KOCHI : Addressing the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi today, Defence Minister (Raksha Mantri) Shri Rajnath Singh exhorted the senior leadership of the Indian Army to closely monitor complex geopolitical developments and maintain a multi-decadal strategic vision spanning the next 20 to 30 years. Emphasizing the need for dynamic and flexible strategies, he stressed that the military must remain fully prepared to respond to both immediate operational requirements and emerging security challenges.
Commending the armed forces for adapting to evolving operational paradigms, Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that innovative thinking, enhanced joint synergy, and superior coordination—complemented by advanced weaponry—were key drivers behind the success of Operation Sindoor. The operation sent an unequivocal message that India will not hesitate to take decisive measures to safeguard its national interests.
He underscored the importance of accelerating capability development in critical technology domains, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, data analytics, cybersecurity, and secure communication networks. While acknowledging the rising significance of air, maritime, space, and cyber domains, the Raksha Mantri affirmed that land warfare and ground forces remain indispensable. He advocated for a fully integrated approach to modern warfare, noting that success in joint operations depends on multi-domain capabilities.
Highlighting India’s strides under the government’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) initiative led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Rajnath Singh revealed that indigenous defence production reached a record high of ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, with defence exports touching an all-time high of approximately ₹38,000 crore.
On the occasion, the Raksha Mantri officially released the Indian Army’s Land Warfare Doctrine, establishing an overarching framework to prepare ground forces for future conflicts and the evolving character of warfare. He also unveiled the annual United Nations Journal and felicitated Indian Army personnel for exemplary service as UN peacekeepers.
The conference was attended by Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General NS Raja Subramani, Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, and senior military officials.
