Increasing food demand with ever-increasing world population, declining water availability and imbalanced fertilizer application to agriculture have impacted global food security. A substantial disparity exists between the potential and actual yield of rice in farmer’s fields, which is primarily attributed to improper nutrient management practices. Silicon (Si) is one of the essential nutrients that play a vital role in rice growth and development. It is the second most abundant element in the earth's crust, which is assimilated solely as monosilicic acid. Rice is a high Si accumulator plant and absorbs on an average 150-300 kg of Si ha–1. Absorption and accumulation of Si in rice plants vary from 0.1-10 per cent on dry weight basis. It is probably the only element which can enhance the resistance to multiple stresses. Silicon fertilization has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the sustainability of rice cultivation. Silicon plays a multifaceted role in rice plants, influencing growth, yield and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. It enhances plant resilience against various pests and diseases and inducing the accumulation of antifungal compounds. Moreover, silicon mitigates abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought and metal toxicity, thereby improving yield stability and resilience to environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, silicon application contributes to sustainable water management by reducing transpiration and enhancing water use efficiency.