Udaipur, Jan 2: Asserting that terrorism is no longer confined to the uneducated, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday cautioned against the rising threat of “white-collar terrorism” in the country.
Speaking at the 104th foundation day of Bhupal Nobles’ University in Udaipur, Singh referred to the Nov 10, 2025 blast in Delhi. “Terrorism should not be viewed as a problem limited to the uneducated. In the Red Fort blast individuals having professional degrees were involved,” Singh said.
The Defence Minister said, “Those involved in the incident were doctors. The case has shown that education without values and character can have serious consequences for the society.”
Singh said the purpose of education should not be confined to professional achievement alone but should include the development of morality, ethics and a sense of responsibility.
He added that knowledge must be accompanied by wisdom to ensure it was used in a constructive manner.
Rajnath Singh said India was moving steadily towards achieving self-reliance in defence production and would be capable of meeting its weapons requirements domestically within the next 15 to 20 years.
Singh said the emergence of startups in the defence sector had strengthened indigenous innovation and reduced dependence on imports.
He said many of these enterprises were developing technologies based on practical requirements while aligning with international benchmarks.
The defence minister said India’s innovation landscape had undergone a shift in recent years. He noted that the country had improved its position in the Global Innovation Index, rising from 76th in 2014 to 39th in 2024. He added that the digital economy now contributed a larger share to national income and that India had become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem.
Singh said rapid technological change required society to remain informed and adaptable. He stressed that the availability of data and information was no longer a challenge, but the ability to apply knowledge responsibly remained a concern.
The Defence Minister also spoke about India’s growing presence on the global stage, saying the country’s views were receiving greater attention at international platforms.
He said India should aim to become a developed nation by 2047, with progress measured not only by economic indicators but also by social responsibility.
He said educational institutions have a key role in shaping this future by encouraging innovation, ethical thinking and solution-oriented research.
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