Defence Minister outlines vision for self-reliant, globally competitive India at defence conclave

New Delhi, Apr 17: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday laid out an ambitious vision for a self-reliant and future-ready India at a high-profile Defence Conclave in New Delhi organised by The Week. With a focus on indigenisation, innovation, and global leadership, Rajnath Singh asserted that India is not only securing its borders but also emerging as a major player in the international defence ecosystem. “The day is not far when India will not only become a developed country, but our military power will also rank number one globally,” he said.

Rajnath Singh reiterated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, revitalising the defence sector remains a top priority. A key challenge, he noted, was shifting the prevailing mindset that India must rely on imports to meet its defence needs. “India will reduce its dependency on imports and create a defence industrial complex that meets national requirements and boosts exports,” he said.

The Defence Minister highlighted India’s growing importance in global defence supply chains. “While India moves steadily toward self-reliance, it is also ready to strengthen global supply chain resilience,” he noted. The Make in India initiative, he added, is not only enhancing domestic production but also insulating manufacturing from external shocks. He stressed that India’s expanding defence capabilities serve as a deterrent rather than a provocation. “Peace can only be ensured when we are strong. Our capabilities are meant to maintain peace and stability,” he said.

Modern threats and strategic reforms

On the evolving nature of warfare, the defence minister warned that future conflicts will be more violent and unpredictable, with cyber and space domains emerging as key battlegrounds. In addition, the battle for narrative and perception is increasingly significant, he said. To meet these challenges, Rajnath Singh announced that 2025 has been declared the “Year of Reforms” by the Ministry of Defence, reflecting a push for comprehensive transformation. He pointed to the corporatisation of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factory Board as a bold but necessary move. “Today, these restructured entities are performing well and have become profitable. Reforming such a long-standing institution is a major milestone,” he said.

The government has also released five positive indigenisation lists each from the armed forces and defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs). These include 509 items for indigenous production by the services and 5,012 components and systems identified by the DPSUs. “This is a clear step toward achieving strategic autonomy,” Rajnath Singh said. He also announced that 75% of the capital procurement budget has been earmarked for domestic industries. As a result, defence production has surged from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1.27 lakh crore in 2024. “We expect to cross Rs 1.60 lakh crore this year, with a target of Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029,” he added.

On exports, Rajnath Singh noted a remarkable jump from Rs 686 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 23,622 crore in 2024–25. “Our defence products are now exported to around 100 countries. We aim to reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029,” he said. The Defence Minister also underlined the government’s support for innovation and start-ups. Through schemes like iDEX and iDEX Prime, selected start-ups can receive funding of up to Rs 10 crore, while the new ADITI initiative provides up to Rs 25 crore to scale breakthrough innovations. “To empower our start-ups and MSMEs, the ministry has approved procurement worth more than Rs 2,400 crore, and over Rs 1,500 crore has been sanctioned for new technology development,” Singh added.

Rajnath Singh also pointed to India’s growing technological edge, highlighting achievements in missile systems (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), drones, AI, and cyber defence. However, he acknowledged that aero engine manufacturing remains a critical gap. “There has been progress under the Kaveri engine project, and we are in discussions with global companies like Safran, GE, and Rolls-Royce to build domestic capacity,” he said. In shipbuilding, India has also made strides. “More than 97% of Indian Navy and Coast Guard warships are now built domestically. We are also exporting ships to friendly nations including Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Maldives,” Singh added. The conclave was attended by several senior officials and defence experts, including former Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force General Manoj Pande, Admiral Sunil Lanba, and Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari alongside Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V. Kamat, and former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.