USI Hosts Third Annual Indian Military Heritage Festival in New Delhi

The United Service Institution of India (USI) recently hosted the Third Annual Indian Military Heritage Festival (IMHF) at its New Delhi campus on November 14–15, 2025. This two-day event brought together senior military leaders, policymakers, diplomats, scholars, authors, think tanks, industry representatives, and the public to celebrate India’s military heritage and engage in discussions on contemporary strategic and security issues.

Key Highlights
- Inauguration: Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth inaugurated the festival, with participation from Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
Exhibitions & Publications:
- Iconic military paintings by Lt Col Arul Raj (Retd).

Release of notable works such as:
- The Sukraniti: Statecraft and Warcraft by Col PK Gautam (Retd).
- Honours and Awards of the Indian Armed Forces by Dr AK Mishra.
- 75 Years of India’s Contribution to UN Peacekeeping by Maj Gen PK Goswami, VSM (Retd).

Day 1 Sessions:
Topics included Operation Sindoor: Catalysing Aatmanirbhar Bharat, The War India Forgot, Foundations of India’s Strategic Autonomy, and Technology and Strategy: Adapting Warfare for the Future. The day ended with a conversation on India’s evolving foreign policy between journalist Suhasini Haidar and Ambassador Rajiv Sikri.

Day 2 Sessions:
Focused on military leaders, biographies, heritage conservation, landmark judgments on women in the armed forces, Asian strategic thought, and lessons from the 1965 Indo-Pak War.

Closing:
Addresses by the CDS and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, along with band presentations and publication releases.

Significance
The IMHF has become a premier platform since its inaugural edition in 2023, strengthening public understanding of India’s military heritage while also engaging with future strategic horizons.