Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday conferred Indonesia's highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia, as India and Indonesia elevated their strategic partnership by signing 20 agreements spanning defence, technology, education, healthcare and maritime cooperation.

The honour was presented by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. President Prabowo said the award recognises Modi's contribution to strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation between the two countries.

Defence cooperation emerged as the centrepiece of the visit. Indonesia agreed to procure additional units of India's BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, becoming the third foreign country after the Philippines and Vietnam to acquire the missile system. Jakarta also decided to purchase India's indigenous Astra air-to-air missile, further deepening defence ties between the two nations.

The agreements were signed during delegation-level talks between the two leaders, reflecting growing strategic convergence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defence Partnership Expands

Prime Minister Modi described the bilateral relationship as entering a "golden chapter", saying the growing trust between the two countries would strengthen cooperation in defence, maritime security, disaster management and industrial collaboration.

Both sides agreed to enhance defence exchanges, expand coast guard cooperation and work jointly to improve maritime security across the Indian Ocean. The leaders also discussed increasing collaboration in the blue economy, port development and maritime trade.

India and Indonesia are also expected to jointly develop the strategically significant Sabang Port, located near the Strait of Malacca, a key global shipping route close to India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Technology, Education and Healthcare Cooperation

Beyond defence, the two countries announced several initiatives focused on technology and human resource development.

India will support Indonesia in developing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), marking another step in institutional cooperation between the world's two largest democracies. Both countries also signed agreements covering artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, telecommunications and startup collaboration.

Prime Minister Modi announced that a campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will be established in Indonesia, aimed at benefiting students across the ASEAN region.

In healthcare, India pledged to improve access to affordable Indian medicines in Indonesia while extending training and capacity-building support for Indonesian doctors and healthcare professionals.

Support for Regional Stability

Addressing a joint press conference, Modi reiterated India's support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective path towards lasting peace.

He also reaffirmed India's commitment to ASEAN centrality and highlighted that democratic values and diversity continue to form the foundation of India-Indonesia relations.

President Prabowo praised several of Modi's governance initiatives, saying Indonesia has studied and adopted a number of Indian development programmes because of their success in improving public welfare.

Cultural and Historic Links

India and Indonesia share centuries-old civilisational ties dating back nearly 2,000 years. Hindu and Buddhist traditions have significantly influenced Indonesian culture, particularly in Bali and Java.

Later during his visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora in Jakarta before visiting Prambanan Temple, Indonesia's largest Hindu temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marking his first visit to the historic complex.

The visit is expected to further reinforce India's Act East policy while expanding strategic, economic and cultural engagement with one of Southeast Asia's most important partners.

Three indigenously built warships were formally inducted into the Indian Navy at Kolkata's Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, marking a significant step in the country's push toward self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the commissioning ceremony and made clear that India's strategic ambition goes well beyond buying weapons from abroad.

"These ships have been built in India. Their design was developed in India. The skills and hard work of Indian engineers have gone into them," Modi said at the event. He added that India no longer wishes to remain only a buyer in the defence sector — the goal now is to become a manufacturer. "The day we become manufacturers, we will also become decisive," he said.

The three vessels — stealth frigate INS Dunagiri, survey ship INS Sandhayak, and anti-submarine warfare craft INS Agraay — were all designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.

INS Dunagiri is the most combat-ready of the three. The fifth frigate under Project 17A, it carries BrahMos surface-to-surface supersonic missiles, one of the most formidable weapons in India's naval inventory. It also has helicopter operating capability and stealth features that reduce its radar cross-section, making it harder for enemy systems to detect. Captain Divya Alok, the ship's Commanding Officer (Designate), confirmed Dunagiri will join the Eastern Naval Command and the Eastern Fleet — a posting of considerable strategic weight given India's growing interests across the Bay of Bengal and the broader Indo-Pacific.

INS Sandhayak takes on a different but critical role. The fourth vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) series, it is built for hydrographic and oceanographic work — mapping sea depths, collecting marine data, and producing nautical charts used by both the Navy and civilian shipping. It carries Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles, giving it deep-sea survey capability that older vessels in the series lacked.

INS Agraay is the fourth Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. Equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers, and advanced sonar systems, it is designed specifically to detect and engage enemy submarines operating close to India's coastline. Its silent running mode — the ability to operate at very low acoustic levels — makes it particularly difficult for adversarial sonar to pick up. Beyond combat, it can also be deployed in search and rescue operations and for monitoring maritime traffic along the coast.

All three ships represent a continuation of India's effort to reduce dependence on foreign defence imports. GRSE has been one of the primary engines of this push, delivering multiple vessels across different classes over the past several years.

Driven by the field performance of indigenous platforms during Operation Sindoor, India’s defence industry is experiencing an unprecedented export boom, with a pipeline of fresh orders exceeding ₹21,000 crore. Data compiled by the Ministry of Defence reveals that India's defence exports touched an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore during the 2025–26 financial year, marking a massive 62.66% surge from the previous fiscal.

Senior defence officials confirmed that the live deployment of indigenous weapon systems—including the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, the Akash air defence system, and advanced loitering munitions—fundamentally transformed global perceptions. Weapon platforms previously viewed by foreign buyers as cost-effective but untested alternatives are now being recognized as elite, battle-proven systems, triggering intense acquisition interest from Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Global interest peaks after operation

South Block sources stated that the precision and operational readiness demonstrated during the 96-hour conflict significantly accelerated pending export negotiations. The BrahMos missile system, in particular, drew international attention after successfully bypassing sophisticated foreign-origin air defence networks during the operations.

Following this combat evaluation, new export orders worth billions have materialised rapidly. Well-placed sources familiar with the developments indicated that multiple military delegations have visited New Delhi over the last month to inspect production lines at various Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private assembly units.

Huge pipeline of missile deals

A breakdown of the current order book highlights a substantial export footprint for India's premium missile segments. Fresh contracts worth approximately ₹12,500 crore for the shoreline and air-launched variants of the BrahMos missile have been locked in with the Philippines, Vietnam, and two other undisclosed nations.

Meanwhile, a separate multi-million dollar missile contract with Indonesia, valued at nearly ₹3,600 crore, has progressed past technical evaluation and is currently sitting in the final government approval stage. In the air defence vertical, Armenia remains a major partner, adding to its previous orders by finalizing a fresh ₹6,100 crore contract for the indigenous Akash surface-to-air missile systems to secure its contested airspace.

Major shift in export basket

The composition of India's military shipments reveals a two-tier strategy dividing complete systems and component integration. Currently, India exports military hardware to more than 100 countries globally.

|                      INDIA'S DEFENCE EXPORT PROFILE                      |

| Tier 1: Major Systems    | Akash Air Defence, BrahMos Missiles, Pinaka   |

| (e.g., Armenia, SE Asia) | Rockets, ATAGS Artillery, Swathi Radars       |

| Tier 2: Components       | Fuselages, Wings, Stabilizers, Sub-assemblies |

The United States has emerged as the single largest destination by value, though its imports focus heavily on structural sub-systems. Indian facilities, such as the Tata Boeing Aerospace venture in Hyderabad, are actively manufacturing fuselages for Apache attack helicopters, alongside aircraft wings and empennages for global aerospace giants. Conversely, nations like Armenia and partners in Southeast Asia are primarily absorbing full-scale, integrated weapon systems.

Private sector drives manufacturing surge

The internal mechanics of this manufacturing surge point to a healthily balanced local ecosystem. According to the MoD, DPSUs contributed 54.84% of the exports in FY26, while private sector enterprises accounted for a competitive 45.16%.

Sustained policy interventions—including digital, streamlined single-window export clearances and relaxed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules—have allowed private players to scale up production under deadline pressure. This collaborative network now comprises over 145 registered exporters, backed by more than 16,000 MSMEs and over 1,000 defense startups operating within the domestic corridors.

Chasing the fifty thousand milestone

Reflecting on the 25-fold export jump since 2016–17, when outbound shipments stood at a meager ₹1,522 crore, the government has revised its near-term projections upwards. The Ministry of Defence has set a firm defense export target of ₹50,000 crore by the 2029–30 financial year.

With the combat validation from Operation Sindoor addressing historical skepticism regarding operational reliability, industrial experts believe the momentum is self-sustaining. The focus is now shifting toward establishing international maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hubs to support Indian platforms operating overseas.

Yogi Adityanath Warns Against Namaz on Roads Ahead of Bakrid

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday issued a firm warning against offering namaz on roads, asserting that the state government would not permit any disruption to public movement as Bakrid approaches. Speaking at a media house event in the state capital, the Chief Minister made it clear that while prayers would not be stopped, they must remain confined to designated spaces.

Strict Stance on Public Spaces

Yogi Adityanath emphasised that roads are meant for traffic and common citizens, not for religious gatherings. “Namaz will not be allowed on roads. If people agree peacefully, fine; otherwise, stricter measures will be taken,” he said. He added that prayers should be offered at mosques, Eidgahs, or other designated places, and larger congregations could be managed in shifts if necessary. 

The remarks come nearly a week before Bakrid, when large numbers typically gather for Eid prayers. Officials have been directed to ensure compliance with existing orders that ban namaz on thoroughfares.

Law Applies Equally to All

The Chief Minister stressed that the law remains the same for everyone in Uttar Pradesh. “People ask me whether namaz happens on roads in UP? I say, absolutely not. Roads are for common people to walk on. No one has the right to come and disturb traffic,” he stated. 

He referred to a previous incident in Bareilly in September 2025, where tensions arose over a protest following namaz, leading to stone-pelting and subsequent police action. “People tried their hand in Bareilly, and they also saw the strength of the government,” Yogi Adityanath noted, underscoring that no one would be allowed to block roads or create disorder.

2022-23 Ban on Roadside Namaz

The Yogi government had already imposed a complete ban on offering namaz on roads in 2022-2023. Instructions were issued to restrict religious events, including those on Eid and Alvida Jumma, to proper religious venues. Local administrations have since been enforcing these guidelines to prevent traffic snarls and maintain public order.

Highlighting State’s Transformation

While addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister also spoke about the broader changes in Uttar Pradesh. He recalled how the state was once associated with violence and instability but is now manufacturing BrahMos missiles. “If the atmosphere is negative, ‘One District-One Mafia’ emerges. If it is positive, ‘One District-One Product’ is created,” he observed. 

Yogi Adityanath pointed to rising investments, increasing employment, and the state’s progress towards becoming a one trillion-dollar economy. He also highlighted improvements in women’s safety, noting that women now work night shifts and return home without fear. “No one can harass daughters now,” he said. The state has remained revenue surplus for six years and is no longer considered a BIMARU state, he added.

Balanced Development Across Districts

The government, according to the Chief Minister, is focusing on equitable growth across all 75 districts, leveraging agriculture, infrastructure, and the power of the youth. He reiterated that Uttar Pradesh no longer needs to depend on external support and has immense internal potential.

During recent election campaigns in West Bengal, Yogi Adityanath had criticised alleged appeasement politics there, contrasting it with the situation in Uttar Pradesh where roads are kept clear for traffic and festivals proceed peacefully without curfews or riots.

Public Order Before Festival

As preparations for Bakrid gain pace, the administration is expected to step up vigil to ensure prayers do not spill onto roads. Local police and district officials have been asked to coordinate with community leaders for smooth conduct of religious events within permitted limits. 

Authorities say the focus remains on maintaining law and order while respecting religious sentiments. The message from the top appears clear: religious freedom is protected, but public spaces cannot be allowed to turn into arenas of chaos.

The Chief Minister’s remarks are likely to set the tone for administrative preparedness in the coming days across the state.