Rajnath Singh, born on July 10, 1951, is an Indian politician and a senior BJP leader. He is the Defence Minister of India. He has previously served as the Home Minister (from 2014-2019), Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (from 2000-2002) and was twice appointed as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (from 2005 to 2009 and 2013 to 2014).
He was born in the Chittor district of Uttar Pradesh to Ram Badan Singh and Gujarati Devi. He received his Master's Degree in Physics from Gorakhpur University. At the age of 13, he got associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Singh started his political career in 1975 as the Bhartiya Jan Sangh district president of Mirzapur, UP. He soon rose through the ranks and was appointed as the state education minister in 1991. In 1994, he was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP, which was followed by him becoming the UP state president for the BJP. He has also held the post of Union Minister for Agriculture in 2003 under the Vajpayee government and was appointed as the national general secretary of BJP in 2004.
He has also authored a book 'Unemployment: Its Reasons and Remedies'. Rajnath Singh is married to Savitri Singh and has two sons and a daughter.
His official Twitter handle is @rajnathsingh and the name of his official Facebook page is Rajnath Singh. He is also active on Instagram under the username rajnathsinghbjp.
PM Modi and Rajnath Singh celebrated Diwali with troops, highlighting India's defence exports and self-reliance.
Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh extended Diwali greetings and shared plans to celebrate the festival, encouraging positivity and paying tribute to soldiers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to a parliamentary debate over electoral integrity allegations during the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Karnal, Haryana. The confrontation coincided with political friction over Jharkhand Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari's remarks referencing regional unrest in Bangladesh and Nepal, which drew counteroffensives from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In response, Congress called for a direct debate between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi while alleging parliamentary microphone muting. Concurrently, internal disciplinary actions led to the suspension of more than 200 Youth Congress office-bearers across eight states. Parliamentary discussions also evaluated floor decorum, speaking allocations, and attendance metrics. On policy matters, the central government detailed revisions to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, introducing an optional two-year retention framework for non-absorbed Agniveers seeking permanent integration. Separately, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri secured an unopposed election to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, and United States midterm election results were analyzed.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to a parliamentary debate over electoral integrity allegations during the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Karnal, Haryana.
The central government has introduced major revisions to the Agnipath scheme, establishing an absorption pathway for all Agniveers into regular military service. Under the revised arrangement, while 25 per cent of Agniveers will enter regular cadre after an initial four-year term, the remaining 75 per cent will receive an additional two-year engagement. Officials confirmed there will be no numerical cap on subsequent regular absorption, which will depend on willingness, physical fitness, and discipline. Absorbed personnel will also retain their seniority alongside batchmates. The government maintained that the Agnipath scheme has not been rolled back.
The central government has announced significant revisions to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme. Under the new policy, seventy-five percent of Agniveers who were scheduled to exit after completing four years of service will now be offered an additional two-year engagement. Following the completion of six years, they will have the opportunity to apply for regular enrolment in the armed forces, subject to objective selection criteria, while twenty-five percent continue to be absorbed into the regular force after four years. Other modifications include changes to the examination sequence, with written exams preceding physical tests, and the issuance of skill certificates upon completion of service. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the move, asserting it will prepare a younger and fitter military. However, the decision triggered strong political reactions, with opposition leaders terming it an election-driven U-turn and questioning whether Agniveers will receive full service benefits or permanent job guarantees, while the Bharatiya Janata Party defended the changes.
A major revision has been announced for the Agnipath scheme, extending the service tenure of Agniveers by two years. Under the updated framework, the engagement period increases from the initial four years to six years. While 25 per cent of Agniveers will continue to be retained in regular forces based on merit, the remaining 75 per cent who were scheduled to exit will now receive an offer for an optional two-year second tour of duty. Following the completion of this additional tenure, willing personnel will be evaluated for potential permanent absorption into the armed forces, subject to objective selection criteria, fitness, and qualifications. The decision follows recommendations from the armed forces to address operational preparedness requirements. Currently, around three lakh Agniveers are serving across the three military branches. The extension comes ahead of the completion of the four-year tenure of the inaugural 2022 batch, offering eligible personnel the flexibility to either continue service or opt out.
A controversy has erupted following the closure and proposed takeover of the 40-acre Air Force Sports Complex situated inside the Air Force Station on Lok Kalyan Marg near the Prime Minister's residence. The move led to the abrupt cancellation of the traditional farewell ceremony for the outgoing Air Chief Marshal. Before retiring, the Air Force Chief raised operational, administrative, and security concerns with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, noting the station supports over 5,000 personnel, air headquarters, Agniveer training, and crucial air defence systems for national capital security.
A major controversy has surfaced over the proposed reclamation of approximately 40 acres of land housing the Air Force Sports Complex within the Race Course Air Force Station in New Delhi. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has initiated moves to reclaim prime government land situated near the Prime Minister's residence, including adjoining facilities like the Delhi Gymkhana Club and Jaipur Polo Ground. Before demitting office, former Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to register strong concerns, highlighting that the decades-old site holds critical facilities and essential services for Air Force personnel and their families. The sports complex, which accommodates an eight-to-nine-hole golf course, a swimming pool, and a gymnasium, has been shut since 28 October due to administrative reasons. The sudden closure also led to the cancellation of the traditional ceremonial farewell golfing event planned for the outgoing Air Force Chief, even as the government reviews the issue.
A mega blueprint accessed by India Today outlines the Bharatiya Janata Party's strategy for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be at the forefront of the campaign. The Prime Minister is set to address rallies across administrative divisions and commissionerates, while Amit Shah focuses on mobilising booth-level workers through regional meetings and conventions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP National General Secretary Nitin Nabin are also scheduled to hold events across the state, with campaign activities set to begin after November 20.
On Statecraft, host Geeta Mohan tracks major geopolitical developments shaping global power and elections. In Israel, Central Elections Committee Chief Justice Noam Solberg has directed Shin Bet to probe allegations of foreign funding and electoral interference following claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid a parliamentary deadlock. Netanyahu's bloc remains short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, leaving Arab parties with potential kingmaker influence. Meanwhile, academic Professor Haim Bresheeth Zabner critiques Israeli politics and voter polarization. Across the Atlantic, President Donald Trump confronts growing challenges ahead of the midterms as Indian American voters reconsider support amid visa restrictions, inflation, and immigration rhetoric, even as Trump backs Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio. Additionally, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered Indian counterterrorism expertise and reiterated regional maritime security commitments at the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in the Philippines.
In Israel, Central Elections Committee Chief Justice Noam Solberg has directed Shin Bet to probe allegations of foreign funding and electoral interference following claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid a parliamentary deadlock.
The Bharatiya Janata Party is launching a month-long nationwide pad yatra campaign from 1st of November to 30th of November to defend the SIR voter list exercise. The initiative aims to counter the INDIA bloc's allegations of vote chori as the opposition prepares for a rally at Ramlila Maidan. Key leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Yogi Adityanath, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Devendra Fadnavis will lead foot marches across various cities. The outreach aims to engage voters directly and explain that the SIR exercise is a cleanup drive to ensure only eligible citizens vote.
A major political controversy has broken out following a controversial remark made by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge referencing Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event in Patna. The Bharatiya Janata Party has responded with intense criticism and launched nationwide agitations, staging protests and demonstrations across major cities including Delhi, Lucknow, and Bengaluru. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the comment, stating that it was shocking to hear such language from the national president of the country's oldest party and termed it contrary to political decorum. Other party leaders also criticised the remarks, describing them as reflective of frustration. Meanwhile, the Congress party defended the Congress chief, with leaders such as Member of Parliament Imran Masood asserting that the phrase was an impromptu retort to an audience member and alleging that the ruling party routinely targets opposition leaders in similar language.
A political storm has erupted following Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's controversial remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's family during an address in Patna. Addressing the matter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed shock and hurt, stating that political disagreements and criticism of government policies are part of a vibrant democracy, but targeting the Prime Minister's family reflects ideological bankruptcy and a degradation of political discourse. Criticising the Congress party for defending rather than apologising for the comment, Singh noted that such conduct hurts the sentiments of crores of citizens and violates public decency. Following the remarks, the Bharatiya Janata Party has initiated pan-India agitations across state capitals, with party workers and senior leaders staging demonstrations from Patna and Raipur to Lucknow and Delhi. Demanding an unconditional apology from Congress leadership, BJP workers also planned a march towards Kharge's Delhi residence, intensifying their confrontation ahead of opposition rallies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi, inaugurating a modern garment manufacturing facility alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel. The unit focuses on contemporary manufacturing techniques to create employment for women workers. The Prime Minister also attended an aerial display at Namo Ghat to mark the 94th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Air Force. Around 100 aircraft, including Rafale, Sukhoi, and indigenous Tejas jets, along with the Surya Kiran and Sarang aerobatic teams, staged manoeuvres over the Ganges in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi to inaugurate a new garment manufacturing facility alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and UP Governor Anandiben Patel. The facility focuses on modern manufacturing techniques to produce traditional weaves and create employment opportunities for women workers. Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister interacted with women employees at the site. The visit also featured the Indian Air Force's aerial display, Wings over Ganges, marking the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force over Namo Ghat and the river Ganga. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and cabinet ministers attended the celebrations as fighter aircraft, including Rafale, Jaguar, and MiG, alongside helicopters such as Chinook and Mi-17, conducted flypasts and aerial manoeuvres witnessed by thousands of residents gathered across the riverbanks.
The Indian Air Force marks its 94th anniversary with the 'Wings Over Ganges' air show at Namo Ghat in Varanasi. Over 100 aircraft, including around 52 fighter jets, 15 transport aircraft, and 32 helicopters, take part across 25 flight formations above the River Ganga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are scheduled to attend the event in Varanasi. Huge crowds, including local residents and school students, gathered along the ghats and bridges to witness the aerial display.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Varanasi to inaugurate a new garment manufacturing facility and witness the Indian Air Force's aerial display titled 'Wings Over Ganges' at Namo Ghat. Marking the 94th Raising Day of the Indian Air Force, the 90-minute flypast featured 94 aircraft, including frontline fighter jets like Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and Tejas, alongside Prachand combat helicopters and the Surya Kiran aerobatics team. Aircraft from the Army and Navy also participated in joint formations. The newly inaugurated garment unit aims to boost industrial growth in Uttar Pradesh, create local employment for women, and link Banarasi textiles with global markets. Meanwhile, an opposition leader questioned the scheduling of the aerial display during the 488-year-old traditional Bharat Milap celebrations in Kashi. The speaker further targeted the central government over border security, citing viral remarks by the ITBP Director General and alleging silence over Chinese transgressions along the borders in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
A debate has emerged over opposition protests and remarks regarding regime change in India, drawing comparisons to street agitations across Europe and Bangladesh. Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Rajnath Singh cautioned against efforts to replicate Europe-style unrest or take democracy hostage, stressing that leadership changes in India occur strictly through the ballot box. Conversely, opposition figures and activists asserted their democratic right to dissent. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan described the agitation as a democratic fight for regime change led by civil society and youth organisations. Congress leader Pawan Khera clarified that seeking a regime change is a standard objective of the opposition achieved through elections, rejecting claims of illicit destabilisation. Meanwhile, student leader Neha Bora referenced Bangladesh's Gen Z movement while advocating democratic and voting rights. The confrontation highlights sharp disagreements between the ruling government and the opposition over drawing the line between democratic protest and national destabilisation.
