New Delhi, 13 October (H.S.): President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that national security is no longer confined to military capabilities alone, but also requires close cooperation between scientific institutions and the armed forces. She emphasised that, in a rapidly evolving security and technological landscape, enhanced preparedness, strategic foresight and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances are essential to addressing emerging challenges.

The President made these remarks during an interaction with faculty members and participants of the 66th course of the National Defence College (NDC) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She observed that modern warfare was no longer restricted to conventional domains but had expanded to encompass cybersecurity, space technology and biotechnology. Consequently, the importance of mechanisms for swift decision-making had also increased.

Murmu said close coordination between scientific institutions and the armed forces was essential for national security to ensure that innovation could be translated into practical solutions. Recent conflicts, she noted, had underscored the importance of cost-effective technologies that could complement advanced defence systems and ensure more efficient utilisation of available resources.

She also highlighted the importance of government initiatives, such as the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, in strengthening the relationship between national security and innovation.

The President noted that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) was expanding across science, national security and various sectors of economic activity. However, she cautioned that the technology could not be entrusted with complete responsibility for decision-making. She stressed the need for a balanced approach to the use of AI.

Murmu further stated that economic resilience was an integral component of the national security framework. She observed that the Indian economy had demonstrated its ability to withstand disruptions arising from external factors. India had achieved this resilience without compromising its strategic autonomy in decision-making.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar