Self-reliance in defence not an option but a necessity: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh

Underlining how the defence sector is constantly being shaped and influenced by changing geopolitics, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasised that India's self-reliance in defence is not an option, but a necessity.

Speaking at NDTV Defence Summit 2025, Singh said that India's self-reliance in defence should not be viewed as protectionism but should be seen as a aspect related to India's sovereignty.

"The world today is changing so rapidly that new challenges are emerging before us every day. Be it pandemics, terrorism, or regional conflicts, this century has proven to be the most unstable and challenging on every front so far. In such circumstances, if we talk about today's strategic requirements, it becomes clear that atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is not an option in today's time; self-reliance is not just an advantage but has become a necessity," remarked Singh.

The Defence Minister termed a strong & self-reliant military as the backbone of a sovereign nation, which besides protecting the borders, safeguards the country’s civilisation and culture.

Sharing his insights on the paradigm shift brought about by technology in the nature of warfare, Singh stressed on the need to develop indigenous state-of-the-art weapons and platforms that equip & prepare the Armed Forces to tackle new and emerging challenges.

He asserted that the government  under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is ensuring that the Armed Forces are not dependent on foreign weapons & equipment, emphasising that the real strength lies in being ‘Aatmanirbhar’, especially when an emergency situation arises.

Listing out the advantages of being ‘Aatmanirbhar’, Singh stated that it would not only decrease the expenditure on imports, but also multi-dimensionally benefit the civil sector. He called for developing dual use technology that, besides strengthening the defence sector, improves the standard of living of the people.