India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praises self‑reliance, eyes Modi's fourth term

On July 4, 2026 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12‑year tenure has been transformational and that a fourth term after the 2029 Lok Sabha election would be the ideal launchpad for a “Viksit Bharat”. He made the remarks at the Navbharat Times anniversary event, where he presented the “NBT Navratna” and “NBT Bhushan” awards.

Singh also highlighted the growth of India’s defence sector, noting production has risen from roughly Rs 46,000 crore a decade ago to over Rs 1.78 lakh crore and exports to about Rs 40,000 crore. He said confidence in “made‑in‑India” platforms was boosted after Operation Sindoor, the 2025 military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, and linked the progress to initiatives such as Make in India and the semiconductor campaign. He stressed the need to balance modern technology with tradition, calling it the country’s greatest strength.