Overview
- Speaking in Uttarakhand on March 21, the defence minister said modern warfare now spans economic, digital, energy and food security beyond traditional battlefields.
- He announced a plan to open 100 new Sainik Schools under a public–private partnership model to widen access to defence-oriented education.
- He said the National Cadet Corps intake has been expanded to 20 lakh from 17 lakh to bring more youth into disciplined civic preparedness.
- He warned that continued fighting in West Asia could squeeze energy and fertiliser supplies, citing reported strikes on Iran’s South Pars and impacts on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG hub.
- He called for a dialogue-led resolution and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy with keeping India relatively insulated, noting Qatar supplies nearly 40% of India’s LNG.