PM Modi reaffirms government’s commitment to modernizing armed forces after Operation Sindoor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined the importance of constant military preparedness, asserting that India must remain strong at all times to tackle evolving security challenges. 

In an exclusive interview with PTI, he said the benefits of a decade of defence reforms were visible during Operation Sindoor and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to modernising the armed forces.

In the Union Budget 2026-27, the government has allocated a record Rs 7.85 lakh crore to the defence sector, a 15 per cent increase over the previous year and the highest share for any ministry. Of this, Rs 1.85 lakh crore has been earmarked for modernisation, marking a 25 per cent rise. Capital expenditure for the three services stands at nearly Rs 2.2 lakh crore, with 75 per cent reserved for procurement from domestic defence industries.

Focus on Self-Reliance and Ex-Servicemen

The prime minister stressed that technology-driven modernisation and self-reliance have been priorities for the past 11 years. Defence exports have crossed Rs 23,000 crore, reflecting significant growth. He also highlighted a 45 per cent increase in healthcare allocation for ex-servicemen, exceeding Rs 12,000 crore, and reiterated the government’s fulfilment of the long-pending OROP demand.

A Continuous Effort

PM Modi maintained that defence strengthening is an ongoing effort and not linked to any single event. As India assumes a larger global role, he said, modern and well-equipped armed forces remain essential to national security.