New Delhi, January 15. Saluting the courage of the Indian Army on the occasion of Army Day on January 15, Prime Minister said that that the Indian Army epitomises determination, professionalism and dedication.
“Our government is committed to the welfare of the armed forces and their families. Over the years, we have introduced several reforms and focused on modernization,” Modi stated.
The Prime Minister posted on X: “Today, on Army Day, we salute the unwavering courage of the Indian Army, which stands as the sentinel of our nation’s security. We also remember the sacrifices made by the bravehearts who ensure the safety of crores of Indians every day.”
During his address at ‘Gaurav Gatha’, an event organised in Pune on Wednesday, as part of the 77th Army Day celebrations, Defence Minister highlighted the increasing use of unconventional and asymmetrical methods in today’s warfare, and exhorted the armed forces to always remain vigilant and ready to face any challenge.
“Government is leaving no stone unturned to transform the Armed Forces into a modern warfare machine in view of the dynamic geopolitical world order and the constantly-changing character of warfare,” Rajnath Singh said.
He said that conflicts and wars will become more violent and unpredictable and the emergence of non-state actors in many countries and their resorting to terrorism is also a matter of concern.
“Due to the rapid technological advancements, future wars witness a change to a great extent,” the Defence Minister stated.“ Cyber and space domains are rapidly emerging as new war zones. Along with this, a war of narrative as well as perception is also being fought all over the world. The military must focus on holistic capacity building and reforms.”
On 2025 being declared as the Year of Reforms in the Ministry of Defence, Rajnath Singh stated that efforts will be made to bring-in reforms which will ensure modernisation of the Armed Forces. He exuded confidence that with concerted efforts, India will soon become Viksit Bharat and its military one of the strongest in the world.
The Defence Minister paid tributes to the country’s brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland while safeguarding the borders with unmatched valour and commitment.
“India is currently going through a phase of transition,” Rajnath Singh said. “We are moving forward from being a developing country to a developed one. To become Viksit Bharat, every section of society will have to contribute. But their contribution will only be meaningful when our security apparatus is fool-proof and borders are safe. The security system will be robust only when our military is strong. No nation can develop unless its military is powerful.”
On the occasion, the Defence Minister virtually laid the foundation stone for the Army Paralympic Node, which will be established at Dighi, Pune. He expressed confidence that the Node will inspire the Divyang soldiers of the Indian Army to participate in international events such as Paralympics, Commonwealth and Asian Para Games and bring laurels to the nation.
Rajnath Singh also launched the Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan App, through which the people of the country will be able to visit historical war zones easily and learn about them. A commemorative medallion marking the 352nd Coronation of Shivaji, along with a special day cover, was also released.
Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year in recognition of Lieutenant General Kodandera M. Cariappa’s (who later became Field Marshal) taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Roy Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on January 15, 1949.
