Rajnath Singh

PM meets Council of Ministers; stresses on good governance, public service

A day after the ruling BJP registered a historic victory in Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers and gave the message of good governance and public service to his colleagues. This was the first meeting of the Council of Ministers after the completion of the first 100 days of NDA-3. The meeting took stock of the first three months of the government. Some Union secretaries also attended it. Discussions were also held on the future agenda with a focus on reforms to realise the goal of developed India, sources said. They said the prime minister reminded everyone that politics is a means of national service and not a mere tool to stay in power. He also told them to stay humble, the sources added. Citing the example of the BJP's unprecedented win in Haryana and the best-ever performance in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister said good governance, all-inclusive development and service of the people should be their motto, they

Rajnath Singh, Pistorius discuss strengthening Indo-German defence ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday had a telephonic conversation with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius during which they reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation activities, including exercises in the air and maritime domains. The ministers also discussed ways to further strengthen the defence industrial collaboration and enhance supply chain resilience, the Indian defence ministry said. "Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with the German Federal Minister of Defence Mr Boris Pistorius on October 8," it said. The telephonic conversation comes ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's scheduled visit to India later this month. The ministers "briefly reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation activities including exercises in the air and maritime domains," the ministry said in a statement. Singh and Pistorius discussed ways to further strengthen the defence industrial collaboration and enhance supply chain resilience, it added. "They planned to meet in the near f

Rajnath Singh to inaugurate DefConnect 4.0 event in Delhi on Monday

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is slated to inaugurate an event on Monday that will bring together armed forces, defence PSUs, innovators and policymakers to discuss ways to advance indigenous innovation. 'DefConnect 4.0' will be held at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment, and will be a significant step towards advancing indigenous innovation and celebrating the growing defence ecosystem of the country, the defence ministry said in a statement. The event is being organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence - Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), under the ministry's Department of Defence Production. DefConnect 4.0 marks a milestone in India's defence innovation journey, bringing together the armed forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and MSMEs, academia, incubators, investors and policymakers, the statement said. It will feature an exciting technology showcase, presenting iDEX innovators with a unique opportunit

India advocated for peaceful solution to Indo-Pacific disputes: Rajnath

India has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution to disputes and has sought to promote cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on the centrality ofEAN, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday. His remarks come amid China's increasing military muscle-flexing in the region. In his address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2024 here, he also expressed concern over "certain attempts to monopolise and weaponise critical resources for strategic reasons", terming these tendencies as not conducive for the global good. Singh emphasised that India's engagement with its partners is guided by the understanding that true progress can only be achieved through collective action and synergy, and due to these efforts, it is now considered as a "credible and preferred security partner and first responder" in the region. "India's vision for the Indo-Pacific is based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's idea of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in

Choose between development, destruction: Rajnath at Haryana rally

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Wednesday accused the Congress of not fulfilling its poll promises as he asked the people of Haryana not to be misled by the opposition and asserted the upcoming state election was about choosing between "development and destruction." Asserting the BJP fulfils its promises made to the people, he said the Centre provided Rs 78,000 crore for Haryana's development while Rs 21,564 crore was given to the state when the grand old party was in power. The Congress had given Rs 1,158 crore to farmers while the BJP gave Rs 13,276 crore in 10 years, Singh said at a public meeting in Haryana's Yamunanagar. Under the BJP's rule in the last 10 years, the youths in Haryana were given jobs only based on merit, he said, adding, "I can assure you that the youths will continue to get jobs without 'kharchi-parchi' (corruption and favouritism) when BJP returns to power." "The Congress made several promises. Had they implemented them even partially during their 50-55 years

Rahul trying to misguide public: Rajnath on Congress' claims about Agniveer

Singh also said that reservations in government jobs have been made for those Agniveers who are not retained after completing the mandatory service period

Defence production at Rs 1.27 trn, exporting hardware to 90 nations: Min

India's defence production has clocked an all-time high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in terms of value in 2023-24 and it is now exporting weapons and military hardware to more than 90 friendly countries, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday. Indian armed forces are now using weapons and platforms manufactured on Indian soil and the country is rising on the global defence industrial landscape, the minister said in a post on 'X' on the 10th anniversary of the NDA government's 'Make in India' programme. The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "astute leadership" introduced the 'Make in India' programme with a vision to make the country self-reliant in every domain, Singh said. "Ten years since then, many reforms have been made in every sector including the defence sector. India is rising on the defence industrial landscape of the world," he said. "Today, Indian Armed Forces are using weapons and platforms, which are manufactured on our own soil and we are also exporti

Private sector now steering economic growth: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

Union Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted private sector's key role in the Indian economy, highlighting the sector's growing impact, particularly in manufacturing and services

Private sector in driver's seat of Indian economy, steering nation: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the role of the private sector is becoming increasingly prominent in nearly every area of the Indian economy and it is steering the nation's economic progress. Addressing the inauguration programme of a Sainik School at Shri Bhawani Niketan Public School here, he said Sainik schools are also being set up under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Sainik schools will give fresh impetus to efforts to give a new direction to society and instil values like discipline, patriotism and courage in their students, he said. Singh said that all Sainik schools established in the country till now were being run jointly by the central and state governments but the new schools are being established under the PPP model. "Whenever there is talk of Public-Private Partnership, the word 'public' comes first. In any project, we look at the role of the government first. But the situation is changing now. "Therefore, moving away from the standard ...

Will try to build consensus on 'one nation, one election' in Parl: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the BJP-led government is going to table a bill on one nation, one election' in Parliament and will try to build a consensus as holding the Lok Sabha and assembly elections together across the country will help save three lakh crores. Addressing an election rally at Sainik Colony here, Singh said the plan behind one nation, one election' is to reduce expenses and rightful use of administrative resources among others. We are bringing the bill to hold the assembly and Lok Sabha elections together and efforts are on to bring all the parties on board. It has many benefits like rightful use of administrative machinery, financial and fiscal resources, one election calendar, proper use of human resources and increasing the voter turnout, he said. The defence minister said if both elections take place together in the country, an amount of Rs three lakh crore could be saved. Singh said the country is moving forward and becoming independent with

Why New Delhi sees border villages as key to safeguarding India's frontiers

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the best way of dealing with multiple challenges posed by India's geo-strategic location was to ensure border area development

Tarang Shakti: Will formalise pattern to hold exercises, says VR Chaudhari

In his address, the Defence Minister said, "Indian Air Force and defence sector are moving ahead rapidly with resolution of self-reliant India"

India's aim to unite, move 'hand-in-hand' with other nations: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India's aim is to walk hand in hand together at a time some countries are at war with each other. He also asked friendly nations to elevate their partnership and collaboration to new heights in view of the evolving global challenges. "Today, there is a race in the world to get ahead of each other, wars are going on between countries at different places. In this changing situation, India's goal is that we hold each other's hands and walk together," he said while speaking at 'Tarang Shakti' -- the largest multilateral air exercise in India hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the air base here. "Seeing the way the world is changing and new challenges are emerging, we need to take our partnership and collaboration to new heights," he said. Singh's remarks come in the backdrop of calls for India's potential role in pushing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as New Delhi has good relations with both the nations. The minister said I

Govt aiming to transform villages along Chinese border: Defence minister

The government is aiming to transform the villages along the frontier with China in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh into "model villages", Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday. In an address at a conclave, Singh said New Delhi is fully committed to the holistic development of border villages and described them as India's "first villages" and not remote areas. His comments came amid the government's increasing focus on boosting infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China following the eastern Ladakh row. The civil-military collaboration in border areas is leading to reverse migration to the frontier areas, Singh said at the 'Border Area Development Conclave'. The defence minister pointed out that India's geo-strategic position is such that it is exposed to different kinds of challenges and the best way to deal with them is to ensure border area development. "Our objective is to transform the villages along the Northern borders, .

Lockheed Martin-Tata pact may enable local C-130J Super Hercules production

Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems announced a partnership to advance the C-130J Super Hercules project in India. The announcement comes days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's US visit

Ready for dialogue with Pak if it stops terrorism in J-K: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India is ready to start dialogue with Pakistan if it stops terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing an election rally in this assembly segment of Ramban district in support of BJP candidate Mohd Saleem Bhat, Singh said Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to J-K was revoked to end the misery of the people and make the region prosperous. "Pakistan do one thing that is stop giving support of terrorism. Who would not like to improve relations with neighbouring countries? Because I know the reality that you can change a friend but not your neighbour. We want improved relations with Pakistan but first of all they should stop terrorism," Singh told a well-attended gathering here. The defence minister said when Pakistan stops sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, India will start dialogue with them. "Among those who fell to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, 85 percent were Muslims. Terror incidents used to be a rout

PoK residents should join India; we consider them our own: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asked the residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to come and join India as "we consider you as our own unlike Pakistan which treats you as foreigners". Addressing an election rally in the Ramban assembly constituency in support of BJP candidate Rakesh Singh Thakur, the Union minister came down heavily on the National Conference-Congress alliance over its poll promise of restoring Article 370 and said it is impossible as long as the BJP is there. He welcomed the "sea change" in the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, and said youths now carry laptops and computers instead of pistols and revolvers. "Support the BJP to form the next government in J-K so that we can facilitate massive development in the region. There will be so much development that the people in PoK on seeing this should say that we do not want to live with Pakistan and instead will go to India," the defence .

BJP's membership drive to relaunch 'Bharat Vijay, Bhajapa Vijay': Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Monday that the BJP's membership drive will again launch the campaign of "Bharat Vijay" and "Bhajapa Vijay". Speaking at the launch of the party's membership drive, he said the programme will reinvigorate the organisation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended the credibility crisis in politics and the BJP is seen as the most credible party. The party has consistently followed its ideology and works to build society, he said. Party president J P Nadda said the BJP is the only political organisation which is run democratically and follows its constitution. Taking a swipe at the rivals, he said the BJP does not work from home in a clandestine way but follows a transparent process. With the party set to renew membership of its existing members and enrol new members in line with its constitutional requirement, Shah echoed Nadda, saying no other party follows its membership process in a truthful and democratic

Second nuclear-powered missile submarine commissioned into Navy at Vizag

India's second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is expected to be commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, sources said. The commissioning of INS Arighat is being seen as a step towards boosting India's naval prowess and nuclear deterrence capabilities. India's second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear) is scheduled to be commissioned on Thursday at Visakhapatnam, a sources in the defence establishment said. The defence minister is expected to be present during the commissioning of the submarine, they said. More details are awaited as officials on Thursday remained tight-lipped about the commissioning. India's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. INS Arihant, India's first home-made nuclear submarine, was launched in July 2009 and was quietly commissioned in 2016. INS Arihant in October 2022 carried out a successful launch of a submarine-launch

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets with Indian diaspora during US visit

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a "wonderful" interaction with the Indian community in the US state of Tennessee and appreciated their contribution to society, science and the economy. Singh is in the US on a four-day official visit to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the US and India. "Had a wonderful interaction with the Indian community at Memphis. Their contribution to society, science and economy has been exemplary," he said in a post on X after his meeting on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Singh also visited the William B Morgan Large Cavitation Channel (LCC) in the Naval Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) in Memphis, Tennessee -- one of the world's largest and most technically advanced water tunnel facilities for testing submarines and other naval weapons in the US. His visit to the water tunnel facility came amidst a proposal for the establishment of a similar facility for indigenous design and development in India. Singh also visited the Na