New Delhi, Sep 7: Indian armed forces have been given “freedom and resources” to respond decisively to threats, including striking adversaries inside their own territory, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.

In his address at an event here, he reiterated that India believes in peace and it does not desire war or seek to occupy the territory of any nation.

However, there is a clear distinction between peace and weakness, the minister underlined.

“Peace born of the fear of war is to be condemned, while war fought for the sake of peace is worthy of reverence. We’ve made it clear that if any country promotes terrorism against India, there will be no dialogue; instead, our defence forces will deliver a befitting response,” he said.

Singh said the defence forces have been handed “both freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats, including striking adversaries inside their own territory”.

In his address, the defence minister asserted that India is moving forward with independent agency and strategic autonomy amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Singh said efforts were made by the adversary to “undermine India’s security by all ill means, including misleading the youth in Jammu & Kashmir, funding anti-India activities, spreading violence and terrorism, and attempting to create divisions within society”.

He asserted that the government has foiled these nefarious designs and responded on all fronts by bringing misguided youth back into the mainstream, undertaking rehabilitation and de-radicalisation efforts, and creating employment and business opportunities.

The minister added that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unprecedented progress since the abrogation of Article 370, as new avenues and opportunities have been opened up for the youth.

He emphasised that India adopted the strategy of eliminating terrorism through decisive military action such as surgical strikes, the Balakot airstrike and Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorists and their handlers.

“The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty sent a clear message that blood and water cannot flow together”, he said.

Singh also pointed out that attempts by the adversaries to “sow discord” among Indians have also been successfully thwarted.

Referring to the attacks that targeted places of worship during Operation Sindoor, he said people of India rejected such conspiracies and demonstrated unity and social harmony.

On the rapidly evolving nature of warfare, Singh said space and cyberspace, alongside land, air and sea, have emerged as new domains of conflict, with technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems and precision weapons “transforming the battlefield”.

The government is focussing on making its defence strategy and security apparatus “future-ready”, he said, adding the objective is to make India a nation that develops advanced technologies indigenously.

India’s defence policy has moved “beyond reactive to being pro-active”, he said, adding it was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy and leadership that India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime in 2016, which facilitated efforts to extend the range of the BrahMos missile, which proved pivotal during Operation Sindoor.

On the transformation of the defence sector, Singh stressed that the government has worked towards enhancing border security, modernising the defence forces, boosting indigenous production and revamping ordnance factories.

“These efforts have made the nation self-reliant and self-confident in defence,” he said, underlining that defence production, which stood at around Rs 40,000 crore before 2014, has risen to approximately Rs 1.80 lakh crore, with defence exports growing 56-fold to over Rs 38,000 crore.

Singh emphasised that India has moved from an import-dependent approach to one focused on indigenous defence manufacturing and Aatmanirbharta.

“Today, our defence forces possess the indigenous Air Defence Control System ‘Akashteer’ and the next-generation air defence missile ‘Akash’. We have the Pinaka Rocket Launcher, the air-to-air missile ‘Astra’, indigenous helicopters like ‘Prachand’ and ‘Dhruv’, the ‘Tejas’ fighter aircraft, the ‘Arjun’ tank, and modern drone and counter-drone systems.

“Furthermore, India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, has been inducted into the Indian Navy. We’re now producing a wide range of defence equipment while pursuing the development of sixth-generation fighter aircraft. Our aim is to export defence equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029,” he said.

Singh underlined that the government’s objective is to achieve Aatmanirbharta in defence and create an ecosystem that strengthens national security, drives economic growth and enhances the country’s role in the global security architecture.

He exuded confidence that by 2047, India will not only achieve the goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat, but also provide leadership to the world in technology, economy and defence.

Panaji, Sep 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said India’s reach in the diplomatic world was increasing and asserted that the country had maintained the momentum of its economic growth despite global geopolitical turmoil.

He said India had concluded nine free trade agreements (FTAs) by 2026, noting wider economic engagement helped the country record GDP growth rate of 7.8 per cent for the first quarter (April-June) of the financial year 2026-27.

Addressing a function organised in Panaji to confer the President’s Colour on the Goa Police, Shah noted the global diplomatic landscape had remained turbulent over the past few years due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and now the conflict involving the US, Iran and the Gulf countries.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to 22 countries over the past year, while heads of state from around 15 countries visited India during the same period.

“At a time when the whole world was grappling with uncertainty over its economic growth because of this (geopolitical) turmoil, we engaged with other countries, presented strategic partnerships and maintained the momentum of our economic growth,” Shah said.

India has entered into concrete agreements in areas such as defence, technology, energy, investment and trade, he stressed.

Shah said India had concluded nine free trade agreements by 2026, while FTAs had been proposed with 38 countries as effective trade arrangements.

He said India was pursuing FTAs with the UAE, Australia, the UK, Oman, New Zealand and the European Union with the objective of increasing trade.

“This is also one of the reasons why, in the first quarter of this (fiscal) year, our GDP recorded a robust growth of 7.8 per cent,” Shah said.

The Union minister said India had shared its achievements in different fields with the rest of the world and assisted several countries in disaster relief and capacity building.

“India has shared its achievements in Digital Public Infrastructure with the world and provided assistance to several countries in the areas of disaster relief and capacity building,” he said.

The BJP leader emphasised that it is because of PM Modi’s consistent efforts and global outreach that India’s diplomacy has been able to establish its place firmly in the world today.

“Whatever the issue facing the world, the entire world looks at what the Prime Minister of India has to say and what his perspective is on that issue. After a long time, it is our leader Narendra Modi who has earned this respect for India in the world,” Shah commented.

He said Modi envisaged India as a fully developed country by the 100th year of its independence.

“PM Modi has placed before all of us the vision of a developed India by 2047. He has envisioned a developed India that, when the country completes 100 years of independence, will be number one in the world in every field,” Shah stated.

The Union minister recalled that when this vision was put forward, there were many debates and arguments, but gradually, this vision has transformed into a resolve of 140 crore Indians.

“Today, every Indian believes that, yes, on August 15, 2047, our nation will be the best in the world and we will be number one in every field,” he said.

Speaking about the Goa police, Shah asserted it was a matter of great pride for him that the force has been honoured with the President’s Colour.

“Today, after eight decades of glorious service, the Goa Police stand alongside police forces across the country with the insignia bestowed by the President. This is a matter of great pride for all of us,” he told the gathering.

“The states whose police forces have received this honour have earned it because of their glorious history, professional excellence, courage, discipline and dedication. It is for these qualities that the Hon’ble President has honoured the Goa Police with the President’s Colour,” Shah added.

“Goa is a small but very important state. The Goa police received three responsibilities at the time of the creation of the state (in 1987): safe cities, safe communities and secure maritime borders. I have no hesitation in saying that after the formation of the state, the Goa police have successfully fulfilled all three responsibilities and made an important contribution to national security,” he affirmed.

Speaking further, the Union Home Minister emphasised that the first condition for a developed nation is that its internal security and security of its borders must be ensured.

“Goa has earned the distinction of safeguarding internal security and its borders. We all know that Goa has coastline, and its protection is also the responsibility of the Goa police. While carrying out this responsibility very effectively, Goa has done very good work in strengthening its economy and ensuring the safety of tourists,” Shah maintained.

Shah highlighted the threat posed by cyber frauds with the expansion of the digital economy.

“Today, when the Goa police are being honoured with the President’s Colour, I want to tell the people of the state that as the digital economy continues to grow, the threat of cyber frauds is being felt across the world, and India is also experiencing this threat,” he said.

PM Modi has started direct dialogue with states to tackle the growing threat of cyber frauds, stressed the Union minister.

“The 1930 (national cybercrime helpline number) service is going to become a major protective shield against all forms of cyber fraud in the days to come,” Shah noted.