IPRD 2026: Academic Ties and Underwater Secrets Take Center Stage
Former Navy Deputy Chief Sanjay Mahindru highlights academic cooperation and underwater domain knowledge at the IPRD-2026 in New Delhi.
The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 (IPRD-2026) has officially kicked off in New Delhi, marking a strategic push toward deeper intellectual and scientific integration among partner nations. Former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, Sanjay Mahindru, has emphasized that Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2026 is placing a primary focus on academic cooperation to build a resilient front against future regional challenges.
Bridging the Gap Through Knowledge
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Vice Admiral Mahindru explained that the dialogue is an annual initiative rooted in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). This year, the objective is to unite academic institutions from across the Indo-Pacific to share capacities, exchange capabilities, and foster a collective strength.
The three-day conference, organized in partnership with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), is centered on the theme: ‘Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’. The goal is to move beyond theoretical discussions and translate scientific breakthroughs and institutional partnerships into practical, on-the-ground regional cooperation.
The Submarine Dilemma: Confidentiality vs. Collaboration
One of the most intriguing aspects of the dialogue involves the potential for submarine cooperation. While acknowledging that submarines are among the most secretive assets of any navy, Vice Admiral Mahindru suggested a middle ground for collaboration.
He noted that while the vessels themselves remain confidential, there is significant room for countries to work together to understand the "underwater domain." This includes sharing vital data on:
- Regional Hydrology: Understanding the movement and properties of water.
- Bathymetry: Mapping the depths and shapes of the ocean floor.
- Regional Characteristics: Identifying the unique challenges posed by different maritime zones.
High-Level Deliberations and Global Perspectives
The event opened with a keynote address by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi (Retd), Chairman of the NMF and former Chief of the Naval Staff, followed by a special address from Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd), the National Maritime Security Coordinator.
Academic Networks and Human Capital
The first professional session, moderated by Vice Admiral Mahindru, brought together voices from France, Indonesia, Japan, and the Maldives. The discussions centered on creating a vast Indian Ocean academic network, specifically involving universities in coastal cities and strengthening social-science research. The session also highlighted the need for a tighter triad of cooperation between governments, universities, and think tanks.
As a milestone of this session, a monograph titled ‘Sea Blindness and Maritime Heritage in India’ was officially released.
Securing the Deep: Infrastructure and Awareness
The second session, moderated by former Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti (Retd), shifted the focus to 'Maritime Situational Awareness and Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure'. Experts dove into the complexities of:
- Protecting seaborne trade routes.
- Safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure.
- The Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA).
- Developing a cooperative regional architecture for underwater domain awareness and information sharing.