India Will Safeguard Its Security and Strategic Autonomy When Threatened: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

New Delhi:

India does not seek to occupy the territory of any country but will firmly safeguard its security and strategic autonomy when threatened, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi on September 27, 2026.

Rajnath Singh said India believes in peace and seeks global stability, but peace should not be mistaken for weakness. He stressed that the country remains committed to protecting its security and strategic autonomy while contributing to a stable international order.

The Defence Minister also said there can be no scope for dialogue with countries that promote terrorism against India. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the recent SCO meeting, he said countries that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy or provide shelter and support to terrorists must be reminded that terrorism cannot be treated as a strategic asset.

He asserted that as long as a neighbouring country continues to pursue a policy of supporting terrorism, India remains entitled to take necessary measures to counter the threat.

National Unity Essential for National Security

Emphasising the importance of national unity, Rajnath Singh said national security is not solely the responsibility of the armed forces but a collective responsibility of every citizen.

He called upon citizens to rise above divisions based on religion, caste, creed, language, region and other identities, and to place national interest above personal and narrow interests.

Describing India as a civilizational power, he said the country’s rise is based on inclusive development rather than confrontation or disruption. He outlined three foundations of India’s approach: its democratic and civilizational traditions, the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, and the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.

He also identified five strategic pillars of India’s approach—respect, dialogue, prosperity, security and culture.

India Emerging as a Trusted Global Defence Supplier

Highlighting India’s growing role in the Global South, the Defence Minister described the country as a trusted partner and ‘Vishwa Bandhu’.

He noted that under Vaccine Maitri, India supplied more than 30 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses to over 100 countries and has supported developing nations through medicines, digital payment solutions, expertise and resources.

He also highlighted the Voice of Global South Summits as an initiative aimed at advancing the interests of developing countries. He called for responsible use of power, cooperation amid competition and inclusive participation in global development.

Defence Exports Rise to Rs. 38,424 Crore

Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s progress towards self-reliance in defence, saying the country is developing indigenous capabilities ranging from aircraft and drone engines to fifth- and sixth-generation fighter jets.

India’s defence exports have increased from Rs. 686 crore in 2013–14 to a record Rs. 38,424 crore in 2025–26, with Indian defence products reaching more than 100 countries.

After achieving the Rs. 30,000-crore defence export target last year, India has now set a target of Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029.

The Defence Minister said growing international demand for Indian missiles, radars, ammunition and defence platforms reflects confidence in the country’s technology, quality and delivery capabilities. He said ‘Made in India’ is increasingly emerging not merely as a manufacturing label but as a symbol of confidence in Indian defence capabilities.

Defence Allocation Reaches Rs. 7.85 Lakh Crore

Rajnath Singh highlighted the substantial increase in defence allocation, which has reached Rs. 7.85 lakh crore in 2026–27, compared with around Rs. 2.53 lakh crore in 2013–14.

He said around 75% of the capital acquisition budget, amounting to Rs. 1.39 lakh crore, has been earmarked for procurement from the domestic defence industry. The move is intended to strengthen indigenous manufacturing and associated MSME supply chains.

Focus on Future Warfare and Emerging Technologies

The Defence Minister said the nature of warfare is rapidly changing, with modern conflicts extending beyond conventional domains to cyber, space, electronic and information warfare.

He highlighted emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, quantum technology and hypersonic systems, stressing the need for India to develop future-ready capabilities across these domains.

He also highlighted efforts to address strategic vulnerabilities in technology, energy, data and supply chains. Initiatives are underway to strengthen domestic capabilities in semiconductors and critical minerals, diversify energy sources and enhance energy security.

Push for Defence Indigenisation

Rajnath Singh said 509 defence equipment, weapon systems and platforms have been included in five positive indigenisation lists issued by the Armed Forces.

Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have also released six indigenisation lists covering 5,417 items, including strategically important line-replaceable units, subsystems, spares and components. Around 3,300 of these items have been indigenised, he said.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the growing participation of private companies, startups and MSMEs in defence manufacturing.

India’s defence ecosystem now includes DPSUs, private industries, more than 16,000 MSMEs, startups, universities and research institutions, with defence manufacturing capabilities developing across several regions.

Investment proposals worth about Rs. 70,000 crore have been received in the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors, with around Rs. 10,000 crore already invested.

SRIJAN Platforms Strengthening Indigenous Supply Chains

Rajnath Singh highlighted the role of the SRIJAN and SRIJAN DEEP portals in strengthening indigenous defence supply chains.

He said around 33,000 imported items have been identified for import substitution through SRIJAN, of which approximately 15,700 have been indigenised.

SRIJAN DEEP has created a national digital database covering more than 40,000 manufacturers and sellers and lakhs of products, he added.

DPSUs and Ordnance Factories Undergoing Transformation

The Defence Minister also highlighted changes in the DPSU and Ordnance Factory ecosystem.

He said the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factories has enhanced their technology orientation, output and accountability. According to him, all 16 DPSUs are currently operating without losses and are increasing their focus on research, development and exports.

Startups and Innovation in Defence

Rajnath Singh emphasised the role of youth and innovation in strengthening national security.

He said iDEX and iDEX-Prime are providing opportunities for startups and innovators to contribute to defence capabilities, while programmes such as ADITI are supporting the development of advanced defence technologies.

As of March 2026, 676 startups and innovators had been engaged through iDEX and 551 contracts had been signed. The Ministry has also approved procurement worth more than ₹2,400 crore from startups and MSMEs, along with development projects worth over ₹1,500 crore.

DRDO Technologies to Be Transferred to Indian Industry

A significant announcement at the conclave was the decision to transfer DRDO-developed technologies for conventional missile systems to eligible Indian industries.

The move will enable qualifying private companies to undertake production of these systems, strengthening the preparedness of the Armed Forces and facilitating timely delivery of missiles.

Rajnath Singh said the initiative would also support a greater division of responsibilities, with DRDO increasingly focusing on research and development while industry takes on a larger role in production.

Focus on Complete Indigenous Defence Ecosystem

Concluding his address, the Defence Minister said India’s objective is to build indigenous capabilities across the entire defence spectrum—from individual components to complete weapon systems.

He stressed the importance of developing technologies domestically rather than remaining dependent on imports, with the broader objective of strengthening strategic autonomy, defence preparedness and a resilient indigenous defence-industrial ecosystem.