India advancing towards Viksit Bharat with resilience, strength: Rajnath

New Delhi, Sep 18: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said that the Government is serving the nation with a special focus on fostering resilience, determination, compassion, innovation, strength, inclusive prosperity and a strong sense of national identity among citizens to realise the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Addressing an event in Kochi, Keralam, he asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is advancing on the path of development by drawing inspiration from India’s centuries-old values such as courage to persevere, security and protection of citizens, spirit of service, determination to achieve goals, compassion, inspiring future generations, strengthening national capabilities, and ensuring inclusive prosperity & global leadership.
He highlighted that before 2014, India faced significant challenges such as corruption and misgovernance which had weakened the morale of the people, and the nation’s progress in the last 12 years has been shaped by its ability to face adversity with confidence and convert challenges into opportunities. “Over the last 12 years, the world has faced a pandemic such as COVID-19 and witnessed several wars, which have had a profound impact on the global economy. Despite global challenges, we are moving steadily on the path towards becoming a self-reliant and developed nation,” he said.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment towards the protection and security of citizens from evil forces, Rajnath Singh stated that Operation Sindoor is proof of India’s willingness to cross the border to eliminate those who threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He added that Naxalism, too, has been brought to an end.
On the Government’s aim to continuously bolster indigenous capabilities, Rajnath stated that indigenous defence production, which was just Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, has now reached nearly Rs 1.80 lakh crore. He added that defence exports have risen from nearly Rs 600 crore to around Rs 40,000 crore, with Indian equipment reaching around 100 countries.
Voicing the nation’s resolve to work tirelessly towards its goals with courage and determination, Rajnath Singh described youth as the country’s greatest strength. “Our youth are building start-ups, creating unicorns, developing drones, building hydrogen trains, and making rockets and satellites. They are leaving no stone unturned to make India a developed nation,” he said.
The defence minister added that guided by the virtue of compassion, the Government is working to improve the lives of the people, pointing out that over the past 10 to 12 years, more than 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty. He also stated that whether it is the success of India’s democracy or the success of its welfare schemes, India today serves as a source of inspiration to the world. He spoke about UPI, which is the world’s largest real-time payment system, and has been adopted by more than 11 countries. He mentioned the schemes such as PM SHRI, Ayushman Bharat, Lakhpati Didi, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Ujjwala Yojana, which have made development more inclusive.
Rajnath noted that India has become a source of hope for the world as it has achieved several targets set to fight climate change ahead of schedule, and provided free vaccines to the people in the country & sent more than 300 million vaccines to 100 countries during COVID-19. He stressed that India has emerged as a civilisational leader as today the world celebrates International Yoga Day. India is now providing leadership to the world through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance, he added.
He underlined that India’s development journey is not limited to economic growth, but also involves strengthening national confidence and moving beyond the colonial mindset. Under PM Modi’s leadership, India is witnessing a cultural and civilisational renaissance, he said. Highlighting the importance of civilisational and cultural heritage, he stated that the country’s modernisation should go hand-in-hand with an appreciation of its cultural traditions. “’Sarva Dharma Samabhava’ or equal respect for all faiths has always been at the heart of our civilisational ethos. And yet, because of Western secularism, our Dharma was made to appear as communalism, tradition as backwardness, belief as fanaticism, and faith as superstition,” he added.
Rajnath emphasised the importance of making the younger generation more aware of India’s history, culture and heritage. Greater awareness among youth, he said, would contribute to stronger national consciousness and help build confidence in India’s place in the world. He called upon the youth to contribute to India’s economic, social and technological transformation, saying that a confident, capable and socially inclusive India can emerge as a developed nation and play a greater role in shaping the future of the world.
On the crucial role of media in today’s times, Rajnath stated that journalism is rightly called the fourth pillar of democracy, terming an independent & impartial press as one of the strongest instruments for ensuring accountability. “The role of the media is not merely to report the news. It is also to ask difficult questions, bring the truth before the people, and hold those in power accountable,” he said.