The border situation with China, according to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, is a matter of perception, but the two countries have agreements and patrol the border together. He said that the Chinese Army disregarded protocol and tried to change the status quo on the LAC unilaterally during the 2020 standoff in eastern Ladakh. He praised the Indian Army’s bravery and commitment in thwarting PLA attempts to alter the status quo.

Rajnath Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to using diplomacy to settle the border dispute peacefully. The matter is still being discussed at the military and diplomatic levels, he noted. He gave the nation the assurance that the government will never make any concessions on India’s border, honour, or self-respect. He continued, “We will never permit the sanctity of our borders to be violated.”

India wants to avoid relying on imported weapons. Our ability to manufacture our own weapons will only increase our sense of national security. ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ is our motto. Our efforts are beginning to pay off. Today, we produce different types of armaments, including tanks, aircraft carriers, submarines, and others. From a pitiful Rs 900 crore in 2013 to over Rs 16,000 crore in 2014, defence exports have increased. According to him, exports would soon reach the Rs 20,000 crore threshold.

Rajnath Singh also listed the institutional changes the government had made, such as the selection of the Chief of Defence Staff and the creation of the Department of Military Affairs. He continued by saying that the government was still making progress and that efforts were being made to establish theatre commands, which would be yet another revolutionary change.

Rajnath Singh emphasised the significance of collaboration with powerful nations like the US and Russia to safeguard India’s security interests in today’s interconnected globe. He claimed that the United States and India are increasingly considered as natural allies, further solidifying their strategic alliance.

Rajnath Singh spoke on the agreement between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and General Electric (GE) Aerospace to jointly develop F-414 fighter jet engines in India. “With this agreement, we will join the list of nations that produce jet engines. These made-in-India engines will be installed in Tejas aircraft, he said.

The Ministry of Defence would examine the cost of purchasing the drones with the best price General Atomics (GA) has offered to other nations, Singh said, rejecting speculative reports on the price and other parameters of purchasing MQ-9B drones from the US. He further stated that the purchase will only be made in accordance with the existing procurement process.