Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Tuesday called for greater innovation, self-reliance, jointness and civil-military fusion to prepare India for the evolving nature of warfare and emerging security challenges.
Seth was addressing the Second Annual Trident Lecture, organised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. He delivered a Special Address on the theme ‘Leveraging the Potential of Next Generation for Nation Building’.
Highlighting the rapidly changing global security environment, the Minister underscored the need for stronger jointness, integration and civil-military coordination, backed by a robust and self-reliant defence ecosystem.
He said India’s defence preparedness is being strengthened through the adoption of modern technologies, enhanced coordination among the three Services and the growing contribution of indigenous industry, startups and MSMEs.
Emphasising the country’s demographic strength, Seth said India’s youth are playing an increasingly important role across sectors including defence, technology, startups, space, industry, agriculture and sports.
He noted that India’s ambition has evolved from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Make for the World’, reflecting the country’s transition from import dependence towards the development and export of globally competitive defence products and technologies.
The Minister stressed the need to build indigenous capabilities in semiconductors, electronics and advanced technologies, stating that technological superiority and industrial resilience would be critical in preparing for the wars of the future.
He also highlighted the growing role of Indian MSMEs and indigenous defence industries in strengthening the country’s defence manufacturing ecosystem and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), observed that national security has expanded beyond territorial defence to encompass economic security, technological competition, maritime resilience, critical infrastructure, resilient supply chains and information integrity.
Referring to recent operational experience, including Operation Sindoor, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh emphasised the importance of integrated planning and coordinated execution across domains and Services.
The lecture featured deliberations by senior military leaders and strategic experts, including Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Sandeep Jain and Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd), on civil-military fusion, multi-domain warfare, emerging technologies, jointness and India’s preparedness for future security challenges.
The discussions reinforced the need for a forward-looking, integrated and innovation-driven national security architecture as India progresses towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
During the event, MoS Defence Sanjay Seth also launched the book ‘An Era in Olive Green: Gen Anil Chauhan, Duty, Leadership and Legacy’.
The Second Annual Trident Lecture concluded with the closing address by Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training).
