Building the Cognitive Edge: Specialised Workshops for Indian Air Force Officers

Building the Cognitive Edge: Future Analysis and Strategic Interaction Chakra Dialogues Foundation (CDF), in partnership with the United Service Institution of India (USI), conducted specialised workshops for Indian Air Force officers focused on strengthening cognitive agility, strategic thinking, and decision-making in complex and uncertain environments. The programme, held on 10 September 2026, featured a full-day workshop on Future Analysis and Strategic Interaction, including an interactive session on Out of Box Thinking and an introduction to Game Theory. The programme was facilitated by the CDF team, including Wg Cdr Satyam Kushwaha (Retd.), Ms. Shalini Khanna and Cmde. Arun Golaya (Retd.), who contributed to the sessions focused on strategic thinking, analytical perspectives, and decision-making. The workshops encouraged participants to challenge conventional assumptions, explore alternative perspectives, anticipate adversary intent, and approach strategic challenges with greater analytical depth. A key component was the customised ‘GARUDA’ workshop, employing Red Teaming to examine situations from an adversarial perspective and strengthen decision-making under uncertainty. The initiative reflects CDF and USI’s commitment to developing critical thinking, cognitive agility, strategic leadership, and a stronger cognitive edge among India’s defence professionals.