New Delhi : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the armed forces have been provided both the operational freedom and resources required to respond decisively to threats, including the capability to strike adversaries on their own territory.
Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh said adversaries had attempted to weaken India’s security through a range of measures, including misleading youth in Jammu & Kashmir, financing anti-India activities, promoting violence and terrorism, and creating divisions within society. He said the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, had countered these efforts through a combination of security measures, rehabilitation and de-radicalisation initiatives, and efforts to bring misguided youth back into the mainstream while expanding employment and business opportunities.
The Defence Minister said Jammu & Kashmir had recorded significant development since the abrogation of Article 370, with new opportunities emerging for young people in the region.
India adopted a proactive approach against terrorism
Singh said India’s counter-terrorism strategy had shifted towards decisive action, citing the Surgical Strikes, Balakot Airstrike and Operation Sindoor as examples of operations aimed at terrorists and their handlers.
He also referred to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, saying it conveyed a clear message that “blood and water cannot flow together.”
He said attempts to create divisions among Indians had also failed. Referring to attacks on places of worship during Operation Sindoor, Singh said the people had rejected such attempts and demonstrated unity and social harmony.
Maintaining that India remains committed to peace, Singh said the country neither seeks war nor intends to occupy the territory of another nation. At the same time, he stressed that peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
He said India had made its position clear that any country supporting terrorism against India would not find dialogue to be the response; instead, the armed forces would deliver a “befitting response.”
Preparing for the future of warfare
Singh said the character of warfare was changing rapidly, with space and cyberspace emerging as additional domains of conflict alongside land, sea and air.
Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, drones, autonomous systems and precision weapons, he said, were fundamentally changing modern battlefields. The government is therefore working to make India’s defence and security architecture future-ready, with a particular focus on developing advanced technologies within the country.
He said India’s defence policy had evolved from a reactive approach to a proactive one. Singh credited Prime Minister Modi’s diplomacy and leadership for India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, which subsequently helped facilitate efforts to extend the range of the BrahMos missile. He said the missile played an important role during Operation Sindoor.
Defence production rises sharply
Highlighting the transformation of India’s defence sector, Singh said the government had focused on strengthening border security, modernising the armed forces, expanding domestic manufacturing and restructuring the ordnance factory system.
According to the Defence Minister, these measures have strengthened India’s self-reliance in defence. Defence production, he said, has increased from around ₹40,000 crore before 2014 to approximately ₹1.80 lakh crore, while defence exports have expanded 56-fold to more than ₹38,000 crore.
Singh said India had moved away from an import-dependent defence model towards indigenous manufacturing and Aatmanirbharta.
He highlighted systems and platforms such as the indigenous Akashteer Air Defence Control System, Akash air defence missile, Pinaka rocket launcher, Astra air-to-air missile, Prachand and Dhruv helicopters, Tejas fighter aircraft, Arjun tank and modern drone and counter-drone systems.
He also pointed to INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, as a major achievement for the Navy. Singh said India was now manufacturing a wide range of defence equipment and working towards the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
The government, he said, has set an objective of taking defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
DPSUs turn profitable, defence budget expands
Singh said the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem had undergone a major turnaround, with all 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) now operating without losses. These entities are also increasing investments in research and development and exploring new export markets, he said.
He added that India’s defence budget had increased from around ₹2.5 lakh crore to approximately ₹8 lakh crore over the past 12 years, with expenditure being directed towards strengthening national security with transparency and accountability.
The Defence Minister said India’s security, territorial integrity and cultural identity had also been strengthened during this period. He pointed to initiatives such as International Yoga Day, the revival of Nalanda University, the International Solar Alliance, Global Biofuels Alliance, Voice of Global South Summit and MAHASAGAR as examples of India’s expanding global role.
He also described India as a reliable “First Responder” during crises in neighbouring countries.
Economic strength linked to national security
Singh stressed that economic strength was closely connected with national security, saying a robust economy was essential for building modern military capabilities and maintaining strategic autonomy.
Despite global economic uncertainties, he said India was continuing to grow at 7.8%, while simultaneously strengthening supply chains, encouraging self-reliance in critical sectors and expanding domestic manufacturing.
He cited the development of India’s semiconductor ecosystem and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme as examples of measures aimed at building economic resilience.
Singh said geopolitical uncertainty was forcing several countries to choose sides or align themselves with specific blocs. India, however, he said, was pursuing an independent course based on its own priorities and strategic autonomy.
Private sector and startups expand defence footprint
The Defence Minister highlighted the growing contribution of private companies and MSMEs to India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
He said more than 16,000 MSMEs are now involved in defence production across the country. Investment proposals worth approximately ₹70,000 crore have been received for the Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with nearly ₹10,000 crore already invested.
Singh also highlighted government initiatives such as iDEX and iDEX-Prime to encourage innovation in defence. The number of defence startups, he said, has increased from only a few dozen in 2018 to more than 2,000 today.
Calling on young Indians to become innovators and job creators, Singh assured promising entrepreneurs of the Ministry of Defence’s support.
He also praised the DRDO for bringing together industry, academia, startups and scientists to strengthen Aatmanirbharta in defence.
The successful testing of a Scramjet Combustor in May, he said, marked an important milestone in India’s efforts to develop hypersonic missile technology.
Singh further highlighted the decision to transfer DRDO-developed missile technologies to Indian industry, allowing private manufacturers to produce the systems and helping ensure their timely availability to the armed forces.
Target is a self-reliant defence ecosystem by 2047
Singh said the government’s broader objective was to build a self-reliant defence ecosystem that simultaneously strengthens national security, supports economic growth and enhances India’s position in the global security architecture.
Expressing confidence in India’s long-term trajectory, he said that by 2047, the country would not only achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat, but would also emerge as a global leader in technology, the economy and defence.