As India commemorates the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the movement’s influence on national security is more pronounced than ever. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS’s civilisational worldview has transformed from social philosophy to strategic doctrine, infusing India’s defence, diplomacy, and deterrence posture with moral self-assurance. This article contends that India’s emerging strategic culture—rooted in moral deterrence, self-reliance, and societal discipline—serves as both a source of coherence and a potential constraint for the nation’s future security trajectory.

On 2 October 2025, India marked the centenary of the RSS, the world’s largest volunteer organisation and the ideological foundation of Hindu nationalism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the RSS as “the embodiment of India’s eternal national consciousness." Beyond ceremonial accolades, this statement signified a profound shift: civilisational ideas have moved from the cultural sphere into the core of India’s national security framework. Over the past decade, the Modi government has redefined power as a synthesis of ethics, identity, and strength. This has led to what can be termed a “doctrine of moral deterrence" where security is not only material but moral, and national resilience is framed as an extension of civilisational self-awareness.

Founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS began as a social initiative dedicated to “nation-building through character-building." Under Modi, its worldview has evolved into an operational governance doctrine. The Sangh perceives India as Bharat, a civilisational entity rather than a conventional nation-state. In this view, security is not limited to defending borders but extends to safeguarding a way of life. This ethos underpins India’s three main strategic pillars today: Self-Reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) – economic and technological sovereignty as moral autonomy; Societal Resilience – unity and discipline as deterrence; Civilisational Diplomacy – engagement without dependence, guided by cultural legitimacy.

Through its extensive network of schools, charities, and volunteer groups, the RSS blurs the line between state capacity and social capital. Its cadres act as first responders during natural disasters, pandemics, and internal crises, instilling security consciousness at the grassroots level. This civic infrastructure converts patriotism into participation, transforming resilience from a policy goal into a lived social ethic. The result is a model of “societal defence", where moral discipline and national........

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