Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, June 10
India’s global standing has strengthened significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, said Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Seth praised the BJP-led government’s 11-year tenure, highlighting its role in fostering self-reliance and national pride. He credited key initiatives for boosting economic confidence and national security, stating that India has become a symbol of self-sufficiency. “India today fears no one and bows to none,” Seth declared, underscoring the nation’s growing assertiveness on the world stage.
Talking about the COVID-19 pandemic, Seth said that India developed and distributed vaccines domestically and to 118 other countries — an act he described as “a humanitarian example of scientific strength.” He also credited Modi’s global push for promoting millets, which he said helped boost the incomes of Indian farmers and popularised indigenous grains abroad.
Recalling Operation Ganga, Seth said India evacuated 23,000 Indian students — along with citizens from other countries — from war-hit Ukraine, calling it a “remarkable example of India’s rising diplomatic and operational influence.”
On security, Seth referenced a retaliatory military operation following a terror attack in Pahalgam, stating that Indian forces eliminated the perpetrators in 23 minutes. “India’s policy is clear — any act of terrorism is an act of war,” he said, adding that India would now hold responsible those who shelter terrorists.
The minister also underscored the growing role of women in the armed forces, with admission now open to girls in military schools. He pointed out that India’s defence budget has increased from ₹2.51 lakh crore in 2014 to ₹6.81 lakh crore today, and that the country is now exporting defence equipment to 92 nations.
He said that India — once an importer of bulletproof jackets — is now among the top defence exporters and has gained global credibility through milestones like the Chandrayaan mission.
Highlighting economic strides, Seth said India is now the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer, with over 1.16 billion mobile users. “India is preparing long-term plans for the next 25 years to become a developed nation by 2047,” he said. Seth said that 270 million people have been lifted out of poverty under the current administration, and that India has emerged as the world’s largest digital payments ecosystem and its fourth-largest economy, overtaking Japan.
He also referred to the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as historic milestones that strengthened India’s constitutional and cultural identity.
“These 11 years have not just been about governance, but about India’s inner strength, resolve and empowerment,” he said. “The coming years will take India to even greater heights.”
