Technological agility, strategic foresight & institutional innovation vital for robust preparedness: Raksha Mantri

📌 Summary:

• Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, interacting with soldiers at the Eastern Air Command HQ in Shillong (20 June 2026), stressed technological agility, strategic foresight and institutional innovation for robust military preparedness in an uncertain world order
• He warned that hybrid threats, cyber challenges, information warfare, logistics resilience, supply-chain security and drones are now critical to evolving warfare, making traditional preparedness alone insufficient
• He reiterated that Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) is key to ensuring national security on India's own terms
• He said Operation Sindoor was a historic success driven by self-reliance and sent a clear message that India will not compromise on security and sovereignty
• He described the Eastern Air Command as a pillar of security for India's eastern frontier — active in battlefield, peacetime, disaster response, high-altitude operations and border management
• He called the North-East a crucial pillar of India's security, prosperity and strategic power and a key component of the Act East Policy, and praised the growing role of women in the defence forces

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Internal/national security, evolving nature of warfare (hybrid, cyber, drones), defence indigenisation (Atmanirbharta) and the strategic importance of the North-East.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Eastern Air Command HQ is located in Shillong, Meghalaya
• The North-East is described as a key component of the Act East Policy
• Operation Sindoor cited as an example of self-reliance-driven defence success

🔑 Key Term: Hybrid Warfare — a blended strategy combining conventional military force with cyber attacks, information/disinformation campaigns and other irregular tactics.