Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the week with a dual message of security and growth, inaugurating the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata before travelling to Bihar’s Purnea to launch major infrastructure projects valued at more than ₹36,000 crore.
A Focus on Military Transformation
At the Eastern Command headquarters in Fort William, Mr. Modi addressed India’s top military leadership alongside Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The three-day Combined Commanders’ Conference—set against the theme “Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future”—is expected to emphasize modernization, joint operations and institutional reforms in the armed forces.
Economic Push in Seemanchal
Later in the day, the Prime Minister shifted from strategy to development as he inaugurated a new terminal at Purnea airport and laid the foundation for a string of projects across Bihar’s Seemanchal region. The works include a thermal power plant, expanded rail links, and flood-management schemes, along with housing allocations and women’s self-help initiatives under national programmes.
Balancing Security and Growth
Officials say the back-to-back events highlight New Delhi’s attempt to balance military readiness with regional uplift in one of the country’s most underdeveloped border zones. For Mr. Modi, the visit also carried political resonance: Seemanchal has long been viewed as a region of both economic neglect and strategic sensitivity.
