Battles now fought in "code and cloud", says PM Modi at Annual NCC Rally

The Prime Minister also hailed Operation Sindoor's success as a testament to the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces and the rising power of the defence sector.

The Prime Minister shared his personal connection with the NCC, saying, "When I was in the NCC, my sense of 'Nation First' was also strengthened in the same way. And today, seeing you all learning the same in the NCC, I feel immense pride."

Recalling the country's recent military achievements, the Prime Minister said, "Operation Sindoor has once again established India's capabilities and the valour of our armed forces."

Operation Sindoor has also shown how advanced and high-tech our indigenous weapons are.

Highlighting the shift from conventional to digital battlefields, the Prime Minister said, "Today, battles are fought on many fronts. Today's battles are fought in code and in the cloud. Countries that lag behind in technology are weak not only in their economy but also in their security."

He further said, "Today, work is being done on Made in India drones. AI and defence innovation are now modernising our forces. This means that the possibilities for you, young people, are expanding greatly, and today I want not only those sitting here, but crores of young people across the country to take advantage of this."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that a "historic Free Trade Agreement" was finalised with the European Union on Tuesday and noted that it is being praised as "mother of all deals" and a "game-changer".

Addressing the annual NCC rally here, PM Narendra Modi said that the FTAs India has signed will create countless opportunities for the country's youth.

He said the world is looking at the youth of India with great confidence.

"A historic free trade agreement has been reached between India and the European Union. Before this, India had also signed free trade agreements with countries such as Oman, New Zealand, the UK, the UAE, Australia, and Mauritius. All these agreements are going to create countless opportunities for millions of our young people. Today, the whole world is looking at the youth of India with great confidence, and the reason for this global confidence is their skills and values," he said.

"The agreement that has been reached with the European Union is being hailed by the world as the mother of all deals. It is being described as a game-changer deal for the world. This FTA is your freedom to aspire. This agreement has been made between India and the European Union, which comprises twenty-seven countries. This will benefit Indian startups. Access to funding and the innovation ecosystem for Indian startups will become easier. This agreement will also greatly benefit our creative economy, including film, gaming, fashion, digital content, music, and design, and will create countless new opportunities for India's youth, from research and education to IT and other professional services...Under this agreement, tariffs on more than 99 per cent of India's exports will be either zero or very low," he added.

The NCC Rally marks the culmination of the month-long NCC Republic Day Camp 2026, which witnessed the participation of 2,406 NCC cadets from across the country, including 898 girl cadets.(ANI)