New Delhi, Jul 18 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s “world-class” defence preparedness and highlighted the success of the government’s push for self-reliance in the defence sector over the past 12 years.
Addressing an event here, Singh said the operation reflected the armed forces’ preparedness and the government’s “Nation First” and “Forces First” approach.
He said advanced indigenous systems, including the Akash missile system, Akash Teer air defence system and BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, were effectively deployed during the operation, which he described as an example of modern technological warfare and India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.
Referring to the government’s policy against terrorism, the defence minister said Operation Sindoor reaffirmed India’s “zero tolerance” approach and demonstrated the country’s capability to strike terrorists and their supporters wherever required.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to boost indigenous defence production, Singh said five positive indigenisation lists issued by the armed forces cover 509 items, while five similar lists issued by defence public sector undertakings include 5,012 items. He added that another positive indigenisation list would be notified soon.
The minister said India’s annual defence production touched a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26, compared to around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014. Defence exports have also risen to over Rs 38,000 crore from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14, he said.
Singh said the government aims to increase defence production to over Rs 2 lakh crore this year and Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029, while targeting defence exports of Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
He said procurement worth more than Rs 2,400 crore has been approved from startups and MSMEs, projects worth Rs 1,500 crore have been sanctioned for developing new technologies, and 676 startups and innovators are currently engaged through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, under which 551 contracts have been signed.
The minister also said investment proposals worth around Rs 70,000 crore have been received for the defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, of which nearly Rs 10,000 crore has already been invested.
Stressing that India has moved from dependence on imports to self-reliance in defence manufacturing, Singh said the country’s defence diplomacy now extends beyond strategic cooperation to industrial collaboration, technology partnerships and integration into global supply chains.
He said the government’s vision is to build an “Aatmanirbhar” and “Viksit Bharat” by 2047 with indigenous weapons, empowered scientists, innovative youth and globally competitive defence industries.(NVI)
