Narendra Modi Highlights Defence Growth and Sports in Mann Ki Baat

During the 136th episode of his radio program, Mann Ki Baat, broadcast on July 26, 2026, Narendra Modi commemorated Kargil Vijay Diwas by paying tribute to the courage of Indian soldiers. He emphasized India's emergence as a trusted global defence partner, citing a July agreement with Indonesia for the supply of Astra air-to-air and BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.

Modi detailed several recent domestic milestones in military technology and aerospace. These include the July 11 commissioning of the stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri, which features over 75 percent indigenous materials, and successful tests by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket on July 8 and the Kusha Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile on July 23. He also noted the July 19 launch of Vikram-1, the first privately developed rocket in India.

Beyond defence, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to the contingent of over 120 athletes competing in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He also praised local initiatives, including a record-breaking tree-planting event in Ahmedabad and a Sanskrit-football project in Kerala. To mark the anniversary of the Kargil War, Modi highlighted the Shaurya Vijay Yatra, a commemorative motorcycle journey traveling from New Delhi to the Kargil War Memorial in Drass.