New Delhi, Oct 9 (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called for greater private sector participation, increased investment in research and development (R&D) and enhanced manufacturing capacity to strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence production.
Addressing the eighth annual session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) here, Singh said national security increasingly depended on the country’s ability to design, develop, manufacture and control technologies and equipment required by the armed forces.
He presented 15 SIDM Champion Awards 2026 to organisations for their achievements in indigenous technology development, product innovation, design, import substitution, manufacturing excellence and exports.
Highlighting India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities, Singh said the country’s defence exports had reached a record Rs 38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26, registering a growth of more than 60 per cent over the previous fiscal.
He reiterated the government’s target of achieving Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, describing the transformation of India from a major importer of defence equipment to a credible exporter of sophisticated military hardware as a significant achievement.
The defence minister urged industry leaders to establish progressive milestones to increase the private sector’s contribution to India’s total defence production from around 24 per cent to 50 per cent.
He said the private sector’s contribution had increased significantly over the past 12 years and assured the industry that the government would continue to support its growth while ensuring adherence to regulatory, safety, quality and accountability standards.
Emphasising the importance of technological innovation in modern warfare, Singh said conflicts increasingly relied on advanced capabilities, including drones, missiles, air defence systems and rapidly evolving software and communication technologies.
“Defence manufacturers must treat expenditure on R&D as an investment that strengthens operational preparedness, improves competitiveness and contributes to national security,” he said.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Singh stressed the need for domestic manufacturing facilities to rapidly scale up production in response to operational requirements.
He called upon the defence industry to develop innovative solutions to expand production capacity and ensure a swift response to changing security challenges.
Singh expressed confidence that India’s talent pool, young workforce, industrial capabilities and policy support would enable the country to emerge among the world’s leading defence manufacturing nations.
He also acknowledged SIDM’s role in strengthening the domestic defence industrial ecosystem and facilitating dialogue between the government and industry.
Established in 2017, SIDM represents large enterprises, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, academia and foreign original equipment manufacturers.
The minister said government initiatives, including the Defence Acquisition Procedure, Defence Procurement Manual, Positive Indigenisation Lists, SRIJAN portal and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), were aimed at expanding the capabilities of India’s private defence industry.
The session was held under the theme “Sovereign Capabilities, Contested Frontiers: Accelerating India’s Strategic Autonomy in an Era of Disruption”.
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director General (Acquisition) A Anbarasu, SIDM Founder President Baba Kalyani, SIDM President Arun Ramchandani, senior government officials, representatives of the armed forces and leaders of Indian and international defence companies attended the event.—(NVI)
