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Rajnath Singh releases RAKSHA, India's 10-year defence diplomacy roadmap

English हिंदी ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം தமிழ் తెలుగు
First brief 3 Sep, 4:30 pm IST Updated 3 Sep, 4:30 pm IST 4 developments 3 min read Latest ↓
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the deck of INS Vikrant
Photo: Prime Minister's Office / Wikimedia Commons · GODL-India

Where it stands

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a document called 'RAKSHA' on 3 September 2026. The release took place at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi. RAKSHA sets out India's defence diplomacy for the next 10 years. The document has four pillars. The pillars are strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous defence exports and maritime security. The Ministry of Defence wants India to be the net security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. RAKSHA is a stated plan of the government, not a law. The ministry's public statement gives no targets and no money figures. On the same day Singh held talks with Belgium's defence minister Theo Francken in New Delhi. Singh said the two sides signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on defence industry.

Background

India already had a maritime vision before RAKSHA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced SAGAR in Mauritius on 12 March 2015. SAGAR means Security and Growth for All in the Region. On 12 March 2025 Modi announced MAHASAGAR, also in Mauritius. MAHASAGAR widens the focus from the Indian Ocean to the whole Global South. India's defence exports reached a record Rs 38,424 crore in 2025-26. The government's target is Rs 50,000 crore of exports by 2029. On 10 March 2026 Rajnath Singh released 'Defence Forces Vision 2047'. Vision 2047 covers reforms inside the armed forces. RAKSHA covers India's defence ties with other countries.

How it developed

  1. March 2015 to March 2025
    How it started

    India's maritime vision grew from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced SAGAR on 12 March 2015. Modi was in Mauritius for the commissioning of the patrol ship Barracuda. India built the ship at Garden Reach, Kolkata. SAGAR means Security and Growth for All in the Region. SAGAR covers the Indian Ocean Region. On 30 August 2024 Rajnath Singh set a target of Rs 50,000 crore of defence exports by 2029. Singh also set a target of Rs 3 lakh crore of defence production by 2029. On 12 March 2025 Modi announced MAHASAGAR in Port Louis, Mauritius. MAHASAGAR means Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. MAHASAGAR widens the focus from the Indian Ocean to the whole Global South.

    Embassy of India, BelgradePress Information BureauAkashvani News
  2. 10 March 2026
    New fact

    Rajnath Singh releases Defence Forces Vision 2047

    On 10 March 2026 Rajnath Singh released 'Defence Forces Vision 2047' at South Block, New Delhi. Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff prepared that document. Vision 2047 covers reforms, jointness and self-reliance inside the armed forces. RAKSHA is a separate document on defence ties with other countries.

    Press Information BureauAkashvani NewsDD News
  3. 2 April 2026
    New fact

    Ministry reports record defence exports of Rs 38,424 crore

    On 2 April 2026 the Ministry of Defence reported defence exports of Rs 38,424 crore for 2025-26. Exports rose 62.66 per cent over the previous year's Rs 23,622 crore. Public sector units gave 54.84 per cent of exports. Private firms gave 45.16 per cent. India exported to more than 80 countries. The government's target is Rs 50,000 crore of exports by 2029.

    Press Information BureauAkashvani NewsDD News
  4. 3 September 2026
    New fact

    Rajnath Singh releases RAKSHA at Kartavya Bhawan

    On 3 September 2026 Rajnath Singh released the RAKSHA document at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi. The Ministry of Defence said RAKSHA sets India's roadmap for global defence partnerships for 10 years. The four pillars are strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous exports and maritime security. The ministry wants a stronger Indian role as net security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. Army chief General Dhiraj Seth and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh attended. Officials of the External Affairs Ministry and the National Security Council Secretariat also attended.

    Press Information BureauANIBusiness Standard
  5. 3 September 2026
    New fact

    Singh holds defence talks with Belgium on the same day

    On 3 September 2026 Singh also met Belgium's Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade Theo Francken in New Delhi. The meeting took place during Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever's visit to India. The two ministers agreed to expand ties through defence cooperation dialogue, high-level visits, training and capacity building. Both sides agreed on the need for maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Singh said on X that the two sides signed several MoUs and contracts on defence industrial cooperation at the meeting.

    Press Information BureauIANSBusiness Standard

Why it matters for UPSC

GS2 · International relationsGS3 · Security and defenceGS3 · Defence manufacturing and exports

For GS2 and GS3, know that RAKSHA is a ministry roadmap, not a law passed by Parliament. Remember the four pillars: strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous exports and maritime security. Do not mix up SAGAR of 2015 with MAHASAGAR of 2025.

Key terms

Defence diplomacyDefence diplomacy means building ties with other countries through military cooperation. The tools are joint exercises, training of foreign officers, visits by military chiefs and sale of Indian equipment. Relief work by Indian ships after a cyclone in a neighbouring country is also defence diplomacy. The Ministry of Defence calls defence diplomacy a core pillar of India's foreign policy.
RAKSHA documentRAKSHA is the name of the document released on 3 September 2026. Raksha is the Hindi word for defence. The Ministry of Defence is Raksha Mantralaya in Hindi. The ministry's statement gives no longer form for the name. The document gives a 10-year direction for India's defence ties abroad. The four pillars are strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous exports and maritime security.
Net security provider and first responderA net security provider is a country that gives security to its whole region. A first responder is the first country to reach a disaster with help. In late 2014 India was the first to send drinking water to the Maldives. In March 2025 India sent relief to Myanmar after an earthquake under Operation Brahma. The Indian Ocean Region means the ocean and the countries on its coast.
SAGAR and MAHASAGARSAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. Prime Minister Modi announced SAGAR in Mauritius on 12 March 2015. SAGAR covers the Indian Ocean Region. MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. Modi announced MAHASAGAR in Port Louis, Mauritius, on 12 March 2025. MAHASAGAR widens the focus to the whole Global South. Sagar means sea in Hindi. Mahasagar means ocean.
Defence exports and the 2029 targetDefence exports are weapons and equipment made in India and sold abroad. Exports reached a record Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26. Exports rose 62.66 per cent over the previous year. India exported to more than 80 countries. The government's target is Rs 50,000 crore of exports by 2029.
Indo-PacificThe Indo-Pacific means the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean seen as one region. Prime Minister Modi set out India's Indo-Pacific vision at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2018. Modi called for a free, open and inclusive region.
Sources (15)
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