India Won't Seek Territory But Will Defend Strategic Autonomy: Rajnath Singh

India does not seek to occupy any country's territory, but it will not compromise its security or strategic autonomy when threatened, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi on September 27, 2026.

"India believes in peace and does not seek to occupy the territory of any country. However, peace should not be mistaken for weakness," he said, adding that the country seeks global stability without sacrificing its strategic autonomy.

No dialogue with terror sponsors

Singh said there can be no scope for dialogue with any country that promotes terrorism against India. Nations that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy, or provide shelter and support to terrorists, must be reminded that terrorism cannot be a strategic asset, he said. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks at a recent SCO meeting, asserting that India remains entitled to take all necessary measures against terrorism as long as a neighbouring country continues to support it.

Unity as a security pillar

The Defence Minister said national security is not the sole responsibility of the armed forces but a collective duty of every citizen. He urged people to rise above divisions of religion, caste, creed, language and region, and to place national interest above narrower considerations.

Civilisational power and the Global South

Describing India as a civilisational power, Singh said its rise is based on inclusive development rather than confrontation. He outlined three foundations of India's approach: its democratic and civilisational traditions, the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', along with five strategic pillars — respect, dialogue, prosperity, security and culture.

Highlighting India's role as a partner to the Global South, he noted that under Vaccine Maitri, more than 30 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses were supplied to over 100 countries. India has also supported developing nations through medicines, digital payment solutions, expertise and resources, and has advanced their interests through initiatives such as the Voice of Global South Summits.

Defence exports and self-reliance

Singh said India is moving from being a defence importer to a trusted global supplier. Defence exports have risen from ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to a record ₹38,424 crore in 2025–26, reaching more than 100 countries. After meeting a ₹30,000-crore target last year, India has set a goal of ₹50,000 crore by 2029. Growing international demand for Indian missiles, radars, ammunition and platforms reflects confidence in the country's technology, quality and delivery, he said, adding that "Made in India" is becoming a symbol of trust.

Defence allocation has increased to ₹7.85 lakh crore in 2026-27 from about ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14. Around 75% of the capital acquisition budget, amounting to ₹1.39 lakh crore, has been earmarked for domestic procurement, strengthening indigenous manufacturing and MSME supply chains.

Future-ready capabilities

Noting that warfare is changing rapidly, Singh said modern conflicts extend beyond conventional domains to cyber, space, electronic and information warfare, alongside Artificial Intelligence, drones, autonomous systems, quantum technology and hypersonic systems. He stressed the need for future-ready capabilities and said initiatives are underway to address vulnerabilities in technology, energy, data and supply chains, including semiconductors and critical minerals.

Five positive indigenisation lists issued by the Armed Forces cover 509 defence equipment, weapon systems and platforms. DPSUs have released six lists covering 5,417 items, of which around 3,300 have been indigenised. The defence ecosystem now includes DPSUs, private industry, more than 16,000 MSMEs, startups, universities and research institutions. Investment proposals of about ₹70,000 crore have been received in the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors, with around ₹10,000 crore already invested.

Supply chains and startups

Through the SRIJAN portal, around 33,000 imported items have been identified for import substitution, of which approximately 15,700 have been indigenised. SRIJAN DEEP has created a national digital database covering more than 40,000 manufacturers and sellers. Singh said corporatisation of the Ordnance Factories has improved technology orientation, output and accountability, and that all 16 DPSUs are operating without losses.

As of March 2026, 676 startups and innovators had been engaged through iDEX and 551 contracts signed. The Ministry has approved procurement worth more than ₹2,400 crore from startups and MSMEs, along with development projects worth over ₹1,500 crore.

In a significant announcement, Singh said DRDO-developed technologies for conventional missile systems will be transferred to eligible Indian industries, allowing qualifying private companies to undertake production. The move, he said, would strengthen the armed forces' preparedness and enable timely missile delivery, with DRDO increasingly focused on research and development while industry takes on a greater production role.

He concluded that India's objective is to build indigenous capabilities across the entire defence spectrum — from individual components to complete weapon systems — to strengthen strategic autonomy, defence preparedness and a resilient domestic defence-industrial ecosystem.