4 months ago
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh connected Wednesday (January 14, 2026) said that India has emerged arsenic a beardown and developed nation, adding that portion the state was earlier not taken earnestly connected planetary platforms, contiguous the satellite listens erstwhile India speaks.
Addressing the 10th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day astatine Manekshaw Centre successful the nationalist capital, helium urged veterans to proceed guiding the federation and highlighted the value of promoting societal harmony.
“Today, India is moving guardant arsenic a beardown and developed nation. Earlier, India was not taken earnestly connected planetary platforms, but today, erstwhile India speaks, the satellite listens. Promoting societal harmony is the request of the hour. In each field, your relation tin usher the aboriginal of India,” helium said.
Mr. Singh said that veterans are contributing crossed fields similar education, agriculture, and catastrophe management, calling them important pillars of the nation.
“Today, galore veterans are contributing successful each field, from acquisition to agriculture and catastrophe management. Our authorities believes that our soldiers and veterans are important pillars of the nation. Just arsenic important decisions astatine location are taken aft consulting elders, your relation is arsenic significant. Our authorities has taken respective initiatives for veterans,” Mr. Singh said.
He remembered soldiers who served successful Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan and highlighted the government’s initiatives, including the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which provides fiscal stableness to veterans.
“I would besides similar to retrieve the soldiers who served successful Sri Lanka arsenic portion of the Indian Peacekeeping Force. During that time, galore soldiers attained martyrdom. Their courageousness should animate us. The authorities acknowledges the contributions of the peacekeepers who participated successful Operation Pawan. Prime Minister Modi visited their memorial during his Sri Lanka sojourn successful 2015, and we proceed to honour them astatine the War Memorial successful Delhi,” helium said.
“We person besides implemented the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, which has provided fiscal stableness to veterans. This is not a favour from the government; it was a substance of justness for you,” helium said.
Mr. Singh highlighted the National War Memorial and said that respect for soldiers is simply a arrogant contented successful India.
He urged the younker to larn from veterans and question their guidance erstwhile needed.
“Veterans are besides being fixed precedence successful nationalist enterprises, and their acquisition is being utilised successful the authorities sector. The authorities has built places similar the National War Memorial to punctual citizens of the sacrifices down our bid and security. The spot of a federation cannot beryllium measured by policies and schemes alone. The respect our nine gives to veterans is our societal capital. It is simply a substance of pridefulness that respect for soldiers has not travel from directives; it is rooted successful our tradition,” helium said.
“Our younger procreation is carrying guardant this sentiment with an unfastened heart. Our younker request to larn from you. Agniveers should question your guidance and basal with the civilian medication erstwhile needed,” helium said.
Armed Forces Veterans’ Day is celebrated connected January 14 each year, marking the commencement day of the Late Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who retired connected this time successful 1953. A towering fig successful India’s subject history, Field Marshal Cariappa, the First Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army, led the forces to triumph successful the 1947 warfare and laid the instauration for an enduring bequest of service, discipline, and patriotism, a merchandise from the Ministry of Defence said.
