Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Saturday, urged every citizen of the country to stay vigilant and prepared at all times as the nature of conflicts in modern times has undergone a paradigm shift.
Virtually addressing the Raising Day celebrations and the Diamond Jubilee of Sainik School, Ghorakhal in Uttarakhand, the defence minister said, "Present-day warfare transcends borders, with national security encompassing economic, digital, energy, and even food security."
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Pointing out that a nation can be weakened through economic, cyber, space and information warfare, the defence minister highlighted the need for a robust military supported by prepared citizens capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder to protect the nation under any circumstances.
He asserted that the government is doing everything possible to equip the defence forces with niche weapons and technologies.
Singh said citizens, especially the youth, need to develop mental toughness and intellectual clarity through discipline and determination to help the nation tackle any and every situation.
Highlighting the steps taken by the Centre to ensure that youngsters imbibe values that are essential for nation-building, Singh stated that recently, a decision was taken to establish 100 new Sainik Schools across the country in the public-private partnership model.
Singh described the decision of admission of girls into Sainik Schools as historic and revolutionary, which is bolstering the country’s 'Nari Shakti'. These girls will, in the times to come, become the torchbearers of 'Nari Shakti' and scale new heights across various sectors, he added.