President Droupadi Murmu Meets 66th National Defence College Course Members at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi, October 13, 2026: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday told members of the 66th National Defence College (NDC) Course that India’s security environment is being reshaped by rapid changes in technology, warfare and global competition, and that meeting these challenges will require strategic foresight, quicker decision-making and stronger links between scientific innovation and national security.

The faculty and course members of the 66th NDC Course called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she addressed senior officers from the Indian Armed Forces, the Civil Services and friendly foreign countries. In her remarks, Murmu said the security and technological landscapes are changing rapidly, creating new and complex challenges for states and defence institutions. She said modern warfare now extends into cyber security, space technology and biotechnology, alongside the traditional domains of military power.

The President said national security can no longer be viewed only through the lens of military capability. It now requires close cooperation between scientific institutions and the armed forces so that innovation can be converted into practical solutions. She also pointed out that recent conflicts have highlighted the value of cost-effective technologies that can complement advanced defence systems and help countries use available resources more efficiently.

Murmu referred to the Government of India’s Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme as an example of a coordinated effort to deepen this connection between innovation and security. According to her, the scheme is designed to promote indigenous research and technological development, while also supporting deep-tech startups and the creation of technologies critical to strategic requirements, economic security and Atmanirbharta.

On emerging technologies, the President said many countries, including India, believe that the future security environment will be shaped by the convergence of quantum technologies, biotechnologies and Artificial Intelligence. She added that space-based capabilities have also become important for national security. While Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being used across science, national security and economic activity, and is expected to assist in strategic decision-making, she cautioned that such decisions cannot be outsourced entirely to technology. A balanced approach, she said, must be calibrated carefully. Murmu said she was satisfied that NDC course modules and interactions address these different dimensions of emerging concerns.

Murmu also drew on ancient Indian texts to frame her remarks on security and statecraft. She cited the Valmiki Ramayana and the Mahabharata, saying they contain detailed descriptions of security response mechanisms and the duties of a ruler. In particular, she referred to the questions Bhagwan Ram asked Bharat in Chitrakoot on matters such as military readiness, strategic decision-making, intelligence gathering, fiscal management, justice, public welfare and external relations.

She also recalled Bheeshma Pitamah’s guidance to Yudhishthir in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, which she said elaborates strategies for protecting the kingdom, including the management of a spying network, and stresses security alongside societal cohesion. Under the theory of righteous rule, she said, economic resources, diplomacy, defence and internal peace are all integral elements.

Economic resilience, the President added, is also a central part of the national security framework. She said the Indian economy has repeatedly shown that it can absorb disruptions caused by external factors without compromising strategic freedom of action.

Expressing confidence in the course, Murmu said the NDC programme has equipped participants with insights that will help them contribute to strategic thinking and leadership responsibilities, strengthening the national security framework of the countries they represent. She extended her best wishes to the officers for their future endeavours.

The National Defence College course is designed to prepare senior officers of the civil services and defence personnel from India and friendly foreign countries for higher responsibilities in national security and public policy. The 66th Course includes participants from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services and a number of officers from friendly foreign countries. Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta is the Commandant of the National Defence College.