The inaugural edition · 16 May 2026

Sena Samvad 2026

One day at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. Two Governors, both retired Generals. A serving Chief of Defence Staff and a serving Chief of the Army Staff. A Cabinet Minister who is an Olympic medallist and a retired Colonel. All on one stage. All taking questions from students.

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General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, on stage at Sena Samvad 2026

Fireside chat with the Chief of the Army Staff

The Governors of Mizoram and Bihar in conversation

700Students

40+Schools & colleges

2Governors

1Serving CDS

1Serving COAS

9 hrsSingle day

Group photograph with the Chief of Defence Staff and student delegates at Sena Samvad 2026

Why it mattered

Never before had a cast like this taken questions from schoolchildren.

Serving service chiefs address think tanks, defence colleges and the press. They do not usually spend a day answering unfiltered questions from seventeen-year-olds.

On 16 May 2026 they did. The Governors of Mizoram and Bihar, the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of the Army Staff, a Cabinet Minister who is an Olympic silver medallist, the Military Iron Man and the consultant behind Dhurandhar. Every one of them sat in the same chair, on the same stage, and took the floor's questions directly.

The star cast

Men and women who wore the uniform, in conversation rather than in ceremony.

Gen (Dr) V.K. Singh

PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd.)

Hon. Governor of Mizoram

Lt Gen S.A. Hasnain

PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd.)

Hon. Governor of Bihar

Gen Anil Chauhan

PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM

Chief of Defence Staff

Gen Upendra Dwivedi

PVSM, AVSM

Chief of the Army Staff

Col R.S. Rathore

AVSM (Retd.) · Padma Shri, Khel Ratna

Cabinet Minister, Rajasthan

Lt Gen V.D. Dogra, the Military Iron Man — Lt Gen V.D. Dogra, the Military 'Iron Man'

Col Bhupinder Shahi (Retd.) — Col Bhupinder Shahi, the man behind 'Dhurandhar'

Gaurav Sawant on the Military Brats panel — Military Brats: children of the forces, now making their own mark

A full panel on stage at Sena Samvad 2026 — Corporate Connect: veterans who built second careers

The day in pictures

What it looked like from the floor.

A wide view of the Ashoka Hall at the Manekshaw Centre during Sena Samvad 2026 — Ashoka Hall, Manekshaw Centre, 16 May 2026

Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on stage — Col Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in conversation

Anjilee Istwal moderating a session — Anjilee Istwal moderating

Gen V.K. Singh speaking with a student — Gen V.K. Singh with a student delegate

A student stands to ask a question — Questions came from the floor all day

A student at the microphone — No question was screened in advance

Group photograph with the Chief of the Army Staff

Students listening during a session — Senior school students from across Delhi NCR

Students seated in the hall — 40+ schools and colleges represented

Veterans in the audience — Veterans in the front rows

Col Rathore meeting veterans — Off stage, between sessions

Serving officers seated with the audience — Serving officers sat with the audience, not apart from it

A packed hall of students — A full house from first session to last

Cadets salute before the tricolour on stage — The tribute to the Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor

The hall in session — Nine hours, one room, no empty seats

In the press

What was said, and who reported it.

Republic World

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi plans 'Ahista Zindagi' cafe

The COAS on books, slowing down, and life after the uniform, reported from the Sena Samvad stage.

SSBCrack

"Paper leaks don't happen in the Army or Air Force"

Mizoram Governor Gen (Dr) V.K. Singh on the integrity of the Armed Forces' selection systems.

The next edition

2026 was the first. Bring your students to the next one.

Sena Samvad runs every year, and seats are allotted institution by institution. Write to us with your school or college name, the number of students you would like to bring and a contact person; we will send you the dates and the confirmation process as soon as registration opens.

ContactAnjilee Istwal, Uniform Unveiled
Emailuniformunveiledindia@gmail.com
Phone+91 98119 05202

Students and dignitaries meeting after a session