Rajnath Singh tells air warriors at Bagdogra to guard against cyber and information attacks

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the armed forces to keep the highest level of operational readiness, with a special focus on domain awareness, cyber resilience and information integrity, as threats move beyond conventional border conflict.

He was speaking to Indian Air Force personnel at Air Force Station, Bagdogra, West Bengal, on 7 November, on the eve of Diwali. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was present.

A more complex threat

Singh said warfare now includes asymmetric warfare, proxy wars, cyber-attacks, drone swarms, information operations and narrative management. "Often, the adversary avoids direct confrontation and instead seeks to exploit our vulnerabilities," he said.

He warned that an adversary may use social media to "sow doubt" among local people and soldiers with misleading information. "In such a scenario, your role extends beyond that of an ordinary soldier," he said.

Bagdogra and the local community

Singh described Bagdogra as a strategically important region and a crucial link for the North-East, and said the air warriors posted there are a "robust shield" for the eastern sector.

He urged personnel to engage more with local people. "The more you engage with the local community, the weaker the adversary's conspiracies will become," he said.

Technology and Agniveers

Reaffirming the push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he pointed to growing work by Indian start-ups and industry on drones, anti-drone systems and advanced equipment, and urged the forces to keep building skills in drone operations and cyber security.

He also referred to the Cabinet's approval of a "Second Tour of Duty" for Agniveers. After the two-year engagement, he said, all Agniveers will get a chance to be enrolled as regular soldiers, subject to their willingness and the selection criteria. He called it a significant Diwali gift for them.

Singh thanked soldiers' families for their sacrifices and said the nation "will always stand by their families". Air Officer Commanding Air Commodore Manish Sharma and other senior IAF officials attended.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Defence, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (07 NOV 2026 1:44PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Defence Forces must maintain highest level of operational readiness, with focus on domain awareness, cyber resilience & information integrity to counter emerging threats: Raksha Mantri at Air Force Station, Bagdogra.