India Sets Up Panel to Draft ‘Sudarshan Shield’ Defence Framework

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced the creation of a specialised committee to frame the blueprint for Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a national defence shield aimed at countering evolving aerial threats.

The panel will prepare a medium-term (five years) and long-term (ten years) strategy to secure both military and civilian infrastructure from missiles, drones, and emerging airborne technologies.

Mission Sudarshan Chakra at a Glance

Originally unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address, Mission Sudarshan Chakra envisions an integrated shield system combining detection networks, interception weapons, and coordinated command structures. The goal is to build a robust, layered defence system capable of protecting Indian airspace against conventional and hybrid warfare.

Key Focus Areas of the Committee

• Development of a national air defence architecture that can detect, track, and neutralise multiple threats simultaneously.
• Integration of hard-kill systems like missile interceptors and soft-kill measures such as electronic warfare.
• Exploration of directed energy weapons and next-generation technologies.
• Establishing joint operational procedures across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Collaboration with civilian agencies for the protection of critical infrastructure.

Recent Progress in Air Defence

India has already carried out successful trials of integrated air defence systems off the Odisha coast, destroying multiple aerial targets. These tests are seen as building blocks for the upcoming Sudarshan Shield framework.

Strategic Importance

Highlighting the changing nature of conflict, Rajnath Singh stressed that future wars will extend beyond traditional battlefields to include cyber, information, ecological and biological domains. He urged military commanders to anticipate such threats and adopt a proactive, technology-driven approach.

The Defence Ministry expects the committee’s recommendations to serve as a roadmap, ensuring India develops a self-reliant and future-ready air defence shield within the next decade