Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the Armed Forces have been given the operational freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats, including the ability to strike adversaries inside their own territory.
Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh said India had made it clear that terrorism against the country would invite a “befitting response”, while stressing that there was a clear distinction between peace and weakness.
India does not seek war or the territory of another country, he said, but added that any country promoting terrorism against India could not expect dialogue in return.
“Peace born of the fear of war is to be condemned, while war fought for the sake of peace is worthy of reverence,” Singh said.
Terror response:
The Defence Minister cited the Surgical Strikes, Balakot Airstrike and Operation Sindoor as examples of India’s shift towards a proactive counter-terrorism strategy, with operations targeting terrorists and their handlers.
He also referred to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, saying it conveyed the message that “blood and water cannot flow together”.
Singh said adversaries had attempted to undermine India’s security by radicalising youth in Jammu and Kashmir, funding anti-India activities, spreading violence and terrorism, and creating social divisions. He said the government had countered these efforts through rehabilitation and de-radicalisation measures, employment opportunities and efforts to bring misguided youth back into the mainstream.
He also highlighted development in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, saying new opportunities had opened up for the region’s youth.
Future battlefield:
Singh said the character of warfare was undergoing rapid change, with space and cyberspace emerging alongside land, air and maritime domains. Artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems and precision weapons, he said, were transforming modern battlefields.
The government is therefore working to make India’s defence and security architecture future-ready, with the objective of developing advanced technologies domestically.
He said India’s defence policy had evolved from a reactive to a proactive approach, citing India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016 as a key diplomatic achievement that subsequently facilitated efforts to extend the range of the BrahMos missile.
Defence production reaches ₹1.80 lakh crore:
Highlighting the transformation of India’s defence manufacturing sector, Singh said annual defence production had increased from around ₹40,000 crore before 2014 to approximately ₹1.80 lakh crore. Defence exports, he said, had risen 56-fold to more than ₹38,000 crore.
He pointed to a growing portfolio of indigenous systems, including Akashteer, Akash, Pinaka, Astra, Prachand, Dhruv, Tejas, Arjun and indigenous drone and counter-drone systems. India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, has also been inducted into the Navy.
India is now pursuing the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft, Singh said, while setting a target of achieving ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
The Defence Minister also said all 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) were now operating without losses, with increased focus on research and development and exports.
India’s defence budget has risen from around ₹2.5 lakh crore to approximately ₹8 lakh crore over the past 12 years, he said.
Private sector, MSMEs drive defence ecosystem:
Singh highlighted the expanding role of private industry and MSMEs in defence manufacturing. More than 16,000 MSMEs are now engaged in the sector, while investment proposals worth around ₹70,000 crore have been received for the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors. Of this, nearly ₹10,000 crore has already been invested.
He said the government’s innovation initiatives, including iDEX and iDEX-Prime, had helped expand India’s defence start-up ecosystem from a few dozen companies in 2018 to more than 2,000 start-ups today.
Calling on young Indians to become innovators and job creators, Singh said the Ministry of Defence would support promising technologies and ideas.
Hypersonics, technology transfer:
Singh also highlighted DRDO’s role in strengthening indigenous defence technology, including its efforts to bring together industry, academia, start-ups and scientists.
The successful testing of a scramjet combustor in May, he said, represented an important step towards the development of hypersonic missile technology.
He also pointed to the government’s decision to transfer DRDO-developed missile technologies to Indian industry, enabling private companies to manufacture the systems and improve their availability to the Armed Forces.
Strategic autonomy:
Linking economic strength with national security, Singh said a robust economy was essential for sustaining modern military capabilities and strategic autonomy.
Despite global economic uncertainties, India was growing at 7.8 per cent, while strengthening supply chains, promoting self-reliance in critical sectors and expanding domestic manufacturing, he said.
Singh cited India’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem and the Production Linked Incentive scheme as examples of efforts to build economic resilience.
“Amidst geopolitical uncertainties, many nations are being compelled to choose sides or are forced to align with specific blocs. However, India is moving forward with independent agency and strategic autonomy by focusing on its own priorities,” he said.
The Defence Minister said India’s objective was to achieve Aatmanirbharta in defence and build an ecosystem that simultaneously strengthens national security, drives economic growth and enhances India’s role in the global security architecture.
