Technology and surprise key to India's military readiness, says Rajnath Singh

Technological superiority, surprise and jointness will be critical to boosting the operational readiness of the Indian armed forces to meet future security challenges, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

Preparedness And Strategy

Identifying potential threats before they unfold is equally important, Singh said while charting the way forward at the Air Force Commanders' Conference. Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit and defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh were present at the event. Singh said defence forces must develop methods that leave the adversary with no time to react or recover. He noted that surprise can take conventional or electronic forms, meaning intelligence and surveillance mechanisms must be strengthened.

Modern Warfare

Contemporary conflicts are moving beyond traditional battlefields into non-contact domains where missiles, drones and advanced weapon systems play a major role. Pointing to the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts, Singh said drones and air defence systems have become critical parts of modern warfare. He asked commanders to stay ready for challenges like kamikaze drones and counter-UAS operations, adding that victory depends on technological sophistication, speed and precision rather than just aircraft numbers. He also noted that lessons learned during Operation Sindoor are shaping the Indian Air Force's evolving procedures.

Agnipath Updates

Singh stated that the revamped Agnipath scheme will strengthen the three services, noting that the model was updated based on feedback from the military. The revised model guarantees full-term military service to all existing Agniveers. The Centre approved the changes on November 4, giving Agniveers who do not make the initial cut an option to serve two more years with higher salaries. This gives them a route to enrol as regular soldiers at the end of the extended period, making them eligible for pensions, gratuity, medical benefits and canteen facilities.

Context

Modern military strategy increasingly focuses on joint operations across the army, navy and air force to ensure seamless coordination during conflicts. The Agnipath recruitment scheme was originally introduced to lower the average age profile of the Indian armed forces through short-term four-year tenures.