New Delhi: Citing the global context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday backed the modernization of India’s defense sector while calling on the private sector to step up and share the gains with workers and shareholders.“From day one, our government has made it clear that we will support and strengthen our defense forces at all costs. Yes, this year’s allocation is a record high, but looking at it in isolation only provides a limited perspective… As technology reshapes the world, our armed forces must be equipped with the best of India’s innovation and industry. As a country playing an increasingly important role in the world, it is our responsibility to modernize our defense sector in line with current realities.” Prime Minister Modi said in an interview to PTI.These remarks come against the backdrop of an increasingly fragile world, where power dynamics are changing, with the United States and China seeking to pursue their expansionist policies, and conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia continuing with no immediate resolution in sight. India must contend with hostilities from its neighbours, and cyber technology adds to the challenge.The prime minister’s reference to Operation Sindoor shows India’s familiarity with technological warfare.

Trade deals part of global integration: PMThe entire nation is proud of the courage shown by our armed forces during Operation Sindoor. In operation, people can see the benefits of the reforms we have made over the past decade. So the defense budget, modernization and so on, all of these are part of our ongoing efforts and don’t need to be tied to any particular issue. Yes, the reality is that our country has to be strong and ready and that is what we are doing,” PM Modi said.Asked about the recent trade agreements, the Prime Minister said they are part of India’s global integration with the world, which has accelerated in recent years. It claims that the latest deal – from the UK to the EU – has been years in the making and will help Indian producers diversify the market, besides providing opportunities for service professionals.“These trade agreements are significant not only because of lower tariffs but also because of supply chain integration and market access for advanced economies. They have gradually liberalized manufacturing tariffs, deepened the integration of the service industry, and created new avenues for labor-intensive exports such as textiles, footwear, electronic products, and engineering products. In this sense, they support structural transformation rather than simply increasing overall trade volumes. These free trade agreements also link domestic reforms to external commitments. They expand export opportunities, reduce tariff disadvantages vis-à-vis competitors and enable Indian businesses to integrate deeper into global value chains,” the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Modi also called for a “decisive response” from the private sector to government reforms, for which he reiterated his commitment.

“Indian companies must invest more aggressively in R&D, adopt cutting-edge technologies, deepen supply chain capabilities, and compete on quality and productivity rather than protected margins. Incentives and tariff concessions can boost growth, but lasting competitiveness must rely on innovation, efficiency and scale. Likewise, as productivity increases, the benefits must be shared equitably among workers, shareholders, and owner-managers. Sustainable growth requires social legitimacy. Rising real wages, skills upgrades and stable employment strengthen domestic demand and social cohesion, which in turn supports long-term investment. “Asked about the budget’s emphasis on women, the prime minister said women’s welfare guides every decision of the government. “…It is a matter of national pride that our Finance Minister Nirmala Ji has presented nine consecutive budgets, which is a record in itself and a matter of pride. Several women across India have been inspired by this,” he said.Listing out several initiatives in the Budget, the Prime Minister made a special mention of hostel-related announcements. “Many girls drop out not because of lack of talent but because of the difficulty of long commutes to labs and late study hours. This intervention directly addresses this limitation. “Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi said that these steps are related to training of allied health professionals, which will benefit women. “Women have always been at the center of care, but mostly in the informal sector. We are embarking on a massive effort to formalize care by training 150,000 caregivers next year and expanding institutions of allied health professionals with a target of training 100,000 caregivers within 5 years. This does two things: it creates dignified, certified employment for women while strengthening India’s healthcare capabilities. “