Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on 28 July 2025, mounted a scathing attack on the Congress and Opposition leaders, accusing them of undermining the morale of the Indian armed forces by repeatedly raising questions about India’s losses rather than acknowledging the military success of Operation Sindoor.

Addressing the Lok Sabha during the highly anticipated Operation Sindoor debate, he said, “Pakistan was not able to hit any target in India, and none of our critical assets sustained damage. Our security arrangements were impregnable, and every attempt was thwarted. I laud the Indian military forces and ask my colleagues in the Opposition to show respect by thumping their desks.”

Despite the call for bipartisan support, key Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, remained still and did not participate in the gesture. Reiterating that India halted the operation only after achieving its strategic and political goals, the Defence Minister refuted any suggestions that the operation was called off under external pressure.

“India halted the operation only after fully achieving all the political and military objectives set before and during the mission. Therefore, the notion that the operation was stopped under any pressure is baseless and entirely baseless,” he said, amid brief sloganeering from the Opposition benches. Rajnath Singh recounted that Pakistan reached out to India on 10 May 2025, seeking cessation of hostilities after suffering heavy blows.

“They contacted our DGMO and appealed for a halt. This was accepted with a firm message — Operation Sindoor is only paused, not ended. If provoked again, it will resume,” he added. Taking direct aim at the Congress, the Defence Minister questioned the nature of their inquiries. “The Opposition asks how many of our jets were downed. Why don’t they ask how many enemy jets we brought down? Why don’t they ask if we dismantled terror infrastructure? Because the answer to that is yes,” he said.

Continuing his criticism, the Defence Minister said, “They should be asking whether we neutralised the masterminds behind the terror attack that wiped the ‘sindoor’ off the foreheads of our mothers and sisters. Again, the answer is yes. And if they ask whether any of our soldiers were harmed during the operation, the answer is no.”

In a broader critique of the Opposition’s attitude, Rajnath Singh warned against focusing on “relatively minor” details when the issue at hand is national security and the honour of soldiers. “Some of our friends in the Opposition seem unable to ask the right questions,” he said. Reflecting on the BJP’s conduct during its time in the Opposition, the Defence Minister recalled how leaders like former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee praised the Congress-led government after India’s victory in the 1971 war.

“We never asked how many of our planes were lost. We applauded our leadership and stood united. We didn’t ask which party was in power or what ideology it followed,” he added.

-IANS

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Hours after the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) failed to adopt a joint statement following their meeting in China’s Qingdao on 26 June, India said that it wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country and therefore the statement was not adopted.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the meeting where he called for united global action against terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism, citing them as the biggest threats to regional peace and trust. “I understand that they (Defence Ministers) could not adopt a joint statement. I also understand that certain member countries could not reach consensus on certain issues and hence the document could not be finalised. On our side, India wanted concerns on terrorism reflected in the document, which was not acceptable to one particular country and therefore the statement was not adopted,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a weekly media briefing.

Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Singh referred to the heinous 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians — including a Nepali national — saying that India exercised its right to self-defence through Operation Sindoor to dismantle cross-border terror infrastructure. He also urged the SCO nations to reject double standards and hold terror sponsors accountable. “Raksha Mantri in his articulation and in his address called upon the SCO member countries to come together, unite to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations… He also reiterated the need to uphold the perpetrators, organisers, financers, sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, to be held accountable and bring them to justice. He also urged all SCO members, saying that we must all be in lockstep in our endeavour in strengthening stability and security in our neighbourhood,” said Jaiswal.

Singh’s visit to China comes just over a month after Operation Sindoor, under which India conducted targeted airstrikes on nine high-value terrorist infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. “Epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe,” he declared at the SCO meeting, reaffirming India’s zero-tolerance policy.

The two-day SCO meeting hosted by China that ended on Thursday saw participation of Defence Ministers from member countries of the grouping, including Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

-IANS

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday underlined the need to strengthen India’s offensive and defensive responses in view of the turmoil being witnessed in the rules-based international order.

Addressing an event to commemorate 2024 as the Year of Naval Civilians, the Defence Minister highlighted the increasing complexities for the Armed Forces due to the tense geopolitical security scenario and pitched increasing the country’s critical capability as soon as possible.

“If we assess the entire decade from a defence and security perspective, we can say that it has been a volatile decade. We are witnessing conflicts and wars in different regions across the world. Keeping these things in mind, we need planning, resourcing and budgeting for our security,” he said.

“There is a need to adopt a consultative approach. We need to take inputs from all the stakeholders on how to face future challenges. Our forces should be equipped and ready according to the changing times,” Rajnath Singh said.

He emphasised that the civilian workforce, an integral part of the Armed Forces, will play a crucial role in the planning process. The Defence Minister stressed that the military is surging forward with a big mandate and complex structure and the civilian workforce “soldiers without uniforms” play a pivotal role as they work behind-the-scenes to provide significant strength to the troops.

He asserted that patriotism, valour and discipline help soldiers fulfill their responsibility of protecting the country from threats and challenges and the civilian workforce should imbibe these values to further bolster the security infrastructure. “In the broader perspective of national service, every responsible civilian is a soldier without uniform and every soldier is a civilian in uniform,” he said.

In view of India’s strategic location and its geopolitical situation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to strengthen the Navy, terming it as a necessity in today’s times. He referred to the recent commissioning of three world-class warships – INS Surat, INS Nilgiri & INS Vaghsheer – built in India by Mazagon Dock Limited, stating that it was a result of concerted efforts of all stakeholders. Rajnath Singh termed the ships as a symbol of India’s empowerment.

“India’s economic prosperity is linked to maritime security. It is, therefore, necessary to protect our territorial waters, ensure freedom of navigation, and keep sea routes, which are our maritime highways, safe. In recent years, major naval powers have reduced their presence in IOR, while the Indian Navy has increased it,” he said.

“There is a possibility of an increase in threats in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and the sea areas adjacent to East African countries. In view of this, the Indian Navy is working towards increasing its presence further,” said the Defence Minister.

Rajnath Singh described cyber-security as an important aspect of maritime security in today’s times, stating that ignoring cyber-attacks can prove to be detrimental/fatal. He laid stress on the need to run a special awareness campaign on cyber-security in the Armed Forces.

–IANS

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday pitched for the Buddhist doctrine of peaceful co-existence at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Laos. “The Buddhist doctrine of peaceful co-existence must be embraced more closely by all the nations as the world is increasingly getting polarised into blocks and camps, which is leading to increasing strain on the established world order,” said the Defence Minister while addressing the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus forum in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Rajnath Singh added that India stands for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. “India has always advocated and practised dialogue for resolving complex international issues. This commitment to open communication and peaceful negotiation is evident in India’s approach to a wide range of international challenges, from border disputes to trade agreements,” the Defence Minister said. He added that an open dialogue promotes trust, understanding, and cooperation, laying the foundation for sustainable partnerships. “The power of dialogue has always proven effective, yielding tangible results that contribute to stability and harmony on the global stage. India believes that genuine, long-term solutions to global problems can only be achieved when nations engage constructively, respecting each other’s perspectives and working toward shared goals in the spirit of cooperation,” the Defence Minister said.

He said that the ASEAN region, in particular, has always been economically dynamic and bustling with trade, commerce and cultural activities, adding that all through this transformational journey, India has remained a trusted friend of the region. Citing a quote by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, while he visited South East Asia in 1927, the Defence Minister said, “Everywhere I could see India, yet I could not recognise it.” The Defence Minister also stressed that the statement symbolises the deep and widespread cultural and historical ties between India and South East Asia. Sharing his insights on the discussions on the Code of Conduct, Rajnath Singh said: “India would like to see a Code that does not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations which are not party to these deliberations. The code should be fully consistent with international law, in particular the UN Convention Law of Sea 1982.” In view of the natural disasters wreaking havoc in different parts of the world, the Defence Minister said that it reminds of the perils of climate change while also complimenting the chair for choosing the most relevant topic in today’s scenario for the 11th ADMM-Plus Joint statement.

“Strengthening resilience to climate change in the defence domain requires multi-stakeholder engagement, from developing innovative solutions to managing the adverse impacts of climate change. This includes protecting vulnerable populations as well as safeguarding our defence installations,” the Defence Minister added. He also highlighted the need to deepen the understanding of the interlinkages between climate change and threats to security while calling for developing an ADMM-Plus Defence Strategy on climate change. Rajnath Singh also drew attention to the Global Commons – the shared natural resources and ecosystems essential to sustaining life and bringing prosperity on the planet.

He underscored the need to safeguard these Global Commons just and balanced by not resorting to unilateral actions. “These resources provide invaluable ecological, economic, and social benefits that extend beyond national boundaries,” said the Defence Minister. The 11th ADMM-Plus forum consisted of 10 ASEAN countries, eight Plus countries, and Timor Leste. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath chaired the meeting.

–IANS

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday voiced concerns to create an ‘Adaptive Defence’ in the country, saying that it is not a strategic choice but a necessity for the nation’s defence. “‘Adaptive Defence’ is not merely a strategic choice but a necessity. As the new threats have evolved, we must also evolve our defence systems and strategies. We should be prepared for all future contingencies. It is more than just protecting our borders, it is about securing our future,” said the Defence Minister while addressing the Delhi Defence Dialogue (DDD) in New Delhi.

He added that the ‘Adaptive Defence’ is not merely responding to what has happened but anticipating what could happen, and preparing for it proactively. “In essence, it involves cultivating a mindset and capability to adapt, innovate and thrive, even in the face of unpredictable and evolving circumstances. Situational awareness, flexibility at strategic and tactical levels, resilience, agility, and integration with futuristic technologies are the keys to understanding and creating ‘Adaptive Defence’. It must be the mantra of our strategic formulations and operational responses,’ said the Defence Minister. He also threw light on the diverse range of security challenges faced by India, from traditional border-related threats to unconventional issues such as terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare. He asserted that the government recognised the need for an ‘Adaptive Defence’ strategy in a changing geopolitical and technological scenario, and has taken several initiatives to build a robust and self-reliant ecosystem. He said that the traditional notions of war are being reshaped by emerging technologies and evolving strategic partnerships, with new perspectives, doctrines and concepts of operations emerging within the Armed Forces in keeping with the changing nature of threats and challenges.

He termed the present age as Grey Zone and Hybrid warfare where traditional ways to defend have been challenged. “India is aiming to become a drone hub of the world. Several initiatives have been taken in this regard. This would not only help the Indian economy but also significantly contribute to our Make in India and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme,” the Defence Minister said. He added that the current geopolitical dynamics and cross-border issues make a collaborative approach to defence essential, adding that the ambiguities of cyberspace, AI and the vast potential of quantum and nanotechnologies further demand collaboration and sharing of knowledge, perspectives, information and strategies, if possible. He said that the government recognised the need for an adaptive defence strategy in a changing geopolitical and technological scenario, and has taken several initiatives to build a robust and self-reliant ecosystem.

“It includes establishing the institution of the Chief of Defence Staff, promoting jointness among the three Services, improvising the training curriculum and forging new defence partnerships around the world,” he said. The Defence Minister also expressed confidence that by bringing together policymakers, military experts and scholars, the Delhi Defence Dialogue will generate innovative ideas and collaborative strategies to enhance the country’s defence posture. He termed it a vital initiative that aspires to strengthen the strategic vision emphasising a comprehensive approach and facilitating informed discussions that contribute to national, regional and global security.

–IANS

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the establishment of more Gurukuls in India to provide modern education while safeguarding the country’s moral and cultural heritage. During the inauguration of ‘Gurukulam Evam Acharyakulam’ at Swami Darshanand Gurukul Mahavidyalay in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh emphasized the establishment of more Gurukuls in India. He emphasized the importance of providing modern education while safeguarding the country’s moral and cultural heritage. During the inauguration of ‘Gurukulam Evam Acharyakulam’ at Swami Darshanand Gurukul Mahavidyalay in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on 06 January 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed concern about the decline in moral values due to the influence of foreign culture. He acknowledged the historical significance of Gurukuls and their role in preserving Indian culture, dating back to the time when foreign invaders disrupted the traditional educational system.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh linked his call for more Gurukuls to the National Education Policy 2020, highlighting the government’s commitment to instil moral values from primary education onward. He acknowledged the ongoing implementation of the policy across various educational institutions in the country, emphasizing Gurukuls’ potential to contribute significantly to this educational transformation. Contrary to the perception that Gurukuls solely adhere to ancient teaching methods, Singh urged them to embrace modern advancements, including Artificial Intelligence and quantum technology, while continuing to provide traditional education.

The Defence Minister’s speech reflected India’s commitment to cultural preservation, with Gurukuls envisioned as key contributors to this endeavour. He emphasized the broader goal of cultural upliftment beyond mere preservation, aiming for future generations to take pride in the rich cultural heritage of the nation. He concluded by recognizing the global impact of Yoga, citing its celebration as the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations. Furthermore, he urged a similar promotion of Sanskrit to ensure its accessibility and relevance on a global scale.

(With inputs from PIB)

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Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has appealed to the youth to come up with new ideas to empower the country in the field of Science & Technology and help the Government in its efforts to make India safer, stronger & self-reliant. He was addressing the 16^th convocation of Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-be-University) in Udaipur on April 15, 2023. The Raksha Mantri stressed that the use of technology will increase across all sectors in the coming times and there is a need to achieve excellence in Science & Technology. He called upon the young ignited minds to ideate, innovate, research and make headways in the field to take the county to greater heights.

Shri Rajnath Singh was of the view that the youth possess a unique power to create, nurture & transform and the Government is providing a level-playing field to them to ensure that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘New India’ is soon realised. He listed out a number of steps taken to tap the potential of the young minds, including the National Education Policy 2020, which focuses on holistic education and lays equal emphasis on knowledge and skills. He also spoke on campaigns such as Ayushman Bharat, Fit India movement, which aim to create a healthy, educated and skilled workforce.

The Defence Minister highlighted the steps taken by Ministry of Defence for the youth to contribute to national security. He elaborated on the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, wherein the Armed Forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, Indian Coast Guard and Paramilitary forces seek solutions to their problem statements from the general public.

“There are two ways to resolve a problem statement. One is to issue a tender and get it resolved through a foreign company. The other is to put forth the problem statement before the young, ignited minds, which is 65% of the country’s population. This is the vision behind iDEX. In just five years since its launch, we have received an encouraging response. We have already launched nine Defence India Start-up Challenges. Youths have provided solutions to many problem statements. We not only adopt the ideas of the youth but take it forward by connecting them with investors and providing grants,” Shri Rajnath Singh said.

The Defence Minister also enumerated the initiatives taken to promote entrepreneurial mindset among the youth. He stated that a culture of venture capital funding has been developed for start-ups, which is important for their hand-holding at an early stage. “The number of unicorns in the country has crossed 100 from just four or five eight-nine years. Approx. one lakh start-ups have emerged in the last few years. It is a big proof of the success of start-up-based innovation ecosystem,” he added.

Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that whether it is economy, science & technology, health or defence, India – the fifth largest economy – has emerged as a strong nation in recent years and is well on course to find itself among the top three economies by 2027. “India is dreaming new dreams & setting new goals on the strength of its youth. We are striving to make India one of the strongest countries and our young, ignited minds will play a pivotal role in realising that vision,” he said.

The Defence Minister also exhorted the students to pay equal attention towards obtaining the knowledge about Indian traditions, values & culture, terming it as an essential aspect of character development. He urged them to gain inspiration from personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, who put forth the values before society. These values ​​will make the surging ahead India complete, he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh also underscored the importance of a strong will to achieve any given task, stressing that both successes and failures are part of life, and one should not get swayed away by the ups and downs. Referring to the news reports of suicides by IIT & NEET aspirants in Kota, he called upon the students to remember that no goal or dream is bigger than life. He termed it as the collective failure of society if any child takes such a drastic step. He urged all parents, relatives, teachers and friends to never judge children on the basis of their exam results but assess them on their hard work.

The Defence Minister lauded the Vidyapeeth for contributing in the all-round progress of the nation by implementing various plans in the fields of education, literature, culture and history, besides adopting latest technologies in line with the changing times. He also unveiled the statue of renowned Rajput warrior and King of Mewar Maharana Pratap on the University premises. He stated that the statue in an educational institute will not only encourage future generations to contribute to nation building through education, but also inculcate patriotism and national spirit in their hearts.

(With inputs from PIB)

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to demonstrate its firepower near the Pakistan border when over 100 fighter jets will be engaged in multiple war games.

For nearly a year, the India-Pakistan border in the Line of Control (LoC) has been silent after both India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire last February.

However, India is now going to conduct Exercise Vayushakti-2022 (Fire Power Demonstration) and it will take place at the Pokhran firing range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

As per information made public, the exercise will commence on March 5. About 140 aircraft including 100 fighters and helicopters will participate in it.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and the three services chiefs and other dignitaries, are expected to witness the exercise. 

The last Vayuskhati excercise happened two days after the Pulwama attack (February 14, 2019) Islamic suicide terror attack, in which more than 40 CRPF Jawans were killed by a Jaish-e-Mohammad Muslim terrorist.

According to the IAF, Exercise Vayushakti is mostly about displaying the air force’s ability to strike targets on the ground—such as enemy convoys and tanks, radar stations, railway yards, and military headquarters.

“It is basically to showcase our (IAF) ability to punish, our ability to insert and extricate our troops from hostile territories,” an IAF official said.

During the exercise, the country will see the newly inducted Rafale fighter jet, Apache attack helicopters, and Chinook helicopters showcasing their capabilities. 

Other aircraft that will participate will be the MiG-29, Jaguar, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, transport aircraft like AN-32, C130, Mi-17 VS, and Mi-35 helicopters that will demonstrate their capabilities in the exercise.

Newly inducted women fighter pilots are also expected to fly sorties and drop bombs from MiG-21 Bison fighter jets as part of the war games.

Dozens of diplomats, the respective military attaches posted in embassies in New Delhi, will also be flown out to Pokhran in an IAF aircraft to witness the newly acquired capabilities of the IAF.

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The Indian Navy is all set to commission the guided-missile destroyer, Visakhapatnam, and a Kalvari-class submarine, Vela, by next week that will enhance our maritime fighting capability in the face of growing Chinese machinations into the Indian Ocean region.

As per the reports, Vice Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, said destroyer ‘Visakhapatnam’ will be commissioned on November 21 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while submarine Vela will be commissioned on November 25 by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh.

“We all know that the maritime environment is a complex one and it only increases with more number of players involved. We live in a time when global and regional balances of power are shifting rapidly and the region of most rapid change is undoubtedly the Indian Ocean Region,” Vice Admiral Ghormade.

Vice Admiral Ghormade also said that as many as 39 naval ships and submarines are currently being constructed in various Indian shipyards and there is a continuous effort to ensure that the force levels grow progressively to enhance the capability of the Indian Navy to meet the emerging challenges.

“The commissioning of Visakhapatnam will reaffirm India’s presence amongst an elite group of nations with capability to design and build advanced warships,” the Vice Admiral said.

Talking about the capabilities of this ship, Vice Admiral Ghormade said this ship has much indigenous equipment in the ‘float’ and ‘move’ categories, along with many major indigenous weapons such as medium-range surface-to-air missile systems developed by Bharat Electronics Ltd, surface-to-surface missiles by Brahmos Aerospace and torpedo tubes and launchers by L&T.

“The overall indigenous content of the project is approximately 75 per cent,” he said

With regards to the submarine Vela, the fourth submarine of the Kalvari class the Admiral said, “Submarine building is a sophisticated exercise involving placing small components sequentially and logically inside the submarine as the space within is extremely constricted,”.

“Very few countries possess this ability in their industrial capacity. India has proven its capability to build our own submarines for the past 25 years,” he added.

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India is expected to clear the purchase of 30 MQ-1 Predator drones from the United States after a high-level Defence Procurement Board or DPB, headed by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and including the three vice chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) after months of dialogue with the US.

The purchase of the MQ-1 Predator, a remotely piloted aircraft that can carry missiles is an important force multiplier and this particular drone has seen a lot of action in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, reports Timesnow.

As per reports ten Predators, armed with guided bombs and Hellfire missiles, will go to the Army, Navy and Air Force each and now the final clearance is awaited from Defence Acquisition Council headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh and including the three chiefs for clearance.

The Indian Navy is already operating two unarmed Predator drones from the US and is fully satisfied with the performance of two leased unarmed drones and had in fact pushed for early acquisition of MQ-9 drones to meet the maritime challenge posed by China.

As of now, China and Pakistan have the armed Wing Loong II drone with precision strike capability. However, how reliable is this attack drone remains to be seen.

The Indian Navy was designated as lead by both Army and Air Force in the acquisition of MQ-9 drones and the sale will be made through the US Foreign Military Sales route under government to government scheme.

The Indian Navy is most satisfied with the performance of the two unarmed Predator drones on lease from the US as allowed maritime domain awareness from Sunda Strait in Indonesia to the eastern seaboard of Africa. 

Meanwhile, the Indian Army is set to acquire six Heron high altitude long endurance drones from Israel on lease and parallelly upgrade the existing Heron drones with data-link and better radars to meet the challenge posed by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aggressive tactics in East Ladakh as well as in the Xinjiang region across Karakoram Pass.

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