'Go beyond traditional war concept': Rajnath Singh to armed forces; flags 'unconventional threats'

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh called on the armed forces to move beyond traditional notions of warfare and remain prepared for "invisible challenges" such as information, ideological, ecological, and biological warfare.

His remarks came at the Combined Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata on September 16, according to a Ministry of Defence press release.

Emphasising the rapidly shifting global order, regional instability, and emerging security threats, Singh said constant reassessment of the world’s changes was critical for India’s security. He underlined that the “nature of warfare is continuously evolving,” with recent global conflicts highlighting the need for a “technology-friendly” military.

“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 Defence minister said, according to news agency ANI.

Call for Sudarshan Chakra and ‘JAI’ mantra
Terming India’s defence posture an amalgamation of offensive and defensive capabilities, Singh urged commanders to proactively shape strategies and “strive to build the Sudarshan Chakra as envisioned by PM Modi.” A committee has been formed to examine the project and prepare a “realistic action plan,” he said, suggesting a five-year medium-term plan and a ten-year long-term plan to make the vision a reality.

He also called for adopting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of “JAI (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta and Innovation)” to drive modernisation, operational readiness, technological superiority, and credible deterrence.

Industry-academia partnership and jointness
Stressing the importance of partnerships, Singh batted for deeper engagement with industry and academia to develop future-ready technologies. He reaffirmed PM Modi’s vision to expand the private sector’s role in building a robust defence innovation ecosystem and making India’s domestic industry “the biggest & best in the world.”

Equally vital, he said, was synergy among the Armed Forces and civil agencies. Calling jointness “essential” to confront future challenges, Singh pointed to initiatives such as the creation of Tri-Service Logistics Nodes and a Tri-Service Logistic Management Application to enhance integration.

Operation Sindoor as a template
Highlighting India’s growing self-reliance, Singh said: “Operation Sindoor has demonstrated that Strength, Strategy and Self-reliance are the three pillars that will give India the power it needs in the 21st century. Today, we have the capability to face any challenge with the help of indigenous platforms and systems coupled with the indomitable courage of our soldiers. This is the real strength of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

Procurement reforms
Reiterating that self-reliance is “not a slogan, but a necessity,” Singh argued that defence indigenisation under Aatmanirbhar Bharat is fueling economic growth, generating jobs, and boosting capacities of shipyards, aerospace clusters, and defence corridors.

He announced his approval of the Defence Procurement Manual 2025 to streamline acquisitions, while noting that the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 is also being revised to “simplify the processes, reduce delays, and provide operational strength to the forces quickly.”

The conference was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat, and other senior officials.

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