Modern warfare knows no bounds; a robust military and vigilant citizens are vital to safeguard national interests: Rajnath Singh

Dehradun (The Uttam Hindu): Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that today's war has transcended borders, encompassing economic, digital, energy, and even food security within the nation's security. He emphasized that the nation's defense requires a strong military as well as prepared citizens who can stand shoulder to shoulder in every situation.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh virtually addressed the foundation day and diamond jubilee celebrations of the Sainik School at Ghorakhal in Uttarakhand on Saturday. He said that the nature of conflicts has completely changed today. Any nation can be weakened through economic, cyber, space, and information warfare, so every citizen needs to be vigilant and prepared at all times.

Rajnath Singh said, "By being prepared, I don't mean just being prepared for a war; rather, I mean being prepared for every situation that may arise. This preparation involves mental toughness, so that you maintain composure even in difficult circumstances. This preparation involves intellectual clarity, so that you can distinguish between right and wrong."

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is working to equip the defense forces with modern weapons and technology. He also called on the youth to develop mental strength and intellectual clarity through discipline and determination, so that they can face every challenge.

Referring to the concept of VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous), he urged the students to develop their own version of VUCA, which includes foresight, understanding, courage and adaptability, to effectively face modern challenges.

Talking about the steps taken by the government to inculcate the values ​​required for nation building among maximum number of youth, Rajnath Singh said that recently a decision has been taken to build 100 new Sainik schools across the country in the public-private partnership model.

He added, "Another initiative involves increasing the number of vacant seats in the National Cadet Corps (NCC). The NCC previously had an admission capacity of 1.7 million cadets. This has now been increased to 2 million."

The Defense Minister described the decision to admit girls to Sainik Schools as historic and revolutionary. He said that it strengthens the nation's "women power." These girls will become exemplars of "women power" in the future and will reach new heights in various sectors.

Congratulating the students, faculty, alumni and their families on the completion of 60 years of dedicated service to the nation at Ghorakhal Sainik School, Rajnath Singh expressed confidence that the students will maintain the highest standards of discipline and dedication, making their families, the institution and the country proud.