India Is Neither Status Quoist Nor Revisionist, but a Civilisational Power: Rajnath Singh
India is emerging as a major force in a rapidly changing international environment, with its approach shaped by strategic autonomy, technological advancement and a broader civilisational outlook. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit, said India should neither be described as a status quoist power nor as a revisionist one. Instead, he described India as a civilisational power seeking to achieve progress without disruption and positive change without conflict.
Singh said India’s rise is not intended to come at the expense of other nations. He emphasised the idea of inclusive growth, where India's advancement can take place alongside the progress of the wider international community. This approach reflects India's emphasis on contributing to a stable and cooperative global environment while simultaneously strengthening its own strategic capabilities.
Technology Is Reshaping Modern Warfare
A major part of Singh’s address focused on the transformation taking place in warfare. Modern conflicts are no longer restricted to traditional battles between soldiers and conventional military platforms. Warfare is increasingly spreading across multiple domains, including land, air, sea, space, cyber and electronic warfare.
Artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, precision weapons and other emerging technologies are becoming increasingly important to military preparedness. Singh stressed that technological advancement will play a critical role in maintaining strategic advantages on future battlefields. India is therefore working to develop capabilities that can address both conventional and emerging forms of warfare.
India Expands Its Advanced Defence Capabilities
India's focus on future warfare is also reflected in its efforts to develop advanced military technologies. Singh said India has successfully conducted a flight trial of a long-range hypersonic missile and tested a long-duration scramjet engine, marking progress in areas that are central to next-generation military systems.
He also said India is working towards developing both fifth- and sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The objective, according to Singh, is not simply to acquire advanced military technology from other countries but to develop indigenous capabilities and technologies within India. This reflects a broader effort to strengthen India's technological base and reduce dependence on external sources for critical defence systems.
Growing Strength of India’s Defence Manufacturing
India's changing defence profile is supported by the expansion of its domestic defence industry. According to the Ministry of Defence, India's annual defence production reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, representing a 15.6% increase over the previous year's ₹1.54 lakh crore. The private sector contributed around 24% of total production, while public-sector entities accounted for approximately 76%.
The expansion of domestic manufacturing is also reflected in India's defence exports. Defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, compared with ₹23,622 crore in the previous financial year. Indian defence products are being exported to more than 80 countries, while the number of defence exporters has also increased.
This growing industrial base is important because modern military strength increasingly depends on the ability to design, manufacture and upgrade sophisticated systems domestically. The expansion of India's defence manufacturing ecosystem is therefore closely connected with its long-term objective of building a more self-reliant and technologically capable defence sector.
Preparing for the Next Generation of Warfare
India's defence modernisation is increasingly focused on preparing for conflicts that may combine conventional military operations with cyber, electronic, space and autonomous capabilities. Singh said the armed forces are strengthening their preparedness for both contact and non-contact warfare, as well as kinetic and non-kinetic operations.
This requires investment not only in weapons but also in research, communications, surveillance, artificial intelligence, aerospace technologies and other advanced systems. India's growing defence research and manufacturing capabilities are consequently becoming an important part of its broader strategic preparedness.
The government has also expanded support for indigenous defence manufacturing through initiatives aimed at bringing private companies, startups, MSMEs and research institutions into the defence ecosystem. Official data shows that India's defence R&D allocation has increased substantially, while programmes focused on indigenisation have expanded the number of military items being produced domestically.
From Defence Production to Global Reach
The rise in defence exports provides another indication of the changing scale of India's defence industry. Official figures show that exports increased from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14 to ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26. The current target is to reach ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
The expanding export base also gives Indian manufacturers greater exposure to international markets and supply chains. As domestic companies develop greater expertise in producing military equipment, components and systems, the defence sector is increasingly becoming an important part of India's broader manufacturing and technological ecosystem.
India’s Civilisational Vision and Strategic Future
Rajnath Singh's description of India as a civilisational power connects the country's growing military and technological capabilities with a wider vision of national development. The emphasis is not simply on possessing advanced weapons but on developing the scientific, industrial and technological capacity required to sustain India's strategic interests over the long term.
At the same time, India's expanding defence production and exports indicate a shift towards a more comprehensive defence ecosystem. The combination of indigenous manufacturing, private-sector participation, advanced research and international exports is creating new capabilities across the defence sector.
The MGMM Outlook
India’s growing defence capabilities and technological advancement reflect its evolving role as a civilisational power with an emphasis on strategic autonomy, indigenous innovation and constructive engagement with the global order. The expansion of domestic defence production, rising exports and progress in areas such as hypersonic systems, scramjet technology, artificial intelligence and next-generation fighter aircraft demonstrate the country’s efforts to build long-term technological and strategic capacity. This approach combines national preparedness with an emphasis on development and stability.
The transformation of India’s defence ecosystem also shows how manufacturing, research, startups, private industry and advanced technology are increasingly working together to strengthen self-reliance. As warfare expands into cyber, space, electronic and autonomous domains, building capabilities within the country will remain important for future preparedness. Rajnath Singh’s description of India as a civilisational power therefore highlights a broader trajectory in which technological progress, defence modernisation and indigenous capabilities support India’s expanding role in the international system.
(Sources: Firstpost, Economic Times)
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