PM Modi’s security doctrine shapes a stronger, self-reliant India

On June 10, 2026, Narendra Modi became the longest-serving prime minister of India to have been elected through the constitutional electoral process. He will surpass the record of the country’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who served for 4,398 days between 1952 and 1964.

By combining his tenures as Chief Minister and Prime Minister, Prime Minister Modi will also complete 25 years and 9,007 days of uninterrupted public service. This is the remarkable journey of an energetic, tireless and indefatigable leader dedicated to national service.

While his 12-year tenure will be remembered for several landmark decisions and achievements that have contributed to the nation’s development, his contribution to India’s security is equally significant. Guided by the principle of “Nation First”, he adopted a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

On June 13, 2014, by holding discussions with senior military officials and reviewing defence preparedness in the Defence War Room at South Block, he clearly signalled the priority he accorded to national security. When people across the country celebrate Diwali by illuminating their homes with lamps, the Prime Minister chooses to spend the occasion with soldiers deployed on the nation’s borders, conveying the message that the entire country stands with them.

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Beginning with his visit to Siachen, he has, over the past 12 years, travelled to 12 different border and military locations, demonstrating his steadfast commitment to the security and defence of the nation.

Acharya Chanakya had observed in the context of national security that “a nation cannot remain secure without a strong military”. Following India’s defeat in the 1962 war with China and the discouraging circumstances that emerged after Beijing’s nuclear test in 1964, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh demanded that India also become a nuclear power. This demand was formally raised at its Patna session on December 4, 1964. At the time, the proposal was ridiculed by the Congress and most other political parties. The fulfilment of that resolve came on May 11, 1998, when Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee conducted the Pokhran nuclear tests, firmly establishing India as a nuclear power.

Since Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014, India’s defence budget has increased significantly — from Rs 2.27 lakh crore in 2014 to approximately Rs 7.85 lakh crore, more than three times the earlier allocation. Today, India exports defence products to over 100 countries. Defence exports have risen from Rs 686 crore in 2014 to Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26, representing a remarkable 56-fold increase.

India is now producing advanced indigenous defence systems, including hypersonic missiles; the BrahMos missile system; ballistic missiles; the Rudram-2 missile, designed to neutralise enemy air-defence and radar systems; the Pralay missile; and the Akash air-defence missile system. The country is also equipped with strategic assets such as the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, Rafale fighter aircraft, and the S-400 air defence system.

The display of India-made Akash air-defence missiles and Pinaka rocket launchers at Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia, has been a matter of pride for Indians. Addressing the nation from the Red Fort on 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Modi stated, “Indigenous capabilities and Made-in-India weapons have demonstrated that national security cannot rest on foreign dependence.” The effectiveness of this approach was reflected in Operation Sindoor, during which India’s armed forces reportedly accomplished all designated objectives within just twenty-two minutes.

The Great Nicobar Project, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 72,000 crore, is expected to become a key pillar of India’s economic prosperity, maritime strategy, and national security.

The emphasis on indigenous defence production, increased defence spending, military modernisation, and strengthened internal security represents a significant chapter in India’s security policy. Prior to 2014, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism posed a serious challenge. Not only Kashmir but many cities across the country faced recurring terrorist threats. The memories of attacks in Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi, Varanasi, and several other locations continue to resonate deeply.

To address these challenges, the government strengthened the capabilities of the security forces through modern weaponry and bulletproof equipment; introduced stringent measures against terror financing through initiatives such as “No Money for Terror”; increased financial pressure on terrorist networks through mechanisms like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); and undertook decisive counter-terror operations, including the Surgical Strikes and the Balakot Air Strike.

Operation Sindoor further demonstrated India’s resolve by targeting terrorist infrastructure based in Pakistan and degrading elements of the support systems that enabled such networks. The historic decision to abrogate Article 370 was presented as a step towards strengthening national integration and reinforcing the unity of the country.

This will be remembered as a historic moment not only for India but by the wider world as well — when the nation declared that, as of March 31, 2026, it had been freed from the scourge of left-wing extremism and Naxalite violence.

In 2024, as many as 126 districts were affected by Naxalite insurgency. During that year alone, 290 Naxalites were killed, 1,090 were arrested, and 881 surrendered, choosing to return to the mainstream and participate in the nation’s democratic and developmental journey. Today, regions once severely affected by Naxalism, including Bastar, are witnessing a new wave of development and progress.

Illegal infiltration poses challenges to the country’s democratic institutions, national security, and demographic balance. To address this issue, the Government of India has undertaken stringent measures under the policy framework of “Detect, Delete, and Deport”. Border surveillance and security mechanisms have been significantly strengthened.

Following the political changes in West Bengal, increasing attention has been drawn to efforts aimed at identifying and facilitating the return of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. Along the country’s 15,106-kilometre border, the objective of transforming a “sleeping line into a vigilant wall” is being pursued through the deployment of advanced technologies such as laser walls, vibration sensors, and night-vision cameras.

To further reinforce border security, budgetary allocations have been substantially increased, with a 49 per cent rise in funding, bringing the allocation to Rs 5,597 crore.

The country’s cybersecurity is increasingly being challenged through an invisible battlefield, with anti-India forces attempting to exploit the digital domain. According to a report presented in the Rajya Sabha, India successfully dealt with nearly 5.4 million cybercrime complaints and thwarted fraud attempts amounting to approximately Rs 31,594 crore. To strengthen the nation’s cyber defences, the Government of India introduced the Cyber Commando initiative in 2024 as part of a broader cybersecurity framework. Coordinated efforts through the Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) are further enhancing the country’s capabilities in this critical area.

In its campaign to build a drug-free society and curb one of the principal sources of funding for organised crime and terrorism, the government has intensified action against the illegal narcotics trade. The seizure of drugs worth Rs 25,330 crore in 2024 alone stands as compelling evidence of these sustained efforts.

The residents of India’s border villages have always played a vital role in strengthening national security. To ensure that these communities never feel neglected or isolated, Prime Minister Modi, in his Independence Day address on August 15, 2023, declared: “These are not the last villages of India; they are the first villages of Mother India.”

Under Phase I and Phase II of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP), a budget of approximately Rs 11,639 crore has been earmarked for the development of 4,121 border villages. The programme aims to create robust infrastructure, including all-weather roads, solar energy facilities, mobile connectivity, educational and healthcare services, and tourism-related amenities, thereby improving both quality of life and strategic resilience in these frontier regions.

A particularly symbolic moment came in 2023 when 600 village heads (sarpanches) from border villages participated in the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. Their presence represented a meaningful convergence of India’s frontier communities with the nation’s capital, reinforcing the bond between the borders and the heart of the country.

As part of his Panch Pran vision, Prime Minister Modi called upon the nation to free itself from the mindset of colonial subjugation. In pursuit of this objective, several initiatives have been undertaken to shed colonial-era legacies and strengthen India’s sense of national pride and civilisational self-confidence.

One of the most significant changes has been the replacement of the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and related indigenous legal frameworks. Symbolic landmarks and institutions have also been renamed to reflect national values and aspirations: Rajpath has become Kartavya Path, 7 Race Course Road has been renamed 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister’s Office has been referred to as “Seva Teerth” (a place of service), and Raj Bhavans have increasingly been envisioned as “Lok Bhavans” (people’s houses).

The appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has strengthened coordination among the three-armed services and enhanced integrated military planning. The Indian Navy’s emblem has also been redesigned to move away from symbols associated with the colonial era. Inspired by the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the new insignia incorporates the Shivaji Rajmudra, an octagonal motif set against the backdrop of the national flag, the Ashoka emblem, and the Vedic invocation “Sham No Varunah” (“May Varuna be auspicious unto us”), reflecting India’s maritime heritage and civilisational ethos.

Similarly, the Beating Retreat ceremony, held after Republic Day celebrations, has witnessed the inclusion of distinctly India’s cultural elements. The patriotic song “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon”, immortalised by the late Lata Mangeshkar, has assumed a prominent place in the ceremony, symbolising a greater emphasis on indigenous traditions and national sentiment.

Efforts to strengthen national security have also included expanding the participation of women in the armed forces, increasing the number of Sainik Schools, and introducing the Agniveer scheme, all of which are intended to broaden societal participation in the nation’s defence framework.

The historic decisions taken by Prime Minister Modi in the field of national security will be remembered for years to come. National sovereignty, economic development, and social harmony all depend upon a secure and stable environment. The measures undertaken to strengthen security have contributed to an atmosphere in which the country has been able to advance welfare initiatives, develop modern infrastructure, accelerate economic growth, and preserve its rich cultural heritage while enhancing its standing on the global stage.

As India remains vigilant about its security and strategic interests, it is essential that every citizen embraces the collective resolve of achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Such a commitment will ensure that the nation continues its journey towards prosperity, strength and global leadership while remaining rooted in its enduring civilisational values.

(The writer is the national joint general secretary [organisation], Bharatiya Janata Party. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.)