Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has credited the seamless logistics management between the agencies, from mobilisation of the Armed Forces to delivering the equipment at the right time and place, as a deciding factor in the success of Operation Sindoor.
Stating that in today’s era, wars are won not just with guns and bullets, but with their time-bound delivery, Singh, during his virtual address at the convocation ceremony of Vadodara-based Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV), said that Operation Sindoor was a vivid example of excellent logistics management.
Emphasising that logistics should be seen through the prism of strategic importance and not just as a process of delivering goods, the defence minister said, “Whether it’s the soldiers fighting on the border or personnel engaged in disaster management, without coordination or proper management of resources, even the strongest of intentions weaken. Logistics is the power that transforms chaos into control. Power is measured not only by weapons, but also by timely resource management. Be it war, disaster, or global pandemic, the nation that keeps its logistics chain strong is the most stable, secure, and capable.”
Singh highlighted the importance of logistics in the economic progress of the country, terming it as one of the main pillars that connects every step, from pre-production to consumption. He termed the contribution of logistics in India’s GDP as important both directly and indirectly, while also underlining the crucial role it played during COVID, when lakhs of vaccines, oxygen cylinders, and medical teams reached from one place to another in a time of need.
He pointed out that India has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development in the last 11 years, and the foundation of this transformation, which is being carried out with a holistic and integrated approach, has been laid through policy reforms & mission-mode projects. He added that its impact is not limited to physical connectivity, but it has also increased economic productivity, reduced logistics costs, and improved service delivery.
“Under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, seven powerful pillars of development like Railways, Roads, Ports, Waterways, Airports, Mass Transport, and Logistics Infrastructure are together giving a strong foundation to India’s economy. PM GatiShakti is not just a scheme, but a vision, which is making infrastructure futuristic through cutting-edge technology and data-based planning,” said Rajnath Singh.
Singh exhorted the students to become problem-solvers and not limit their knowledge to just seeking jobs. “For India to become Viksit Bharat by 2047, one of the things we need is the smart logistics systems. No country can become developed until goods, services, and people move fast and easily in the country,” he said.