Rajnath calls for resilient, self-reliant India to realise Viksit Bharat 2047
Kochi, Sep 18. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 must be driven by resilience, determination, innovation, compassion, national strength and inclusive growth.
Addressing an event in Kochi on September 18, Singh said the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working to build a confident and self-reliant India by drawing upon what he described as the country’s centuries-old civilisational values, including courage, service, compassion and a commitment to protecting citizens.
Singh said India had faced major challenges over the past 12 years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple wars that disrupted the global economy, but had continued to pursue its development objectives.
“Despite global challenges, we are moving steadily on the path towards becoming a self-reliant and developed nation,” he said.
Referring to national security, Singh cited Operation Sindoor as evidence of India’s willingness to act across borders against threats to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said that Naxalism had been brought to an end.
Highlighting the growth of the domestic defence industry, the Defence Minister said indigenous defence production had increased from about ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹1.80 lakh crore, while defence exports had risen from around ₹600 crore to approximately ₹40,000 crore. Indian defence equipment, he said, was now being exported to about 100 countries.
Singh described India’s youth as a key force behind the country’s transformation, pointing to their role in startups, technology, drones, hydrogen trains, rockets and satellites.
“Our youth are building startups, creating unicorns, developing drones, building hydrogen trains, and making rockets and satellites. They are leaving no stone unturned to make India a developed nation,” he said.
On inclusive development, Singh said more than 250 million people had been lifted out of poverty over the past 10 to 12 years. He cited government programmes such as PM SHRI, Ayushman Bharat, Lakhpati Didi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Ujjwala Yojana as examples of initiatives aimed at widening access to development and welfare.
He also highlighted India’s digital payments ecosystem, saying the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) had emerged as a major real-time payment system and had been adopted by more than 11 countries.
Singh said India’s role in addressing global challenges had also expanded, citing the country’s climate commitments, its COVID-19 vaccination programme and the supply of more than 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries during the pandemic.
He pointed to the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance as examples of India’s international initiatives in the climate and energy sectors.
The Defence Minister also spoke about the importance of India’s cultural and civilisational heritage, arguing that economic and technological modernisation should proceed alongside greater awareness of the country’s traditions and history.
He stressed the need to familiarise younger generations with India’s cultural heritage, saying this would contribute to stronger national consciousness and confidence in the country’s role in the world.
Singh called upon young Indians to contribute to the country’s economic, social and technological transformation, saying a confident, capable and socially inclusive India could play a greater role in shaping the global future.
The Defence Minister also underlined the importance of an independent media in a democracy. Describing journalism as the “fourth pillar” of democracy, he said an independent and impartial press was essential for accountability.
“The role of the media is not merely to report the news. It is also to ask difficult questions, bring the truth before the people, and hold those in power accountable,” he said.
