India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has warned that modern warfare is rapidly evolving beyond traditional battlefields, with space, cyberspace and digital technologies emerging as critical theatres of military operations.
Singh said recent conflicts across the world had fundamentally changed the character of warfare, making technological advancement and industrial preparedness indispensable to national security.
Speaking at the third edition of the Delhi Defence Dialogue in New Delhi, he stressed that the battlefield was no longer restricted to land, sea and air but had expanded into space, cyberspace and the digital domain.
He identified defence reforms, technological self-reliance, strategic collaborations and exports as key pillars of India’s efforts to transform its defence ecosystem.
The minister disclosed that India’s defence exports rose significantly to ₹38,424 crore in the 2025–26 financial year, compared with approximately ₹686 crore in 2013–14.
He attributed the growth to increasing international acceptance of Indian-made defence equipment and products, describing it as evidence of the country’s expanding capabilities in defence manufacturing.
Singh maintained that military preparedness in the 21st century could no longer be separated from technological innovation and industrial capacity.
He also highlighted the progress made over the past decade in strengthening India’s domestic defence industrial base through policy reforms and investments in manufacturing infrastructure.
According to him, the establishment of defence industrial corridors has helped expand domestic production capabilities, while the government is encouraging greater participation of private companies in developing and manufacturing advanced defence platforms and military systems.
In a related development, Singh chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Defence on the modernisation of Indian Defence Forces in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Addressing the meeting, he emphasised the need for India’s armed forces to remain adequately equipped to confront existing security threats and emerging challenges associated with technology-driven warfare.
He outlined government initiatives across three major areas: budget and capital acquisition, self-reliance and technology, and human capital development.
The minister stressed that sustained budgetary support, effective utilisation of available resources and prioritisation of critical military requirements were essential to strengthening the operational capabilities of the armed forces.
He disclosed that India’s defence budget for the 2026–27 financial year had been increased to a record ₹7.85 lakh crore, with ₹2.19 lakh crore allocated to capital expenditure, including modernisation and procurement of military equipment.
Singh said the increased allocation demonstrated the government’s commitment to meeting the operational requirements of the armed forces while strengthening domestic defence industries and manufacturing capabilities.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth; Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh; Secretary of Defence Production, Sanjeev Kumar; Secretary of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Sukriti Likhi; Secretary of Defence Finance, Vishvajit Sahay; and other senior civilian and military officials.
