NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing an event organised by a media organisation in New Delhi on Saturday said that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and the sustained efforts to eliminate Naxalism are shining examples of the Government’s resolve of addressing issues that were once considered beyond resolution. He also said that the Government recognises entrepreneurs as employment generators and wealth creators, and initiatives such as the Jan Vishwas reforms improved ease of doing business, and contributed to India’s progress towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. “India has become the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. Over the last 12 years, the number of start-ups has surged from 500 to over 2 lakh, with unicorns having risen from four to 125,” he added.
He said India’s journey over the last 12 years has been a progression from shortages to self-reliance, from self-reliance to self-confidence, and from self-confidence towards building a Viksit Bharat.
He asserted that in its first term, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government addressed shortages, expanded opportunities, and transformed the work culture; in the second term, it turned aspirations into achievements and placed the country firmly on the path of Aatmanirbharta. He further stated that in its third term, the Government is laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat through the policy of “Reform, Perform, Transform,” exuding confidence that the world will witness the rise of a developed India in the fourth term.
Highlighting the key aspects of the country’s transformation over the last 12 years, Raksha Mantri stated that when ‘Make-in-India’ was launched in 2014, certain quarters labeled it as a failure, but the scheme set new benchmarks of success and is continuing to do so even today. “There has been a transformational change in India’s global stature. While the world earlier paid little heed to our voice, today it listens attentively to India’s perspective on global issues,” he said. He added that, despite early scepticism on India Semiconductor Mission launched in 2021, the nation produced its own semiconductor chips last year due to the establishment of semiconductor parks based on the ‘plug-and-play’ infrastructure model.
Shri Rajnath Singh furthered that the annual defence production touched an all-time high of Rs 1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, which is three times higher than the figure in FY 2014-15. He stated that defence exports reached a record over Rs 38,000 crore today, up from Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14, representing an increase of nearly 57 times and underlining the global confidence in Make-in-India platforms.
Raksha Mantri also highlighted India’s significant growth in manufacturing and technology, citing the expansion of mobile manufacturing, automobile exports, indigenous locomotive production, and digital infrastructure under Make-in-India. He made special mention of India’s digital revolution, stating that 22.35 billion UPI transactions were made in April with a total value of Rs 29 lakh crore, and the facility’s international footprint is expanding. He also spoke of the rapid nationwide rollout of indigenously developed Make-in-India 5G technology, underlining that efforts are being made towards the development of 6G.
Shri Rajnath Singh furthered that before 2014, corruption and leakages in welfare delivery were widely seen as inevitable, preventing the benefits from reaching the beneficiaries. He stated that the Government addressed this challenge through the ‘JAM Trinity’, comprising Direct Benefit Transfer, Jan Dhan, Aadhaar & Mobile trinity, enabling direct transfer of Rs 51 lakh crore to beneficiaries’ bank accounts while preventing leakages worth about Rs 4.3 lakh crore. He also highlighted the successful implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), stating that despite initial concerns, it has evolved into a model of cooperative federalism by strengthening coordination between the Centre and States/UTs.
Shri Rajnath Singh stressed that India’s culture forms the foundation of its identity, unity, and national consciousness, and holistic development has been pursued alongside the preservation of civilisation, culture, and heritage. He said efforts are being made to revive India’s cultural identity and restore its lost heritage through initiatives such as the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, Mahakal Lok, and Maa Kamakhya Divya Lok Pariyojana, along with the installation of the ‘Sengol’ in Parliament, restoring the glory of ‘Vande Mataram’, repatriation of ancient artefacts and digitisation of ancient manuscripts.
Terming the media’s role in the present era of ‘communicative abundance’ as more crucial than ever, Raksha Mantri stated that the challenge today is not lack of information, but its accuracy & reliability. He pointed out that ‘journalism’ too has been impacted by technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), but they won’t be able to surpass human creativity and intellect. “The future success of journalism will depend on how well it establishes a balance & synergy between the capabilities of AI and human empathy. While AI will make journalism faster and more precise, emotional intelligence will ensure that it remains humane & credible,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh stressed that the true power of journalism lies not just in disseminating information, but in guiding society in the right direction, bringing truth to light, and strengthening democracy. Misinformation severely impacts society and the morale of defence forces, he said, adding that while being the first to report may be important in journalism, disseminating correct news is even more crucial. “Especially when the subject concerns the defence forces, national security, or the honor of those who make the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation, every word becomes a matter of national responsibility. The media must always uphold the values of accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality,” he added.
