Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India’s military actions, including the 2016 Surgical Strikes, the 2019 Balakot Air Strikes, and Operation Sindoor in 2025, stand as proof of the nation’s firm resolve to safeguard its citizens and sovereignty. Speaking at an event organised by the Jain International Trade Community (JITO) in Hyderabad, Singh said, “When we responded to the Pahalgam terror attack, we did not ask the dharma of the terrorists. We targeted terror, not civilians or military establishments.”
The Defence Minister underlined that India’s growing military and economic strength is not meant to dominate others but to protect the nation’s cultural values and spiritual traditions, echoing the humane ideals of Lord Mahavira.
Singh highlighted India’s rapid advances in the defence sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Defence exports, he said, have grown from around ₹600 crore in 2014 to over ₹24,000 crore today, and are expected to surpass ₹50,000 crore by 2029. He added that indigenous platforms such as Tejas fighter jets, Akash missiles, and Arjun tanks are increasingly powering the armed forces.
Calling this progress a testimony to India’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), Singh cited the recent procurement agreement for 97 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which will have more than 64% indigenous content. “India now manufactures everything from toys to tanks and is fast emerging as the world’s manufacturing hub. The day is not far when India will become the Factory of the World,” he said.
On the economic front, Singh noted that India is currently the world’s fourth-largest economy and is expected to touch a GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030, becoming the third-largest economy. Referring to IMF projections, he said India is on track to emerge as the world’s second-largest economy by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) by 2038.
The Minister also paid tribute to great Jain personalities such as Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. D.S. Kothari, Dr. Jagdish Chandra Jain, and Dr. Meenakshi Jain for their contributions to the nation. He praised the government’s initiatives to preserve Jain heritage, including the repatriation of over 20 stolen Tirthankara idols from abroad and the recognition of Prakrit, the language of Jain scriptures, as a Classical Language of India.
Urging citizens to draw inspiration from Jain principles of non-violence, truth, and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), Singh said these values would guide India’s journey to becoming a developed nation by 2047.