New Delhi, Jan. 2 -- India's journey toward a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 is often measured by manufacturing milestones, indigenisation targets, and defence export figures. Recently, the nation celebrated new peaks in defence production, hitting a record Rs.1.54 lakh crore in the 2024-25 fiscal year, driven by the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative and government support. Yet, beneath these numbers lies a more profound truth: India's defence future will be shaped less by what we produce and more by how we think.

In an era defined by artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber warfare, and space-based defence, national security cannot be limited to industrial challenges. It is a knowledge, capability, and governance challen...