India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ties bio‑fuel push to national security

On World Environment Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a “Bio‑Age” event in Lucknow, saying the self‑reliant weapons that enabled the successful Operation Sindoor strike on terrorist bases in Pakistan should be replicated in the energy sector. He highlighted India’s use of up to 20 % ethanol from sugarcane in petrol and the development of bio‑fuels, bio‑materials and biodegradable PLA bioplastics as new pillars of strategic security and economic stability. Singh cited Uttar Pradesh’s bio‑plastic industry policy and the initiative of Balrampur’s Chinese‑owned mills to produce PLA, stressing that domestic agro‑based sources reduce dependence on foreign supplies, especially amid Middle‑East supply‑chain disruptions. He linked the bio‑economy drive to broader national‑self‑reliance goals championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.