New Delhi Sept 27 (NVI) : India does not seek to occupy the territory of any country but will safeguard its security and strategic autonomy whenever threatened, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, underlining the country’s growing focus on self-reliance in critical sectors.
Addressing a gathering, Singh said India’s rise as a civilisational power is in the interest of the entire world and asserted that the country is moving from being a defence importer to becoming a trusted global defence supplier.
Highlighting efforts to address strategic vulnerabilities in technology, energy, data and supply chains, he said steps are being taken to strengthen domestic capabilities in semiconductors and critical minerals, diversify energy sources and enhance energy security.
On defence indigenisation, Singh said 509 defence equipment, weapon systems and platforms have been included in five positive indigenisation lists issued by the armed forces.
The Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have also issued six indigenisation lists covering 5,417 items, including strategically important line-replaceable units, subsystems, spares and components, of which around 3,300 have been indigenised, he said.
Singh highlighted the growing participation of the private sector, startups and MSMEs in defence manufacturing.
India’s defence ecosystem now includes DPSUs, private industries, more than 16,000 MSMEs, startups, universities and research institutions, with manufacturing capabilities emerging across several regions, he said.
Investment proposals worth about Rs 70,000 crore have been received in the Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridors, with around Rs 10,000 crore already invested, Singh said.
He also highlighted the role of the SRIJAN and SRIJAN DEEP portals in strengthening indigenous defence supply chains.
Around 33,000 imported items have been identified for import substitution through SRIJAN, of which approximately 15,700 have been indigenised, he said.
SRIJAN DEEP has created a national digital database covering more than 40,000 manufacturers and sellers and lakhs of products, Singh said.
The minister also underlined the transformation of the DPSU and Ordnance Factory ecosystem following the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factories.
He said the move has enhanced their technology orientation, output and accountability, adding that all 16 DPSUs are currently operating without losses and are increasingly focusing on research, development and exports.
Highlighting the role of youth and innovation, Singh said initiatives such as iDEX and iDEX-Prime are providing opportunities for startups and innovators to contribute to national security, while programmes such as ADITI are supporting advanced defence technologies.
As of March 2026, 676 startups and innovators had been engaged through iDEX and 551 contracts signed, he said, adding that the Defence Ministry had approved procurement worth more than Rs 2,400 crore from startups and MSMEs and development projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore.
In a significant move, Singh announced the decision to transfer DRDO-developed technologies for conventional missile systems to eligible Indian industries, allowing qualifying private companies to undertake their production.
The move would strengthen the preparedness of the armed forces and facilitate timely delivery of missiles, he said.
Singh said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is increasingly being positioned to focus on research and development, while industry assumes a greater role in production.
The Defence Minister said India’s objective is to build indigenous capabilities across the entire defence spectrum, from individual components to complete weapon systems, and develop technologies domestically rather than remain dependent on imports.
He stressed that the approach is aimed at strengthening strategic autonomy, defence preparedness and a resilient indigenous defence-industrial ecosystem.
Singh also emphasised the importance of national unity for national security.—(NVI)
