Addressing the Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh said India’s economic rise, technological capabilities and principled foreign policy have made it a “voice of balance and responsibility” in a turbulent global environment, with Indo‑Pacific and Global South nations increasingly seeing India as a reliable partner. He linked this global trust to India’s consistent stand on sovereignty, rules‑based order and reform‑driven efforts to build a “Sashakt, Surakshit and Viksit Bharat” that contributes to global peace and human well‑being.
The Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, organised by the Indian Army and the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), brought together service chiefs, senior officials, foreign diplomats, industry leaders, strategists and young scholars for two days of discussions.
Armed Forces, resilience and regional stability
The Defence Minister stressed that terrorism, cross‑border support to extremists, attempts to alter the status quo, maritime pressures and information warfare demand constant vigilance and institutional reform. He described the Armed Forces as the strongest pillar of national resilience, enabling India to handle neighbourhood challenges while supporting regional stability, and reiterated that while India believes in peace and dialogue, it will not compromise on sovereignty or the security of its people.
Defence reforms and Aatmanirbharta
Rajnath Singh outlined reforms to strengthen border and maritime infrastructure, modernise the military with new platforms and structures, and streamline procurement to ensure speed, transparency and accountability. He highlighted Aatmanirbharta‑driven initiatives to build a defence industrial ecosystem that encourages innovation, deep‑tech R&D and start‑ups, while keeping the welfare of soldiers, veterans and their families at the core of decision‑making.
Digital and AI initiatives launched
Several digitalisation and AI projects were launched on the sidelines of the dialogue. EKAM: AI as a Service – iDEX ADITI 2.0 was unveiled as an indigenous platform to host and deploy open‑source and home‑grown AI models for the Armed Forces, giving the military secure control over data and mission‑specific applications. The Minister also launched Prakshepan, an in‑house military climatology application for the Army with prediction modules for landslides, floods and avalanches that can also support civil authorities with early‑warning information in remote areas.
AI handbook, Digitalisation 3.0 and green hydrogen microgrid
An AI Handbook for Military Leaders was released to equip commanders from tactical to strategic levels with foundational knowledge to employ AI in command, control, ISR, combat systems and autonomous platforms. The book “Digitalisation 3.0 – From Boots to Bytes & Towards AI Readiness” documents the Army’s transformation through more than 100 digital applications, reflecting its commitment to indigenisation and AI‑readiness. In a major green initiative, the Green Hydrogen Microgrid Project set up by NTPC at Chushul in Ladakh was e‑inaugurated, designed to replace diesel generator sets at an altitude of about 4,500 metres and cut carbon emissions by roughly 1,500 tonnes annually while ensuring round‑the‑clock power for remote Army posts.
Strategic dialogue platform and global engagement: Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025
The Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, organised by the Indian Army and the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), brought together service chiefs, senior officials, foreign diplomats, industry leaders, strategists and young scholars for two days of discussions. Sessions focused on India’s security challenges, technological frontiers and strategic pathways to a secure and developed India by 2047, with the Defence Minister arguing that a strong, secure and developed India bolsters the global economy, sets ethical benchmarks in emerging technologies and adds moral weight to international cooperation.
The Minister also launched Prakshepan, an in‑house military climatology application for the Army with prediction modules for landslides, floods and avalanches that can also support civil authorities with early‑warning information in remote areas.
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Source: PIB
