASA), the seminar concluded with a consensus on the need to institutionalise strategic communication as a core component of national power.
ASCEND 2025 marks a significant step in shaping India’s strategic communication architecture and aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, reflecting the Indian Army’s commitment to narrative resilience, cognitive preparedness, and national synergy.
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