Rajnath Singh urges armed forces to be ready for unconventional threats

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday (September 16, 2025) exhorted the armed forces to remain alert and ready to counter “invisible” challenges from information, ideological, ecological and biological warfare.

Addressing the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata, he said the turbulent global order, regional instability and evolving security landscape demanded constant assessment and preparedness.

“The nature of warfare is continuously evolving. Wars today are so sudden and unpredictable that it is difficult to foretell their duration. We need to ensure our surge capacity remains sufficient,” Mr. Singh said, stressing the importance of a “technology-friendly” military.

Sudarshan Chakra vision

Calling India’s defence sector an amalgamation of offensive and defensive capabilities, he urged commanders to work towards building the Sudarshan Chakra vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A committee had been set up to prepare a medium-term (five-year) and long-term (10-year) road map for the project.

The Minister underlined the government’s focus on modernisation, operational readiness, technological superiority and credible deterrence, reiterating Mr. Modi’s mantra of “JAI (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, Innovation).” He pushed for deeper collaboration with industry and academia to develop future-ready technologies and expand private sector participation in defence innovation.

Highlighting initiatives like Tri-Service Logistics Nodes and a Tri-Service Logistic Management Application, Mr. Singh said greater synergy and civil-military fusion were vital to meet emerging challenges. Referring to Operation Sindoor, he said it demonstrated that “Strength, Strategy and Self-reliance” were the three pillars that would define India’s power in the 21st century.

Commending the armed forces for their professionalism and courage, Mr. Singh said: “Today, we have the capability to face any challenge with indigenous platforms and systems coupled with the indomitable spirit of our soldiers. This is the real strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”