President Draupadi Murmu has declared Operation Sindoor as a defining moment in India's counter-terrorism and deterrence strategy, emphasizing that the world has taken note of India's military capability and moral clarity in pursuing peace responsibly.
President's Address at Chanakya Defence Dialogue
During her significant address at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, President Murmu stated that India's diplomacy, economy, and Armed Forces collectively project a nation that seeks peace while being fully prepared to protect its borders and citizens with strength and conviction.
The President highlighted that Operation Sindoor represents a crucial milestone not just for demonstrating military prowess but for showcasing India's determination to act firmly yet responsibly in the pursuit of peace. "The world took note not only of India's military capability but of India's moral clarity to act firmly, yet responsibly in the pursuit of peace," she affirmed.
President Murmu praised the Indian Armed Forces for their exceptional professionalism and patriotism in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty. She noted that during every security challenge—whether conventional, counter-insurgency, or humanitarian—Indian forces have displayed remarkable adaptability and resolve.
Defence Sector Transformation and Indigenisation
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh presented a compelling vision for transforming India's defence manufacturing capabilities. He emphasized the urgent need to combine defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and private companies into a unified dual-production pipeline, citing China's successful use of civil-military fusion to rapidly produce complex military systems.
Singh revealed that 75% of the capital procurement budget is now earmarked for domestic industry, with a dedicated share allocated specifically for the private sector. This strategic move aims to drive indigenisation, foster innovation, and strengthen India's defence industrial base.
"China has built a hybrid defence and industrial machine that blends central direction with market discipline," Singh observed, highlighting how enforceable key performance indicators and dual-use research and development have enabled rapid scaling of complex defence systems.
Army's Future-Ready Transformation Plan
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi outlined an ambitious transformation roadmap designed to ensure the Indian Army remains decisive and future-ready in the rapidly evolving global security landscape. He identified four critical springboards for this transformation:
- Atmanirbharta - achieving self-reliance through indigenisation
- Accelerated innovation in defence technologies
- Rapid adaptation to emerging threats
- Military-civil fusion for enhanced capabilities
General Dwivedi stressed the urgency of moving from experimentation to enterprise-scale implementation in critical domains including artificial intelligence, cyber security, quantum computing, autonomous systems, space technology, and advanced materials.
The Army Chief presented a three-phase transformation plan:Phase one sets the agenda for the force's journey by 2032, phase two covers the consolidated period until 2037, and phase three envisions graduating to an integrated future-ready force design by 2047.
General Dwivedi emphasized that this transformation aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5S approach—Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Sayog (cooperation), Samridhi (prosperity), and Suraksha (security).
Global Security Concerns and Nuclear Dynamics
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan addressed the rapidly changing nature of warfare, noting that "concepts that appear futuristic can become obsolete even before they are implemented." He emphasized that the ability to visualize, anticipate, and prepare for future conflicts is existential for any military.
General Chauhan expressed serious concerns about global security trends, pointing out that major powers are modernizing their arsenals while long-standing treaties have eroded. He highlighted growing regional tensions from South Asia to the Korean Peninsula that are driving new nuclear ambitions.
"Some states now signal the acceptability of nuclear weapons. This thin boundary between rhetoric and demonstration of actual capabilities is causing instability in the global nuclear domain," the CDS warned.
He cited specific examples including Russia's pursuit of nuclear-powered systems, China's expansion of its nuclear arsenal, and former US President Donald Trump's call for nuclear testing as indicators of the shifting global nuclear landscape.
The comprehensive discussions at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue underscored India's commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities while maintaining its moral standing in global security matters, with Operation Sindoor serving as a powerful example of this balanced approach.
