Modi Announces Civil Defence Force and Hypersonic Tech Goals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of a massive, modern Civil Defence volunteer force during his address from the Red Fort on India's 80th Independence Day on August 15, 2026. The initiative will train volunteers in advanced emergency protocols to protect citizens from contemporary crises, including cyber threats and attacks on critical infrastructure like banking sectors and data centers. Modi stated that national security is now a collective responsibility because modern warfare no longer occurs solely along border frontiers.

Modi also identified defence power as the fifth strength of his Shakti Ki Saptadhara vision, which encompasses manufacturing, agriculture, technology, connectivity, the Green and Blue Economy, and soft power. He urged India to transition from being a market for foreign military equipment to becoming a global supplier, specifically calling for leadership in hypersonic defence technologies.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh supported these goals, reporting that annual domestic defence production reached a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the 2025-26 financial year. Singh noted that exports hit Rs 38,424 crore, with the government targeting Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029. Additionally, military projects exceeding ₹8.75 lakh crore were approved over the past year to further modernize the armed forces.