On December 8, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed Armed Forces Day, re‑affirming the government’s promise to make India self‑sufficient in defence manufacturing. He reminded the audience that a time not long ago, India was heavily reliant on imported weapons and equipment.
Singh highlighted the remarkable shift that has taken place over the past decade. Indian defence production, which was valued at ₹46,000 crore in 2014‑15, has jumped by 174 % to reach a record ₹1.51 lakh crore in 2024‑25. Exports have also grown dramatically, climbing from a modest ₹686 crore in 2013‑14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024‑25, and now reach over 90 countries.
A senior official noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently positioned self‑reliance in the defence sector as a cornerstone for India’s goal of becoming a secure, confident, and developed nation by 2047. The PM’s emphasis on “attaining Atmanirbharta in defence and emerging as a global manufacturing hub” signals a clear strategic re‑orientation.
The minister cited successful operations such as Operation Sindoor, pointing out that indigenous platforms, when proven in combat, enhance deterrence, build national confidence, and establish India as a trustworthy supplier.
The government’s decision to open the defence market to private players has broadened the industrial base. By giving priority to Indian‑made hardware, the policy has catalysed the rapid expansion of the defence ecosystem.
Rajnath Singh also touched on the robust economic growth that has allowed the government to pour more resources into security. Defence spending has almost tripled, rising from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013‑14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025‑26. About 75 % of capital procurement in recent years has been earmarked for domestic manufacturing, creating a predictable demand that has spurred both public and private firms to invest in new capacities, technologies, and partnerships.
Officials pointed out that before 2014, cumbersome bureaucracy stifled procurement, leaving the armed forces short of essential equipment. “There has now been a sea change between then and now in the pace of weapon‑system acquisition, with emergency provisions enabling timely equipage of the armed forces,” a senior official added. This was evident during the Ladakh standoff with China, when swift procurement of advanced systems, including drones, proved decisive.
sps/na
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
