India’s Defence Minister Urges Armed Forces to Confront “Invisible Challenges” Amid Evolving Threat Landscape

India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, delivered a forceful call to action Tuesday at the Combined Commanders’ Conference in Kolkata: the Indian armed forces must broaden their conception of warfare beyond conventional battlefields to confront emerging “invisible challenges.” These include information warfare, ideological campaigns, ecological threats, and biological hazards.

Singh emphasized that warfare has become both unpredictable and sudden, making it difficult to forecast its duration. Battles may last only two months, or endure for a year, or even up to five. In response, he urged India to maintain strong surge capacity, meaning the ability to rapidly mobilize forces, resources, and technology.

A centerpiece of Singh’s address was Project Sudarshan Chakra, a strategic shield planned to protect India’s key civilian and military sites. A special committee has been formed to craft a realistic roadmap for Sudarshan Chakra, with both medium-term (five-year) and long-term (ten-year) visions.

He also underscored the importance of jointness among India’s armed services, and stronger synergy with civilian institutions, industry, and academia. Technologies, he asserted, must keep pace with shifting threats. The message of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat,”India’s push for strategic self-reliance—featured prominently, with Singh lauding recent efforts such as Operation Sindoor for reflecting professionalism, strength, and indigenous capability.

As India faces a turbulent global order marked by regional instability, the Defence Minister’s warning and strategic priorities indicate a shift: future security will depend not just on force, but on foresight, adaptability and readiness for that which cannot always be seen.