National Security Advisor Ajit Doval stated that India is experiencing a historic 'new awakening' in which national security is no longer the sole responsibility of uniformed personnel but a shared duty among all citizens.
Speaking at the fifth convocation of Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) in Gandhinagar on January 31, 2026, he stressed that a nation’s willpower and morale are decisive factors for its safety, often surpassing military or technological advantages.
“After a long time in history, we are seeing that in India, a new awakening has set in. National security is the responsibility of the entire country, and not just of the armed forces or Police or Intelligence. This is our collective strength. Together, our collective strength builds the national morale,” Doval said.
He described national security as a “complex phenomenon” encompassing military power, technological capability, resources, diplomatic power, and human resources. He noted, “Sometimes, when this comprehensive national power is assessed, faults occur when it comes to the morale of the nation.” Highlighting the significance of national morale, he added, “This nation’s morale we call ‘willpower’, all wars have one sole objective – to break the adversary’s morale, forcing them to accept a treaty on our terms.”
During the ceremony, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval received an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) from President Droupadi Murmu, recognising his lifetime of national service, visionary leadership, strategic foresight, and contributions to strengthening India’s national security, Rashtriya Raksha University stated on X.
President Droupadi Murmu also addressed the convocation, highlighting that the nation has recently achieved a decisive victory against Naxalism. “For this accomplishment, I commend the police forces of all concerned states and the Central Armed Police Forces,” she said in a post on X.
She acknowledged growing concerns regarding digital arrest, cybercrime, and phishing attacks, observing, “Today, these stand before us as very major threats. In such a situation, the importance and responsibility of institutions like the National Defence University increase.” President Murmu expressed hope that the National Defence University will continue progressing towards becoming an excellent global centre for security education.