26 February 2026·PIB

CDS inaugurates two-day CBRN Conclave organised by DRDO in New Delhi

In this note

1. At a Glance

CBRN Conclave 2026 = two-day conference by DRDO at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi (26–27 Feb 2026) on the theme "From policy to practice: Building CBRN resilient India" [1].
Inaugurated by CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan; convenes Armed Forces, CAPFs, NDRF and policy experts to harden India's response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear threats [1].
Relevant for Prelims (institutions, treaties) and GS-III (internal security, S&T, disaster management).

CDS inaugurated the DRDO-organised CBRN Conclave on 26 Feb 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi [1].
CDS quoted PM Modi that "India will not be deterred by nuclear blackmail" and called CBRN a whole-of-nation concern [1].
CDS commended DRDO's push for self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) in CBRN defence technologies [1].

CBRN (also "NBC") covers weapons of mass destruction agents — chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear.
DRDO's Life Sciences cluster has worked on NBC equipment for over two decades (detection, protection, decontamination) [2].
Earlier engagement: DRDO Workshop & Exhibition on CBRN Defence Technologies organised in 2018 [3].
Indian Army signed contracts for critical CBRN defence equipment procurement (PIB, 2025) reflecting capability ramp-up [4].

Event: CBRN Conclave, 26–27 Feb 2026, Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi [1].
Organiser: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under Ministry of Defence [1].
Inaugurated by: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Anil Chauhan [1].
Theme: "From policy to practice: Building CBRN resilient India" [1].
Participants: Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), NDRF, scientists, policymakers [1].
DRDO lead labs (Life Sciences): include DRDE, Gwalior (developer of ACADA — Automatic Chemical Agent Detection & Alarm) [2].
Indigenous products: >68 CBRN products inducted; 25 more ready for induction; incl. NBC Suit Mk V (per US MIL-DTL-32102), MPDS (Multipurpose Decontamination System) [2].
Training: DRDO has trained >4,000 military and paramilitary personnel in CBRN mitigation [2].

Strategic / Security

Reinforces India's No-First-Use nuclear posture while signalling resilience against nuclear blackmail by adversaries [1].
Whole-of-nation framing integrates military (Armed Forces) with civil first responders (NDRF, CAPFs) [1].

Scientific / Technological

DRDO indigenisation: detection (ACADA), protection (NBC Suit Mk V), decontamination (MPDS) — fulfils Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence [2].
68+ inducted products demonstrate maturity of Life Sciences laboratory cluster [2].

Administrative / Disaster Management

CBRN events are classified as man-made disasters under DM Act, 2005; NDRF maintains specialised CBRN battalions.
Conclave bridges policy ↔ field execution gap among MoD, MHA (CAPFs), NDMA, DRDO.

Legal / Treaty

India is party to NPT-adjacent regimes (note: India is NOT NPT signatory) but is party to CWC (1993), BWC (1972), CTBT (signed? No — not signed) — examinable.
Domestic: WMD & their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005; amended 2022 to cover financing.

26 Feb 2026: CBRN Conclave inaugurated by CDS at Manekshaw Centre [1].
2025: Indian Army procured critical CBRN defence equipment via DRDO-developed systems [4].
DRDO continues induction pipeline of indigenous CBRN gear into the Armed Forces [2].

CBRN Conclave 2026 organised by DRDO, not NDMA [1].
Venue: Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi [1].
Theme: "From policy to practice: Building CBRN resilient India" [1].
Inaugurated by CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan [1].
ACADA developed at DRDE, Gwalior (DRDO Life Sciences lab) [2].
NBC Suit Mk V based on US MIL-DTL-32102 standard [2].
MPDS = Multipurpose Decontamination System (vehicles, personnel, terrain) [2].
DRDO has trained >4,000 personnel in CBRN mitigation [2].
WMD Act enacted in 2005, amended 2022 (financing prohibition).
India is signatory to CWC & BWC; NOT NPT/CTBT — common trap.
NDRF maintains specialised CBRN battalions under MHA.

GS-III: Internal Security (challenges from non-state actors, WMD); S&T (indigenous defence R&D); Disaster Management.
GS-II: International treaties & conventions on WMD.
Probable stems: 1. "Discuss India's preparedness against CBRN threats. Evaluate the role of DRDO and NDRF in building resilience." (GS-III) 2. "Non-state actors and the threat of WMD terrorism pose a unique challenge to India. Examine the institutional and legal framework in place." (GS-III) 3. "Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence: assess DRDO's contribution to CBRN defence technologies." (GS-III)

WMD Act, 2005 & 2022 amendment — domestic statutory base.
CWC, BWC, NPT, CTBT — treaty regime and India's stance.
NDRF & NDMA (DM Act, 2005) — civil response architecture.
DRDO organisational structure — Life Sciences cluster, DRDE Gwalior, INMAS.
Nuclear Doctrine of India (2003) — NFU, credible minimum deterrence.
Australia Group, NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar — export-control regimes (India in 3 of 4).
Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984) — historic chemical disaster precedent.
Strategic Forces Command & Nuclear Command Authority — delivery & decision chain.

Confusing organiser: it's DRDO (under MoD), not NDMA or MHA [1].
Mixing CDS's role — CDS is Head of Department of Military Affairs, not service chief.
India is NOT a signatory of NPT/CTBT but IS of CWC and BWC.
DRDE Gwalior (chemical/bio) vs INMAS Delhi (radiological/medical) — distinct labs.
"CBRN" vs "NBC" — same concept; CBRN is the modern term explicitly including radiological dirty-bomb threats.