Rajnath Singh Calls for Strong Domestic Defence Industry, Unveils Roadmap for Project Sudarshan Chakra
New Delhi – Emphasizing the importance of a strong domestic defence industry, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday highlighted the need for India’s military preparedness in an era marked by sudden and unpredictable warfare. Addressing top commanders at the Combined Commanders Conference, Singh underlined that surge capacity in the defence sector is critical to ensuring that the armed forces have access to indigenously developed systems in times of crisis.
The minister shared that a committee has been formed to draft a realistic and action-oriented plan for Project Sudarshan Chakra – a bold initiative aimed at achieving comprehensive national defence. The project, announced last month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to integrate defence systems across both military and civilian sites, ensuring a unified approach to safeguarding the nation.
Speaking about the changing dynamics of warfare, Singh pointed out, “Wars of today are so sudden and unpredictable that it is extremely difficult to foretell its duration. It can be two months, a year, or even five years. We need to be prepared. We need to ensure that our surge capacity remains sufficient.” The committee is tasked with devising a medium-term roadmap for the next five years and a long-term strategy for the next decade.
The minister urged the armed forces to embrace emerging threats and challenges, which are increasingly invisible and unconventional in nature. “We must be ready to deal with threats such as information warfare, ideological warfare, ecological warfare, and biological warfare,” Singh remarked, stressing that military thinking should go beyond traditional battlefields.
A key component of this effort is to foster deeper engagement with industry and academia in the development of future-ready technologies. Singh stressed the need for jointness and synergy between different branches of the armed forces, calling it essential for meeting both current and future threats.
Referring to past successes, the minister cited Operation Sindoor, stating, “Strength, strategy, and self-reliance are the three pillars that will give India the power it needs in the 21st century.” He added that India’s progress in indigenous platforms and systems, combined with the resilience and courage of its soldiers, equips the country to face any challenge head-on.
In addition to military preparedness, defence indigenisation is also contributing to economic growth, creating employment opportunities, and expanding defence corridors, shipyards, and aerospace clusters. These efforts have a multiplier effect on the economy, supporting both innovation and manufacturing at scale.
Experts note that India’s focus on self-reliance is aligned with global trends where nations are prioritizing secure supply chains and reducing dependence on foreign imports. The country’s push for Make in India in defence has already resulted in significant advances in areas such as missile systems, radar networks, and combat aircraft development.
With Project Sudarshan Chakra, the government aims to institutionalize this progress by creating structured plans, enabling faster response mechanisms, and strengthening partnerships across government, private sector, and research organizations.
This initiative is seen as a critical step toward transforming India’s defence ecosystem and positioning it as a global leader in technology-driven warfare readiness.
