Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's 2026 Independence Day address from the Red Fort emphasized 'Raksha Shakti' as one of seven key streams for building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, with a strong focus on defence self-reliance and technological leadership. The Prime Minister declared there is no alternative to being self-reliant in defence, stating that India must not remain merely a market for the world but should emerge as a global supplier of next-generation defence technologies including drones, counter-drone systems, and hypersonic defence technologies.
Significant transformation in the defence sector was highlighted, with defence production increasing nearly fourfold over the past 12 years and defence exports rising by almost 50 times, now reaching approximately 100 countries. The Prime Minister emphasized that modern warfare has evolved beyond border conflicts to target critical infrastructure such as refineries, banking sectors, and data centers, necessitating enhanced preparedness through initiatives like Mission Sudarshan Chakra, which is reportedly progressing rapidly.
Cybersecurity was identified as a critical defence area where India can harness youth capabilities for national and global benefit. The address announced plans to create a huge voluntary civil defence force to replace outdated systems and overcome modern challenges, with citizens to be familiarized with modern defence systems. The growing role of Nari Shakti in nation-building and defence forces was also highlighted, specifically noting the confidence and authority demonstrated by daughters graduating from the NDA.