The role of silicon in mitigating the incidence and damage of yellow stem borer in rice crops is well proven. However, the underlying mechanisms offered by silicon amendment in rice crops against yellow stem borer were not explored or poorly understood. Here, we have shown that silicon supplement to rice plants at 200 mg/kg of soil, improved silicification in stem tissues by increased length, width (18.1-32.5%), and area (6.6-14.2%) of silica cells and silicon content given over scanning electron microscopy and electron-dispersive spectrophotometric analysis. The increased activities of antioxidant and defense enzymes such as catalase (106-215%), superoxide dismutase (74.5%), peroxidase (52.1%), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (74%), and polyphenol oxidase (47.3%) in rice plants supplemented with silicon and infested with yellow stem borer at different durations were shown. The enhanced concentrations of total sugars (23.6%) and total phenols (18.4%) were also observed due to silicon supplement to rice plants. However, the defense enzyme activities were less in rice plants without silicon supplementation and yellow stem borer infestation. The outcome of the study highlighted the impact of silicon in activating the defense responses in rice plants infested with yellow stem borer. Silicon supplementation should be considered as one of the alternative and sustainable measures for integrated management of yellow stem borer in rice across ecosystems.