Trainee officers of the Indian Foreign Service 2025 batch called on Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at South Block, where he outlined the Government of India’s resolve to expand the capacity of the indigenous defence industry for domestic production and exports under the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He emphasised that Indian diplomats will play a crucial role in advancing this objective on the global stage.
Addressing the 55 member batch, comprising 53 Indian trainees and two trainees from Bhutan, Rajnath Singh underscored India’s transformation from being one of the world’s largest importers of defence equipment to an emerging manufacturer and exporter of defence platforms across land, sea, air, space and cyber domains. He detailed the steps taken by the Government to absorb niche and advanced technologies in the defence sector, strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities and enhance export potential.
He stated that the global community is closely observing India’s economic and strategic rise and increasingly looks to the country for leadership. In this context, he urged the trainee officers to work with honesty and integrity to further strengthen India’s positive international image. He reminded them that while serving abroad, they represent the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians and must uphold the country’s values and interests with dedication.
Rajnath Singh encouraged the officers to remain open to new ideas, cultures and perspectives, while carrying forward India’s civilisational wisdom and democratic ethos. He congratulated them for their hard work in joining the prestigious Indian Foreign Service and called upon them to contribute meaningfully to India’s strategic and diplomatic objectives.
Prior to the interaction, officials from various verticals of the Ministry of Defence briefed the trainees on defence diplomacy initiatives, the defence budget, tri service integration and defence acquisition processes. The briefing provided an overview of India’s evolving defence ecosystem and the expanding scope of defence cooperation with partner countries.
The interaction highlighted the growing convergence between diplomacy and defence policy, with diplomats expected to support defence exports, strategic partnerships and technology collaborations. The session reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing and positioning India as a reliable partner in global security and industrial cooperation.
