Rajnath Singh calls for highest military readiness to counter evolving threats
The Defence Minister visited West Bengal on Saturday to address armed forces personnel regarding complex security challenges.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday told the armed forces to maintain the highest level of operational readiness to counter threats to national security. Speaking at the Bagdogra Air Force station in West Bengal, Singh noted that the security landscape has become increasingly complex, according to reports from The Hindu and The Tribune.
The Defence Minister stated that adversaries often avoid direct confrontation and instead attempt to exploit vulnerabilities. He noted that modern warfare now includes hybrid warfare, proxy wars, cyberattacks, drone incursions, and information manipulation. Singh warned that social media is being used to spread rumours and sow doubt among soldiers and local populations.
Singh urged the military to focus on strengthening cyber resilience, domain awareness, and information integrity. He also encouraged personnel to engage with local communities to weaken adversary conspiracies. During his visit, he reviewed the operational preparedness of the Army’s Trishakti Corps at Sukna, focusing on infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Regarding defence production, Singh said production reached ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, with exports at ₹38,424 crore. He highlighted that Indian start-ups and industries are manufacturing drones and anti-drone systems as part of the country's move towards self-reliance.
The Defence Minister also mentioned the Cabinet's approval of the 'Second Tour of Duty' for Agniveers as a Diwali gift. He said that after their initial two-year term, Agniveers may be enrolled as regular soldiers if they are willing and meet the required selection criteria.