India does not seek to occupy any country’s territory, but will safeguard its security, strategic autonomy when threatened: Rajnath Singh
Babushahi Bureau/PIB
New Delhi, September 27, 2026: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India does not seek to occupy the territory of any country but will take necessary measures to protect its security and strategic autonomy when threatened.
Addressing a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said India believes in peace and global stability, but peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
He also said there could be no scope for dialogue with countries that promote terrorism against India, asserting that nations supporting or sheltering terrorists must be reminded that terrorism cannot be used as a strategic instrument.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, Singh said that as long as a neighbouring country continues to support terrorism, India remains entitled to take necessary measures against it.
National Unity Essential for Security
Singh described national unity as a key pillar of national security and said protecting the country was not solely the responsibility of the armed forces but a collective responsibility of citizens.
He called for people to rise above divisions based on religion, caste, language, region and other identities, and place national interest above narrower interests.
Describing India as a civilizational power, Singh said the country’s rise was based on inclusive development rather than confrontation. He highlighted India’s democratic and civilizational traditions, the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.
India’s Defence Exports Rise
Singh highlighted India’s progress towards self-reliance in defence and said the country was developing indigenous capabilities across areas ranging from aircraft and drone engines to advanced fighter aircraft.
According to the Defence Ministry, India’s defence exports increased from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, with Indian defence products being exported to more than 100 countries. The government has set a target of ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
Singh said growing international demand for Indian missiles, radars, ammunition and other defence platforms reflected increasing confidence in India’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
The Defence Minister also said the defence allocation had risen to ₹7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27, compared with around ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14. Around 75 per cent of the capital acquisition budget, amounting to ₹1.39 lakh crore, has been earmarked for procurement from domestic defence industries, according to the ministry.
Focus on Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
Singh said 509 defence equipment, weapon systems and platforms had been included in five positive indigenisation lists issued by the armed forces. The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have also issued six indigenisation lists covering 5,417 items, of which around 3,300 have been indigenised.
He highlighted the growing role of private companies, startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India’s defence ecosystem.
According to the ministry, the ecosystem now includes DPSUs, private industries, more than 16,000 MSMEs, startups, universities and research institutions.
Singh also highlighted the SRIJAN and SRIJAN DEEP portals, saying around 33,000 imported items had been identified for import substitution through SRIJAN, with approximately 15,700 subsequently indigenised.
Focus on Emerging Warfare Technologies
The Defence Minister said the nature of warfare was changing rapidly, with cyber, space, electronic and information warfare becoming increasingly important alongside conventional military domains.
He stressed the need to develop capabilities in artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, quantum technology and hypersonic systems.
He also said India was working to address strategic vulnerabilities related to technology, energy, data and supply chains, including by strengthening domestic capabilities in semiconductors and critical minerals and diversifying energy sources.
DRDO Technologies to be Transferred to Industry
A key announcement at the conclave was the decision to transfer technologies developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for conventional missile systems to eligible Indian industries.
Singh said the move would enable qualified private companies to undertake production, strengthen military preparedness and facilitate timely delivery of missiles.
He said DRDO would increasingly focus on research and development, while industry would play a greater role in production.
Singh said India’s broader objective was to build indigenous capabilities across the entire defence spectrum, from individual components to complete weapon systems, to strengthen strategic autonomy and reduce dependence on imports.