RAKSHA’ Framework
Why in News?
- On September 3, 2026, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh officially released the 'RAKSHA' document on defence diplomacy in New Delhi.
- This is India’s first consolidated public blueprint outlines India's roadmap and vision for global defence partnerships over the next 10 years.
The 4 Key Pillars of the 'RAKSHA' Framework
- Strategic Partnerships
- Deepening Ties: Elevating bilateral and multilateral security cooperation with international partners.
- Global Rules-Based Order: Fostering global engagement to promote long-term international stability and a rules-based order.
- Capacity Building
- Joint Military Exercises: Expanding both the scale, range, and operational depth of joint exercises with partner forces.
- Military Training: Upgrading training programs and sharing defence best practices with friendly nations.
- Targeted Assistance: Treating military capability and training assistance as a distinct foreign policy tool rather than just a byproduct of routine exercises.
- Indigenous Exports
- Make in India Support: Focusing heavily on accelerating exports of indigenously developed defence systems and components.
- Global Manufacturing Hub: Transforming India into a highly reliable, global defence manufacturing partner by promoting cooperation around home-grown platforms.
- Maritime Security
- Net Security Provider: Reaffirming and strengthening India's position as a Net Security Provider in the critical Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- First Responder: Formalizing India's role as a trusted First Responder during regional maritime emergencies and natural disasters.
Key Objectives & Significance
- Inter-Agency Collaboration: The framework's launch involved active coordination between the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and the National Security Council Secretariat.
- Bypassing Import Dependency: The release aligns with parallel domestic directives urging Defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) to aggressively cut reliance on imports.
- Long-Term Strategic Visibility: It provides a clear, measurable roadmap for foreign allies looking to engage with India's defence sector, creating structural predictability for the next ten years.
