State defence minister Sanjay Seth attended the Second Annual ‘Trident Lecture’ orga­nised by the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi on 1 September 2026 and delivered a special address on the theme ‘Leveraging the Po­tential of Next Generation for Nation Building’.

During his address, Seth underscored the significance of jointness, in­tegration, civil-military coordination and a strong and self-reliant defence system in the con­text of the evolving global security environment. He highlighted that, under the guid­ance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of defence minister Rajnath Singh, India is continuously strengthening its defence capabilities and progressing towards the vision of aatmanirbhar and developed India. He stated that the commitment of the defence forces, adoption of modern technology and enhanced coordination among the three Services are the foundation of a strong and secure India.

Highlighting the strength of India’s youth, Seth said that the young population is contribut­ing across a wide range of sectors, including defence, industry, startups, space, agriculture, technology and sports. He noted that India’s aspiration has evolved from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Make for the World’, reflecting the country’s transition from import dependence towards man­ufacturing and export of globally competitive products and technologies.

Applauding the growing role of Indian MSMEs and indigenous industries, the minister stressed the need to strengthen national capabilities in semiconductors, electronics and advanced tech­nologies to prepare for the wars of the future.

Addressing the gathering, Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, CISC, noted that national security now encompasses economic security, technological competition, maritime resilience, critical in­frastructure, supply chains and information integrity, in addition to territorial defence. Refer­ring to recent operational experience, including Operation Sindoor, he underlined the impor­tance of coordinated planning and integrated execution.

Other eminent speakers including Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Sandeep Jain and Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd) deliberated on significant topics like civil military fusion, multi domain warfare, emerging technologies, jointness and India’s preparedness for future security challenges. The discussions reinforced the need for a forward-looking, integrated and innovation-driven approach to national security as India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

During the event, the minister also launched the book titled An Era in Olive Green: Gen Anil Chauhan, Duty, Leadership and Legacy.

The 2nd Annual Trident Lecture concluded with the closing address by Vice Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine, Organisation and Training).