Defence Ministry Report Details Operation Sindoor, LAC Situation and Military Preparedness

The Defence Ministry’s annual report for 2025-26 has outlined India’s military response during Operation Sindoor and provided an assessment of the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The report also highlighted efforts to strengthen the armed forces’ operational preparedness and modernisation.

According to the report, Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces following the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. India subsequently carried out strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The report said the operation demonstrated the armed forces’ ability to conduct coordinated operations across domains. The Indian military employed a combination of air, land and other capabilities during the operation, while maintaining a high level of preparedness along the country’s borders. The Defence Ministry said the operation reflected the importance of intelligence, surveillance, precision weapons, air defence systems and integrated military planning.

The report noted that Operation Sindoor involved attacks on terrorist targets and that India’s military response was aimed at terrorist infrastructure. It also highlighted the role of indigenous defence systems and platforms in supporting the operation. On the northern border, the annual report discussed the situation along the LAC with China. It said India and China had continued diplomatic and military engagements aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity along the border following tensions that escalated after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

The report referred to the disengagement process and subsequent efforts to reduce tensions at various points along the LAC. It indicated that continued dialogue between the two sides remained important for maintaining stability in the border areas.

India has continued to strengthen its military infrastructure in the region, including roads, bridges, airfields and other logistics facilities. These measures are intended to improve the movement of troops and equipment and enhance the armed forces’ ability to operate in difficult high-altitude terrain.

The annual report also emphasised broader defence modernisation, with a focus on self-reliance and domestic production. The government has continued to encourage Indian defence companies and public-sector manufacturers to develop and produce equipment for the armed forces. The document comes amid a changing security environment, with India facing challenges along both its western and northern borders. The Defence Ministry said maintaining operational readiness, strengthening indigenous capabilities and improving coordination among the three services would remain important priorities for national security.