PRAYAGRAJ, May 5 -- Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for sustained investment in research and the cultivation of the "element of surprise" to ensure preparedness in an era of rapid technological transformation. Singh was addressing defence personnel, industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and academia at the inaugural session of the three-day North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj. "There is no substitute for research. The nature of future wars is being determined in laboratories today," he said. He also mentioned Operation Sindoor days ahead of its first anniversary and described it as a "unique" example of how the Indian military utilised advanced technology to deliver a decisive blow to terror groups and their "patrons". In addition, he referred to Israel's 'Operation Grim Beepers' pager blasts to warn that "everything can be weaponised", as he underlined the rapidly changing nature of modern warfare. Singh emphasised that while the armed forces "showed patience", they were clinical in destroying terrorist infrastructure during Operation Sindoor. He added that the operation served as a global reminder of the Indian military's capabilities. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Singh highlighted how recent conflicts have demonstrated the speed at which warfare is changing. "In the Russia-Ukraine conflict, warfare shifted from tanks and missiles to game-changing drones and sensors within just three to four years," he said. Referring to the pager blasts in Lebanon and Syria in September 2024, Singh added, "Could anyone have imagined that a seemingly ordinary pager would become a bomb? The pager attacks in Lebanon and Syria have forced the entire world to rethink warfare. No one can predict what could become a weapon these days... Everything can be weaponised." The defence minister said India must develop capabilities that allow it to deliver unexpected responses when required. He said defence research has been placed at the core of national priorities, with the DRDO working closely with industry partners....