India’s Evolution: From Shortages to Viksit Bharat, Says Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh
NEW DELHI, JULY 04, 2026: India’s journey over the past 12 years has marked a significant transition from a phase of shortages to self-reliance, self-confidence, and a firm progression toward building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India). Speaking at a media event in New Delhi today, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh outlined the structural milestones achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He detailed that while the government’s first term focused on addressing systematic shortages and expanding economic opportunities, the second term successfully translated national aspirations into tangible achievements. Moving into the third term, the administration is actively laying the groundwork for a developed nation through its core policy of “Reform, Perform, Transform,” with the ultimate goal of witnessing the rise of a fully developed India by its fourth term.
A key cornerstone of this national transformation has been the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, which Rajnath Singh noted has successfully shattered early skepticism to set new benchmarks of success across manufacturing and high-tech sectors. India’s global stature has undergone a parallel transformation, with international platforms now listening attentively to the nation’s perspective on global issues. This technological leap is further evidenced by the domestic production of semiconductor chips following the rollout of the India Semiconductor Mission, facilitated by a robust ‘plug-and-play’ infrastructure model. Furthermore, India’s annual defence production reached a historic milestone of ₹1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26—tripling the figures from a decade prior—while defence exports surged to over ₹38,000 crore, reflecting deep global confidence in indigenous defense platforms.
The defense minister also underscored the massive expansion of the country’s digital infrastructure and broader economic reforms. Driven by the unified ‘JAM Trinity’—which integrates digital biometric verification and mobile connectivity—the government successfully executed the direct transfer of ₹51 lakh crore to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, plugging leakages worth approximately ₹4.3 lakh crore. On the economic front, India has risen to become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, boasting over 2 lakh startups and 125 unicorns, while initiatives like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) have evolved into models of cooperative federalism. Rajnath Singh concluded by addressing the critical role of media in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, emphasizing that national security and defense reporting remain matters of profound national responsibility that demand total accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality.