Rajnath Singh urges armed forces to prepare for unconventional threats, stresses on self-reliance

“The nature of warfare is continuously changing. Wars today are sudden and unpredictable. Their duration can range from months to years, and we must ensure that our surge capacity remains adequate,” Rajnath Singh said, stressing the need for a “technology-friendly” military in light of recent global conflicts.

The Defence Minister urged commanders to adopt a proactive approach in strengthening India’s defence posture, noting that the sector must balance offensive and defensive capabilities. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building the ‘Sudarshan Chakra’, Singh said a committee has been tasked with preparing an actionable plan, including medium-term (five years) and long-term (10 years) strategies.

Highlighting modernisation, operational readiness, technological edge and credible deterrence as key priorities, Singh reiterated Modi’s ‘JAI’ mantra – Jointness, Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) and Innovation – unveiled at the conference’s inaugural session. He called for deeper collaboration with industry and academia to develop cutting-edge technologies and expand the role of the private sector in defence production.

Stressing the need for synergy, Singh pointed to initiatives such as Tri-Service Logistics Nodes and a joint logistics management system, along with increased civil-military fusion, to strengthen integration.

Citing the success of Operation Sindoor, he said the mission had proven that “strength, strategy and self-reliance” were the three pillars of India’s power in the 21st century.

“With indigenous platforms, advanced systems and the courage of our soldiers, India is capable of meeting any challenge,” he said, hailing the professionalism of the armed forces.

The Defence Minister reiterated that self-reliance in defence was not just a slogan but a strategic necessity.

“It is driving economic growth, creating jobs and boosting the capacity of shipyards, aerospace clusters and defence corridors,” he noted, describing this as the multiplier effect of ‘Aatmanirbharta’.

Singh also announced the approval of the Defence Procurement Manual 2025, aimed at streamlining acquisitions. He added that the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 was being revised to simplify processes, reduce delays and strengthen operational capabilities.

The conference was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the Chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, senior officials from the Defence Ministry, DRDO and other key departments.