New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has commenced a two-day CBRN Conclave at the prestigious Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi on February 26–27, 2026. The event, themed “From Policy to Practice: Building CBRN Resilient India,” will gather defence, security and disaster response experts to advance India’s preparedness against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats – reinforcing national security and coordinated response mechanisms.
What is the CBRN Conclave 2026?
The CBRN Conclave is a high-level meeting organised by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to discuss strategic response frameworks against unconventional CBRN threats.
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Held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, it brings together top officials, scientists, responders and policymakers from the Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to exchange knowledge, technology solutions and response strategies.
CBRN Conclave 2026 Theme: “From Policy to Practice”
The central theme highlights the need to bridge policy intentions with actionable implementation in CBRN preparedness. This means shifting discussions from theory to real-world readiness including:
- Adoption of modern response frameworks
- Integration of latest indigenous technologies
- Common Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Training and coordination between military and civilian agencies.
Inauguration by Chief of Defence Staff
The conclave was inaugurated by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, marking India’s commitment to build a resilient defence posture against non-traditional threats. General Chauhan praised DRDO’s progress towards self-reliance in CBRN defence technologies and stressed that CBRN hazards should be considered as operational environments, not just threats — necessitating readiness to work inside contaminated environments.
DRDO’s Role in CBRN Security
The DRDO is India’s premier defence R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for cutting-edge technology development across defence domains. In the context of CBRN, DRDO’s laboratories create detection systems, protective gear, decontamination technologies and simulation tools for rapid response against hazardous agents.
DRDO labs such as the Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) and specialized centres work on sensors, bio-detectors, protective suits and portable detection kits that can be deployed in field tasks.
CBRN Conclave 2026: Collaborative Engagements and Future Outlook
The two-day event includes expert discussions, scenario exercises and technology showcases from stakeholders including Armed Forces, CAPFs, NDRF and medical response units.
Guests of honour highlighted the importance of:
- Peer learning and shared research platforms
- Integration of medical preparedness into strategic response
- Developing advanced protocols for multi-agency operations.
Through events like the CBRN Conclave, India aims to enhance its strategic frameworks and technological edge to detect, deter and respond to CBRN hazards both in military and civilian contexts.
