Self-reliance in defence key to India’s survival: Rajnath Singh
New Delhi, Aug 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that self-reliance in defence has become an imperative for India’s survival and strategic autonomy in an era marked by terrorism, pandemics, and global conflicts. Speaking at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi on the theme ‘Warfare in the 21st Century’, he stressed that indigenisation was not protectionism but a matter of sovereignty. “Dependence on others for defence is no longer an option,” he said, adding that the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently worked to strengthen India’s capacity to withstand external pressures.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, the minister hailed it as a landmark example of India’s growing indigenous capabilities. He said the armed forces’ decisive strikes using home-grown equipment showed that years of preparation and reliance on indigenous technology had paid off.
The Defence Minister described the Sudarshan Chakra Mission as a “game-changing initiative for India’s future security”. Announced by the Prime Minister, the mission aims to provide complete aerial protection to critical national assets within the next decade through a mix of defensive and offensive technologies. Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, he stressed the rising importance of air defence in modern warfare. Rajnath Singh revealed that the DRDO successfully tested an indigenous integrated air defence weapon system on August 23, 2025, which struck three targets simultaneously, a milestone he called the “first step towards realising the Prime Minister’s vision.” While acknowledging that full implementation will take time, he said the Ministry of Defence had already taken “decisive steps forward” in this direction.
On the Navy, he emphasised India’s complete self-reliance in warship construction, highlighting the commissioning of stealth frigates INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri. He also announced that the groundwork for developing an indigenous aero-engine was nearly complete, describing it as a long-overdue breakthrough. Highlighting the government’s reforms, the Defence Minister pointed to the establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which he said were already yielding results. He noted that defence exports had surged from under Rs 700 crore in 2014 to nearly Rs 24,000 crore in 2025, driven by both public and private sector participation.
He said over 3,000 defence items once imported were now produced indigenously under the Positive Indigenisation Lists, with more than 5,500 earmarked for phased domestic production. Domestic defence output has crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crore, with 25% coming from the private sector. “Defence is not mere expenditure, it is defence economics, a driver of jobs, innovation and industrial growth,” he said. Rajnath Singh credited bold reforms such as corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board and greater private participation for transforming India from an importer to an emerging exporter of defence systems. He also lauded the role of youth and start-ups under the iDEX scheme for fuelling innovation.
Reaffirming India’s strategic outlook, he said: “We do not consider any country our enemy. But the welfare of our people will not be compromised. The more pressure the world applies, the stronger India emerges.” Touching on women’s induction in combat roles, he said India had broken colonial legacies and outdated barriers, with women now flying fighter jets, navigating warships and serving on the frontlines.
