India, Aug. 15 -- New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday vowed to provide a "complete shield of protection" to the nation's most vital locations, from strategic installations to civilian spaces such as hospitals and faith centres, by 2035. Drawing from the epic Mahabharata, he invoked Lord Krishna's divine discus to announce the Sudarshan Chakra Mission, a sweeping initiative aimed at strengthening India's security architecture.

"During the war of the Mahabharat, Lord Krishna's Sudarshan Chakra obstructed the sunlight helped Arjuna to fulfil his oath to kill Jayadratha. Drawing inspiration from that, the country will now launch Sudarshan Chakra Mission," PM Modi declared in his Independence Day address.

Modi said the mission ...