Rajnath Singh on Monday highlighted the importance of continued investment in research, while also underlining the role of maintaining an element of surprise to stay prepared in a time of fast-evolving technological change.
Rajnath Singh stressed that there is no alternative to research, noting that the nature of future warfare is increasingly being shaped in laboratories. Addressing defence personnel, industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and academia at the North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj, he highlighted the need for innovation-driven preparedness.
Referring to Operation Sindoor ahead of its first anniversary, Singh described it as a unique example of how the Indian military used advanced technology to deliver a decisive strike against terror groups and their backers. He said the armed forces showed restraint while acting with precision in targeting terrorist infrastructure, adding that the operation reinforced India’s capabilities on the global stage.
India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Singh said the response by Indian forces made the nation proud, emphasizing that restraint was exercised while ensuring effective action. He added that indigenous systems such as the Akash missile system, Akashteer, and BrahMos played a key role in the operation.
Highlighting the changing nature of warfare, he pointed to Israel’s reported pager blasts in Lebanon and Syria during what he referred to as “Operation Grim Beeper,” noting that even ordinary devices can now be turned into weapons. He said such developments show how unpredictable modern warfare has become, where virtually anything can be weaponized.
He also cited the Russia-Ukraine conflict as an example of how quickly warfare is evolving, with a shift from traditional tanks and missiles to advanced drones and sensors within a short span of time.
Singh underlined the importance of developing capabilities that allow for unexpected and decisive responses, stating that history shows the element of surprise often determines the outcome of conflicts. He added that while India is moving in that direction, the pace of progress needs to increase.
He said defence research has been made a national priority, with the Defence Research and Development Organisation working closely with industry partners rather than operating in isolation.
According to Singh, 25 percent of the defence research and development budget has been allocated to industry, academia and start-ups, with over ₹4,500 crore already utilised. A revised Transfer of Technology policy has removed the earlier 20 percent fee for development and production partners, resulting in the transfer of more than 2,200 technologies to industry.
He also announced that Indian companies now have free access to DRDO patents. In addition, DRDO’s testing facilities have been opened to industry on a paid basis, benefiting hundreds of firms each year.
