Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Describing internal and external security as two sides of the same coin, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 4 called upon security research institutions to break down silos and work collaboratively to ensure a strong, secure, and self-reliant India.
Inaugurating the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Collaboration Conference-Cum-Exhibition on ‘Advanced Technologies for Internal Security and Disaster Relief Operations’ at DRDO Bhawan, Rajnath said that the country’s security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats such as cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, space-based challenges, and transnational organised crime.
Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said, “Security challenges in the modern world are evolving rapidly, and the overlap between internal and external security is increasing. It is imperative that our institutions break silos and work collaboratively to ensure a strong, secure, and self-reliant India.”
He stressed that India’s national security must be viewed holistically, integrating efforts across different security agencies and leveraging the latest technological advancements. India’s security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats such as cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, space-based challenges, and transnational organised crime, he said.
Rajnath noted that India’s internal security is not just about managing conventional threats like terrorism, separatist movements, and Left-Wing Extremism but also about preparing for unconventional threats that can destabilise the nation’s economic and strategic interests. “The adversaries of today do not always come with traditional weapons; cyber-attacks, misinformation campaigns, and space-based espionage are emerging as new-age threats that require advanced solutions,” he stated.
Rajnath recalled his tenure as Home Minister, highlighting how the collaboration between security agencies and scientific institutions led to significant technological advancements. He cited examples of DRDO-developed technologies such as the Corner Shot Weapon System, INSAS rifles, IED jammer vehicles and riot control vehicles, which were effectively integrated into the operations of CAPFs.
