Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today emphasised that defence and security are the collective responsibility of the entire nation and strengthening the sector is not just the duty of one institution or government but the shared resolve of all Indians.
Speaking at the inauguration of the National Conference on the theme ‘Opportunities of Defence Manufacturing in the Country’, Rajnath Singh called upon states and union Territories to become active partners in building a robust, globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Singh asserted, “Self-reliance in defence is not just a matter of production or economy for us, it is first and foremost a matter of strategic autonomy and is directly linked to the sovereignty”.
He highlighted that during Operation Sindoor, when the country needed a mock drill, all state governments and their agencies actively participated. “All this is proof that when we all work together towards a goal, no challenge is too great,” he added.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the unprecedented growth of India’s defence manufacturing sector over the past decade underscoring that India’s defence production, which was over Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has now increased highest ever to over Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2025.
He added that over Rs 33,000 crore comes from the private sector, a clear indication that industry has become an equal stakeholder in the Aatmanirbharta mission.
Stating that India’s defence exports have risen from less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014 to a record Rs 23,500 crore in 2025, Rajnath said, “This remarkable journey from being one of the world’s largest importers of defence equipment to becoming a trusted exporter of defence systems is a testament to our national resolve”.
Reaffirming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Rajnath stated that India aims to achieve defence manufacturing worth Rs 3 lakh crore and defence exports worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029. “Self-reliance in the defence sector is not just about Make in India or export figures, it’s about the confidence that, in times of crisis, we won’t be dependent on anyone else for our defence”.
He released a Compendium of State Policies on Defence and Aerospace Manufacturing, which consolidates policies and best practices adopted by various states and union Territories.
“This compendium will serve as a guiding document for industry and innovators. I urge all states and UTs to study it in depth, understand its strengths and implement the best practices to strengthen the defence industrial base,” he said.
He also elaborated on the wide-ranging reforms undertaken to promote ease of doing business in the defence sector, including simplified quality assurance timelines through self-certification, a centralised defence testing portal providing nationwide access to testing facilities and the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) which supports the creation of modern testing and certification centres with government assistance.
While stressing on harnessing the power of technology and innovation, Rajnath Singh said, “Modern warfare is not only based on weapons, but the influence of frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, robotics, quantum computing, cyber and space technology. We will have to make intellectual investment in frontier technology, much more than physical investment”.
The Defence ministry highlighted that the Ministry’s reforms extend beyond manufacturing to cover social, infrastructural, and educational aspects.
He also spoke about the Nari Shakti initiative that is increasing women’s representation in the armed forces, the allocation of 25 percent of the defence R&D budget for industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia and the expansion of the Border Roads Organisation’s budget to enhance border infrastructure.
He also mentioned the approval of 100 new Sainik Schools under a partnership model, in addition to the 33 existing government-run schools, describing them as institutions that “build discipline, leadership, and patriotism from a young age.”
Rajnath called for closer coordination between the Centre and the states on matters related to defence land.
He highlighted that an online portal has been launched to facilitate State proposals for public utility projects on defence land. He urged states to utilise the platform efficiently and expedite the provision of equivalent land in exchange where required.
He added that approximately 1.8 million acres of defence land are located across various states, making coordinated management essential to prevent local disputes and ensure security.
The event was organised by Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence to make all states and union Territories aware about various initiatives being undertaken by it to boost defence manufacturing in the country.
Also present at the event were Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat, Senior Officials of MoD.
