Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi underscored the role of the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) as the country’s leading maritime think tank, dedicated to research, scholarship, and policy advocacy on issues vital to national security and economic development. The Navy Chief said this while addressing the Vice Admiral KK Nayyar Memorial Lecture 2026 in New Delhi yesterday.

 

Admiral Tripathi also stressed the Indian Navy’s dual responsibility of guardianship, to address current security challenges, and stewardship, to prepare for future strategic imperatives. The Navy Chief also noted that the Navy’s growing recognition as a principal security provider in the Indo-Pacific is reflected in the participation of over 70 countries in the forthcoming International Fleet Review.

 

He added that many of these nations will also take part in the 13th edition of the MILAN multinational exercise and the 9th Conclave of Chiefs of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, during which India will assume the chairmanship of the construct.

 

Founder of Infosys, NR Narayana Murthy, while delivering the memorial lecture, said the Indian Navy serves as a guarantor of national security, a protector of maritime commerce, and an enabler of India’s global aspirations. Mr Murthy highlighted the transformative role of technology in modern warfare and spoke of the growing importance of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and cyber capabilities.

 

He also said that the enduring values embodied by the Navy, including discipline, courage, teamwork, integrity, and national pride, are foundational to the country’s progress.

 

The Vice Admiral KK Nayyar Memorial Lecture honours the enduring legacy of Vice Admiral Nayyar, whose intellectual vision and strategic foresight laid the foundation for NMF’s emergence as the nation’s premier institution for maritime thought and policy advocacy.