NEW DELHI, April 15 -- Cabinet secretary TV Somanathan on Tuesday emphasised the need for sovereign artificial intelligence models and resilient supply chains to safeguard national interests amid evolving geopolitical challenges triggered by ongoing global conflicts. Addressing the Army Commanders' Conference, he said strong civil-military cooperation and a whole-of-nation approach were essential for achieving optimal outcomes in both conflict and peacetime, while highlighting key strategic imperatives for national preparedness in an increasingly complex global environment. His comments come as India is developing around a dozen AI models using local infrastructure, data, and workforce, and as the West Asia crisis has disrupted global supply chains, sparking a surge in oil and gas pricesand rattling the global economy. Under the India AI Mission, announced in 2024 with an outlay of Rs 10,372 crore for five years, the government is funding 12 organisations to build sovereign AI models. Of these, Sarvam, Gnani and BharatGen showcased their models at the India AI Summit in February 2026. The government's goal is to create homegrown, Indic-language focused models and reduce reliance on foreign platforms. Latest technologies, including AI, are being leveraged for favourable outcomes in the ongoing conflicts. In March, chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan said that AI will shape future warfare and help the armed forces make timely and right decisions to emerge victorious in conflict. It already plays a major role in ongoing conflicts in areas including decision support, targeting, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance). The four-day apex army conference, chaired by army chief General Upendra Dwivedi, began on Monday. The Naval Commanders' Conference, headed by navy chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, is being held simultaneously....