Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed the 66th Course of the National Defence College in New Delhi on October 12, 2026, speaking to 122 participants including officers from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, police, other government organisations, and 41 officers from friendly foreign countries. The address focused on the theme "India's Core Values, National Interests and National Objectives" and emphasized that national strategy must translate national purpose into action and national intent into tangible outcomes.
Radhakrishnan stated that India seeks to become a leading global power not to dominate others, but to ensure that no country dictates terms to India. He emphasized that every sovereign nation, regardless of size, deserves equal respect and that no country should encroach upon another's territorial boundaries. The Vice-President cited India's civilisational philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) as foundational to national values, pointing to India's Vaccine Maitri initiative during COVID-19, its role as a first responder during disasters, and its leadership in international climate action and disaster resilience initiatives as practical examples of these values.
He outlined five broad priorities for India's national interests: safeguarding India's sovereignty and territorial integrity; preserving its democratic, secular and federal character; advancing its strategic, political, economic and military objectives; ensuring a stable and secure environment for growth and human development; and contributing to international peace and stability. The Vice-President highlighted the interconnected nature of national security and called for greater international cooperation to address challenges including terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change and transnational crime.
Referring to Viksit Bharat @ 2047 as a defining national objective, Radhakrishnan stressed the need to align long-term vision with available resources, sound policy choices and national priorities. He called for stronger engagement with the Global South based on principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared development priorities, urging cooperation in technology, trade, connectivity, education, innovation and capacity building. The Vice-President also identified corruption as a major challenge for the Global South and called for collective efforts to eradicate it.