DEFCON 2026: Rajnath Singh Outlines Vision for Self-Reliant and Future-Ready India

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlined India's vision for a stronger, technologically advanced and self-reliant defence sector while delivering the keynote address, titled “Powering the Next Era of Defence,” at DEFCON 2026. Addressing the forum, Singh said India's defence priorities are evolving rapidly, with self-reliance, modernisation, indigenous manufacturing and emerging technologies becoming increasingly important to national security. He stressed that India's future defence preparedness will depend not only on conventional military strength but also on the country's ability to develop and manufacture advanced technologies domestically.

The Defence Minister said modern security threats can no longer be viewed only through the lens of geographical boundaries. Referring to what he called the “perimeter fallacy”, Singh noted that while national borders remain fixed, the nature of threats has become increasingly fluid and complex. Drone warfare, cyberattacks, lone-wolf operations and organised disinformation campaigns are among the emerging challenges that can affect national security without being confined to traditional battlefields.

Singh also underlined the close relationship between national security, economic stability and energy security. He said hostile actors can target energy supply chains and critical economic infrastructure, making it necessary for India to adopt a broader and integrated approach to national defence. The government, he said, is working towards building armed forces capable of responding to such changing challenges and remaining prepared for future conflicts.

Speaking about India's approach to national security, Singh said the country possesses both the “power of argument” and the “argument of power” and can use the approach required to protect its national interests. He referred to the surgical strikes, the Balakot air strikes and Operation Sindoor as examples of India's demonstrated ability to respond to security threats.

The Defence Minister also said that any terrorist attack originating from foreign territory would be treated as an act of war. He indicated that India's response to terrorism has moved beyond a focus on containment towards a strategy centred on deterrence and punitive action. Strategic autonomy and defence self-reliance, Singh said, remain important pillars of India's security policy. At the same time, India continues to strengthen international partnerships through platforms including the QUAD, I2U2, BIMSTEC, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Technology was another major focus of Singh's address. He highlighted artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, automation and digital twins as technologies that are expected to play an increasingly important role in modern military capabilities. According to the Defence Minister, India needs to move beyond simply assembling defence equipment domestically and focus increasingly on developing and designing indigenous technologies.

The government is seeking to expand India's role as a global centre for drone manufacturing. Initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence, or iDEX, and the ADITI scheme are being used to encourage startups, MSMEs and individual innovators to develop new defence technologies. Singh said more than 676 startups, MSMEs and individual innovators have joined the iDEX ecosystem, resulting in hundreds of contracts. The government is also promoting stronger links between smaller businesses and major defence manufacturers to develop domestic supply chains and expand India's manufacturing capacity.

The country's indigenisation programme has also expanded considerably, with more than 5,500 military items included in positive indigenisation lists. The initiative is aimed at encouraging domestic production and reducing dependence on imported defence equipment. Singh also highlighted the expansion of defence research and development funding. According to the figures cited during the event, India's defence R&D allocation has increased by more than 112 per cent, rising from ₹13,700 crore in 2014–15 to more than ₹29,000 crore.

India's defence production and exports have also recorded substantial growth. Defence production has crossed major milestones, with the government pursuing annual production levels exceeding ₹1.75 lakh crore. Defence exports, meanwhile, have increased from less than ₹1,000 crore around a decade ago to ₹21,083 crore in recent figures. The Defence Minister said these developments reflect India's broader effort to strengthen domestic defence capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign supplies. The expansion of indigenous manufacturing is expected to support a wider ecosystem involving established defence companies, startups, MSMEs and individual innovators.

Alongside defence modernisation, Singh also announced a welfare measure for decorated military personnel, under which Army Medal recipients and eligible family members will receive lifetime free rail travel. The Defence Minister reaffirmed the government's focus on building a defence ecosystem that is self-reliant, technology-driven and capable of responding to emerging security challenges. The message at DEFCON 2026 centred on strengthening India's domestic capabilities while preparing the armed forces for a future in which technology, innovation and unconventional threats are expected to play an increasingly important role.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.