MoD | DD News

September 18, 2026 4:31 PM

India advancing towards Viksit Bharat@2047 with resilience, innovation and inclusive development: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India is advancing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 with a focus on resilience, determination, compassion, innovation, strength, inclusive prosperity and a strong sense of national identity. Addressing an event in Keralam's Kochi, Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is pursuing its development journey by drawing inspiration from its centuries-old values, including courage to persevere, protection ...

September 9, 2026 11:59 PM

Rajnath Singh meets Sri Lankan PM Harini Amarasuriya, discusses development cooperation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo and discussed a range of issues, with development cooperation emerging as a key focus of the talks. The two leaders reviewed progress in several areas of mutual interest, including education, information technology, infrastructure, innovation and research, while also discussing ways to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between India and Sri Lanka. During the meeting, Singh hig...

September 9, 2026 8:20 PM

Secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation vital for Indian Ocean security and prosperity: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for stronger maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, stressing that secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law and unhindered maritime trade are essential for the collective security and economic prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Addressing a gathering at Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence in Colombo on Wednesday, Singh said India and Sri Lanka, as close maritime partners, were well positioned to work toge...

September 9, 2026 1:19 AM

India, Morocco hold inaugural Joint Defence Committee meeting to deepen military cooperation

India and Morocco held their inaugural Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, marking a fresh push to expand bilateral defence cooperation across training, military exercises, peacekeeping, cyber security and defence manufacturing. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence Amitabh Prasad and Chief of the 2nd Bureau of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces Brigadier General Abdellah Athmani. The two sides discussed a w...

September 8, 2026 11:07 PM

India will always stand firmly with Sri Lanka in times of crisis: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reaffirmed India's unwavering support for Sri Lanka, saying New Delhi would “always stand firmly” with the island nation whenever it faces a crisis. Singh made the remarks while interacting with the Indian diaspora in Colombo at the beginning of his maiden visit to Sri Lanka. He underlined the close cultural and civilisational ties between the two countries, describing them as a strong foundation for further strengthening bilateral relations. India...

September 8, 2026 6:36 PM

India, Japan to conduct bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian-2026 in Jodhpur

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF) will conduct the bilateral air exercise Veer Guardian-2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur from September 9 to September 22, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday. The 14-day exercise will see the participation of frontline fighter aircraft from both countries. The IAF will deploy a diverse fleet comprising the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Su-30 MKI and Rafale fighter aircraft, while the JASDF will par...

September 8, 2026 5:28 PM

IAF to showcase drone and counter-drone technologies at Dronathon-2026

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will organise Dronathon-2026 at the Pokhran range in Jaisalmer from September 14 to 16, providing domestic manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their capabilities in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-unmanned aerial systems (CUAS). The three-day event will feature static displays and live demonstrations of emerging drone and counter-drone technologies, allowing defence stakeholders to assess their operational capabilities and combat effectiveness. Accordi...

September 7, 2026 9:12 PM

Defence forces given freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats: Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said the armed forces have been given both the freedom and resources to respond decisively to threats, including the ability to strike adversaries inside their own territory, asserting that terrorism against India would be met with a “befitting response”. Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh said India believes in peace and does not seek war or the territory of any other country, but stressed that there is a clear distinction between peace and wea...

September 7, 2026 8:24 PM

INS Sudarshini concludes Barcelona port call during Lokayan 2026 expedition

Indian Navy's sail training ship INS Sudarshini concluded its port call at Barcelona, Spain, on September 6 as part of the ongoing Lokayan 2026 expedition. During the visit, the ship's Commanding Officer held professional exchanges with senior officials of the Spanish Navy and maritime authorities, focusing on strengthening maritime cooperation and professional ties between the two countries. A deck reception was also hosted onboard INS Sudarshini, which was attended by senior naval officers, ...

September 7, 2026 5:53 PM

DAC clears defence acquisition proposals worth Rs 1.10 lakh crore

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Monday accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various capital acquisition proposals for the armed forces worth approximately Rs 1.10 lakh crore. The approvals cover a range of equipment and systems for the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, with around 98 per cent of the procurements to be sourced from Indian industry. For the Indian Army, the DAC approved the procurement of Chemical, Biological, Radiologica...