Rajnath Singh warns against ‘perimeter fallacy’, calls for holistic approach to national security

New Delhi, Sep 24. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said India’s national security strategy must move beyond the traditional focus on protecting territorial boundaries, warning that emerging threats now extend to the economic, energy, cyber and information domains.

Addressing a defence conclave in New Delhi on September 24, Singh described an exclusive focus on geographical borders as the “perimeter fallacy” and said the Narendra Modi government was committed to strengthening India’s defence preparedness to meet emerging and future security challenges.

He said modern warfare and security threats now encompass drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, cyberattacks, lone-wolf attacks and disinformation campaigns, alongside conventional military capabilities such as missiles, arms and artillery.

National security, he added, was closely linked to economic and energy security, with hostile actors potentially seeking to damage the economy or disrupt critical energy supply chains. India had therefore adopted a broader approach to dealing with what he described as increasingly fluid security threats.

Singh said India’s strategic thinking had also evolved from the assumption that peace and strength were mutually exclusive. Referring to the wars India had faced since independence, he said security policy had to be based on ground realities and national interests rather than wishful thinking.

He asserted that the government had demonstrated its willingness to combine diplomacy with credible military capabilities. Referring to the surgical strikes, Balakot air strike and Operation Sindoor, Singh said these operations demonstrated India’s capability and resolve to protect its national interests.

“India is a peace-loving nation,” Singh said, while stressing that the country must remain prepared to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizens.

Diplomacy and military strength

The Defence Minister argued that neither military preparedness nor diplomacy could, by itself, provide an adequate foundation for national security.

According to Singh, military preparedness without diplomatic engagement could lead to confrontation and a security dilemma, while diplomacy without adequate military capability could be perceived as weakness. He stressed the need to maintain a balance between the two.

He also highlighted India’s expanding strategic engagement with major international groupings and partners. Through the Quad, India was working towards a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific, while the I2U2 grouping had opened avenues for cooperation in new areas, he said.

Singh also pointed to India’s participation in organisations such as BIMSTEC, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, saying the government had strengthened strategic partnerships, established new cooperation platforms and expanded India’s diplomatic outreach.

Operation Sindoor and counter-terrorism

Singh said Operation Sindoor had conveyed the government’s position that India would not accept what he termed “nuclear blackmail” and reiterated its position that terrorism and dialogue or trade could not proceed simultaneously.

He said India had also made clear that geographical boundaries would not prevent it from targeting terrorist infrastructure and that it would make no distinction between terrorists and their sponsors.

Referring to the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, Singh said the government had conveyed that “blood and water cannot flow together”. He described India’s approach as having moved beyond strategic containment and deterrence by denial towards what he termed “deterrence by punishment.”

He further stated that under the policy articulated through Operation Sindoor, any terrorist attack originating from Pakistani territory would be treated as an “act of war” against India.

Economy and defence preparedness

Singh identified a strong economy and a capable military as two key pillars of a state’s physical power. A stronger economy, he said, generates greater resources for national security, while a secure environment creates favourable conditions for economic development.

He said India’s economy was growing at 7.8 percent and had entered the ranks of the world’s five largest economies. At the same time, the government had substantially increased defence spending.

According to Singh, the defence budget had risen from around ₹2.5 lakh crore in 2013-14 to a record ₹7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27. Defence production had also reached an all-time high of approximately ₹1.8 lakh crore, while the armed forces were undergoing continued modernisation.

Focus on emerging technologies

Singh identified terrain, technology and thinking as three critical elements of modern warfare, saying technological advances had fundamentally altered the character of conflict.

He said India was developing capabilities in drones, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electronic warfare, space and quantum technologies.

The Defence Minister cited indigenous unmanned systems such as Rustom, Ghatak and Nagastra and said India’s drone warfare capabilities had been demonstrated during Operation Sindoor. He also highlighted the BrahMos missile system and the development of the proposed Sudarshan Chakra air-defence system as examples of India’s efforts to prepare for future combat requirements.

Push for defence self-reliance

Singh said India’s defence preparedness would become more robust with greater self-reliance and outlined the government’s focus on ‘Design in India, Develop in India and Manufacture in India’.

He said defence research and development spending had increased by more than 112% over the past 12 years, from around ₹13,700 crore in 2014-15 to more than ₹29,000 crore currently.

Twenty-five percent of the defence R&D budget has also been opened to industry, startups and academia to encourage wider participation in defence innovation, he said.

The government has simplified licensing procedures for defence production and prioritised indigenous systems under the Defence Acquisition Procedure. Singh said more than 5,500 items had been included in over 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, aimed at reducing dependence on imported defence equipment and components.

He also highlighted the transfer of DRDO-developed conventional missile technologies to Indian industry and the establishment of 15 Industry-Academia Centres of Excellence to promote defence research.

Singh cited India’s successful demonstration of Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle technology with the Agni-5 missile as evidence of the country’s growing capabilities in advanced strategic technologies.

Defence corridors, MSMEs and startups

The Defence Minister said defence industrial corridors had been established to strengthen the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem and build a broader supply chain involving not only major defence companies but also start-ups and MSMEs.

He said the Srijan Defence Equipment Empowerment Platform was bringing together Indian defence manufacturers, MSMEs and vendors. More than 41,000 vendors and 2.7 lakh products have so far been listed on the platform, according to Singh.

Focus on soldiers and veterans

Alongside strengthening operational capabilities, Singh said the government was also focusing on the welfare of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

He cited the expansion of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme facilities and the SPARSH digital pension platform, which was launched to ensure timely and accurate pension delivery.

He also referred to the implementation of One Rank One Pension, saying the government had sought to address longstanding concerns of military veterans.

Singh said the contribution of soldiers should be recognised not merely through words but through measures aimed at improving their welfare and that of their families. He pointed to the recent decision to provide lifetime free train travel to all Sena Medal awardees and selected members of their families as part of this approach.