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Rajnath Singh Unveils “Deterrence by Punishment” Strategy Shift

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 10:45 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Rajnath Singh Shifts Deterrence

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced a shift to a ‘deterrence by punishment’ security strategy.
He said security must confront fluid threat boundaries that extend beyond fixed borders.
Singh warned hostile actors could target the economy, energy supplies, and cyberspace.
He cited Operation Sindoor, the 2019 Balakot strike, and earlier surgical strikes as precedents.
He noted the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Summary

India Boosts Defence R&D

Defence R&D spending more than doubled to over Rs 29,000 crore in FY 2026-27.
The defence budget rose nearly threefold, reaching Rs 7.85 lakh crore for FY 2026-27.
Twenty-five percent of R&D funds are now earmarked for industry, start-ups and academia.
iDEX awarded Rs 2,800 crore in contracts to private firms.
India opened conventional missile technology to private manufacturers, reducing reliance on Bharat Dynamics.

History

Historical Context

India’s nuclear effort began in 1945 when Homi Bhabha founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, leading to the Atomic Energy Act of 1948 and its first reactor in 1956. After the five-device Pokhran-II tests on 11–13 May 1998, the United Nations imposed sanctions, prompting a shift toward indigenous defence research and expanded missile development.

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Rajnath Singh Shifts Deterrence

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced a shift to a ‘deterrence by punishment’ security strategy.
He said security must confront fluid threat boundaries that extend beyond fixed borders.
Singh warned hostile actors could target the economy, energy supplies, and cyberspace.
He cited Operation Sindoor, the 2019 Balakot strike, and earlier surgical strikes as precedents.
He noted the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack.

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