Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday called for a shift from reactive defence planning to proactive military preparedness, stressing the need for India’s armed forces to develop surprise strike capabilities amid evolving warfare challenges.
Addressing the inaugural session of the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, themed ‘Raksha Triveni Sangam – Where Technology, Industry & Soldiering Converge’, Singh said the country must prepare for future threats that may not even exist today.
“I have always told one thing to my armed forces and Defence experts, and I want to reiterate it again today that we must not only remain active, but also proactive. We must also remain prepared for every kind of situation,” he said.
“Our attitude should not be reactive, but rather proactive. We need to think about things that are not even in existence yet,” the Defence Minister added.
Jointly organised by the Indian Army’s Northern and Central Commands along with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers, the three-day event features participation from 284 companies showcasing indigenous defence technologies aimed at enhancing operational capability, streamlining procurement and strengthening India’s self-reliant defence ecosystem.
Highlighting the importance of maintaining strategic unpredictability, Singh said India must build capabilities that can catch adversaries off guard.
“When I’m talking about proactive preparation, there’s another important aspect to it, that is the surprise element. We also need to develop such capabilities that, when the need arises, we can ourselves launch a strike that the opponent has never even thought of. Let them be surprised.”
“History bears witness that in war, the decisive edge has always been with the one who has the surprise element. I know that our armed forces are working in this direction. But we need to be even more proactive and continue working in this direction,” he said.
Speaking on the changing nature of warfare, Singh noted that conventional military assessments are no longer sufficient as civilian technologies are increasingly being weaponised.
“If we look at the unpredictability of the war system, then in earlier times, at least we had a rough idea of what the opposing side could do. Its military capability, its platforms, its doctrine, we had an estimate of all these. But now, a surprise element keeps emerging continuously, one that could never have been imagined before. Things that we considered part of ordinary civilian life are now turning into lethal weapons,” he said.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh praised the armed forces for their response to terrorism and described the operation as a landmark example of modern technological warfare.
“One year has passed since this Operation. Whenever Operation Sindoor is mentioned, I am reminded of the valor of my armed forces. The terrorists and their patrons received such a resounding response from our soldiers that the entire nation’s head is held high with pride.”
“It was still good that, by showing restraint, we only neutralized the terrorists, otherwise, the world already knows what our armed forces are capable of,” he said.
He added that the operation showcased India’s growing technological prowess.
“Our forces and our industries have analyzed the changing circumstances very well. Your people’s preparation always remains up to date, up to mark, and up to standard. And as the biggest example of this, Operation Sindoor is right before us.”
“Operation Sindoor was itself a specimen of technological warfare. In this operation, along with advanced missile systems like Akashteer Air Defence Control and Reporting System, Akash Missile System and BrahMos missile, numerous latest equipment were also utilized. It proved that our armed forces are not only understanding the changes but are also employing them with confidence,” he said.
Calling adaptability, the key to future warfare, Singh said, “In today’s complex and rapidly changing environment, there is only one mantra to move forward, and that is, Adaptability. Changing ourselves according to changing circumstances should be our priority.”
The defence minister also highlighted infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh, including the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor and a BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility, saying these projects are enhancing India’s defence capability.
“However, we must not stop at just this. We have the entire sky to conquer, and I am confident that we will keep moving forward in this manner, strongly,” he added.
Concluding his address, Singh urged industry stakeholders to create a collaborative ecosystem for innovation. “Just as we are developing the defence corridor, in the same way, all of you should prepare a knowledge corridor, through which we can all learn from each other and move forward. Our collective effort alone will establish us as the most powerful military force on the global stage,” he said.
