![](https://bharatshakti.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LT-BSI-Defence.gif")
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday issued a stern warning in the wake of the deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, vowing that those responsible “will not be spared under any circumstances.”
Twelve people were killed when a slow-moving car exploded at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station on Monday evening. Investigators have identified Dr Umar Un Nabi, a Pulwama-based doctor, as the prime suspect. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the explosion.
“The government is treating this incident with the utmost seriousness,” Singh said while addressing the Delhi Defence Dialogue organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). “I want to firmly assure the nation that those responsible for this tragedy will be brought to justice. The country’s leading investigative agencies are conducting a swift and thorough inquiry, and the findings will soon be made public.”
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, the minister extended condolences to the victims’ families and appealed for calm as the investigation continues.
From Tech Consumer to Tech Creator
Turning to the theme of the event, Harnessing New Age Technology for Defence Capability Development, Singh urged the nation to move decisively from being a technology consumer to a technology creator.
He called for building “systems and ecosystems that make the creation and adoption of new technologies seamless, swift, and self-sustaining,” stressing that India’s defence preparedness must rest on indigenous innovation.
“The synergy among the soldier, scientist, start-up and strategist is essential to power our technological self-reliance,” he said, adding that technological revolutions must serve as engines of progress rather than sources of disruption.
“If our foundations are strong, our institutions agile, our minds open, and our collaboration seamless, every new technological wave will push us ahead,” Singh said.
Innovation as a Strategic Imperative
Singh underlined that the true power of technology lies not merely in devices or algorithms but in transforming the systems and decisions underpinning national security.
He highlighted government initiatives such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and the Technology Development Fund (TDF), which he said are nurturing a generation of innovators who see national defence as a mission of service. These efforts are driving indigenous progress in areas such as autonomous systems, quantum technologies, advanced materials, and space-based capabilities.
The minister also broadened the scope of Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) beyond hardware manufacturing to include “digital sovereignty” – control over the algorithms, data, and chips that power modern systems.
“True strategic autonomy will come only when our code is as indigenous as our hardware,” he said, calling for secure software stacks, trusted semiconductor supply chains, and AI models trained on Indian data.
Life-Cycle Cost in Defence Procurement
In a significant policy announcement, Singh revealed that the life-cycle cost concept will now be integrated into India’s defence procurement process from the inception stage.
“Assessing the long-term sustenance costs of every acquisition will help ensure responsible resource utilisation and better decision-making,” he noted.
He urged the Armed Forces to continuously study global best practices in logistics, training, and management, stating, “It is far better to import best practices than to import the best equipment.”
Once India perfects its processes, he said, it will be fully capable of producing world-class systems domestically.
Team BharatShakti
