The Trainee Officers of the Indian Foreign Service 2025 batch called on the Raksha Mantri at South Block, New Delhi on 25 February 2026. The interaction was convened to familiarise the officers with the defence establishment and strategic priorities. The Ministry of Defence issued the briefing as part of a structured orientation programme for new diplomats.

The Raksha Mantri underlined the Government of India’s determination to expand the capacity of the indigenous defence industry for local production and exports under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, and he highlighted the crucial role of Indian diplomats in realising that vision. He set out steps that the Government has taken to absorb niche technologies in the defence sector and noted that India has moved from being a major importer of defence equipment to a manufacturer and exporter of platforms in all domains. The remarks placed emphasis on leveraging national industrial capacity to project strategic autonomy.

The minister observed that the global comity of nations is closely following India’s growth story and looking to its leadership role, and he encouraged the officers to work with honesty and integrity to further India’s positive image abroad. He reminded them that they represent the aspirations of one point four billion (bn) Indians and urged them to remain open to new ideas, people and perspectives from every culture. He also asked them to carry the values of India’s civilisational wisdom while conducting their duties.

Before the interaction, officials from relevant verticals of the Ministry of Defence briefed the officers on defence diplomacy initiatives, the defence budget, Tri-service integration and defence acquisition processes. The batch comprised 55 trainee officers, including 53 Indian trainees and two trainees from Bhutan. The ministry noted the officers’ achievement in joining the Indian Foreign Service and conveyed congratulations for their hard work.