Keynote Address at the National Seminar on Defence Acquisition

Our defence forces require timely and cost effective acquisition of defence equipment to enable them to meet any challenge to the country's security. Especially all of you who represent the strategic community know very well that we are living in an era of challenges from many quarters. The emerging security scenario is very challenging. Nobody can say what will happen in some of our neighbouring areas. The situation is that critical. So India will have to be fully prepared, our armed forces will have to be fully prepared to meet any challenge from any quarter and they must be able to protect every inch of Indian territory. So, to do that we have to equip them continuously with the most modern equipments. Of course, we have to constantly try to safeguard their welfare, along with providing equipment and training. It is very important for keeping the morale of the armed forces up.