SEP 16: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the Armed Forces to go beyond traditional warfighting concepts and prepare for unconventional threats, including information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare. Addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata, he stressed the need for constant assessment of global changes impacting national security.
“The nature of warfare is evolving rapidly. Today’s wars are unpredictable and can last months or even years. We must ensure our surge capacity remains sufficient,” the Minister said, urging commanders to adopt a proactive and technology-driven approach.
Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the Government’s commitment to modernisation, credible deterrence, and technological superiority, while underlining the mantra of JAI – Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, Innovation given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He pressed for deeper engagement with academia and industry to develop indigenous platforms and build a robust defence innovation ecosystem.
He commended the Armed Forces for their exemplary performance in Operation Sindoor, stating that Strength, Strategy and Self-reliance form the three pillars of India’s defence readiness. “Today, we have the capacity to face any challenge with indigenous systems and the courage of our soldiers. This is the real power of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
Emphasising tri-service jointness, he cited initiatives like Tri-Service Logistics Nodes and the Tri-Service Logistic Management Application to promote integration and synergy. He also noted progress in civil-military fusion for national security.
The Minister reaffirmed that self-reliance is not just a slogan but a strategic necessity that fuels economic growth, generates employment and strengthens defence corridors. He also announced approval of the Defence Procurement Manual 2025 and ongoing revisions to the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 to streamline procurement.
