Inaugural Session The Conference commenced with the Opening Address by Air Cmde Jasjit Singh AVSM VrC VM (retd.), Director, Centre for Air Power Studies, followed by Keynote Address by Air Marshal KJ Mathews AVSM YSM, Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command. The Presidential Address delivered by Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh DFC was followed by Keynote Address by Air Chief Marshal PV Naik PVSM VSM ADC, Chief of the Air Staff. The Inaugural Address was delivered by Dr M Pallam Raju, Minister of State for Defence, Govt. of India.

On the eve of Independence Day, a function to honour Armed Forces Martyrs was held at the VIF Auditorium at 1830h on 14 Aug 10. The Keynote Address was delivered by Gen V N Sharma PVSM, AVSM (retd), former Chief of the Army Staff (and younger brother of Maj Somnath Sharma, independent India’s first PVC). He spoke on “The Indian Armed Forces: A Tradition of Honour and Leadership”. The families of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan AC (posthumous), Capt Vikram Batra PVC (posthumous) and Capt Vijayant Thapar VrC (posthumous) were felicitated.

‘The Rise of Indian Military Power & Evolution of an Indian Strategic Culture’ a book by Major Gen G D Bakshi was launched by General Shankar Roychowdhury at the VIF auditorium on December 17, 2009. The book does a detailed examination of the India’s defence strategy and its evolution throughout the history of India.