New Delhi, April 17: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India is firmly on the path to becoming a developed nation and the world’s number one military power. Speaking at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, Singh said that India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing is not only securing national interests but also contributing to global security.
“The day is not far when India will not only emerge as a developed country, but our military power will also emerge as the number one in the world,” said Singh, addressing a gathering of senior defence officials, industry leaders, and strategic experts.
He emphasized that peace and stability can only be achieved through strength, stating, “Our defence capabilities are like a credible deterrence, to maintain peace and tranquillity. Peace is possible only when we remain strong.”
Highlighting the Modi government’s push for indigenisation, the Defence Minister said that reversing India’s long-standing dependence on imports has been a top priority. “India will reduce its dependency on imports and create a defence industrial complex that will not only meet our own needs but also boost exports,” he said.
Singh said that India’s defence sector is now playing a vital role in strengthening global supply chains. He credited initiatives like ‘Make in India’ for making the country’s defence production system more resilient and responsive to global challenges.
Reflecting on the reforms in the sector, Singh noted the corporatization of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factories as a “historic step.” He said the move has turned them into profit-making entities, describing it as “a very big reform of this century.”
The Defence Minister declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ and outlined the government’s broader reform agenda, which includes boosting innovation and supporting start-ups. Under schemes like iDEX and ADITI, the Ministry has been offering financial support ranging from ₹1.5 crore to ₹25 crore to nurture cutting-edge technologies.
Singh shared impressive growth figures, noting that India’s defence production has jumped from ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2024–25. “This year, we are aiming for ₹1.60 lakh crore in production and a target of ₹3 lakh crore by 2029,” he said.
On exports, he said India’s defence exports have risen from ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25. “Our products are being exported to about 100 countries. We aim to touch ₹30,000 crore this year and ₹50,000 crore by 2029,” Singh added.
He also pointed to significant strides in strategic capabilities, including missile systems like Agni and BrahMos, nuclear submarines such as INS Arihant, and the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. However, he acknowledged challenges in aero engine manufacturing, citing progress in the Kaveri engine project and collaborations with global firms like Safran, GE, and Rolls Royce.
Singh said that over 97 percent of Indian Navy and Coast Guard warships are now being built domestically. “Our shipbuilding capability is not only meeting our own requirements but is also helping friendly nations such as Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Maldives,” he said.
The conclave was attended by several top defence leaders and experts, including former Army Chief General Manoj Pande, former Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, former Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V Kamat, and former Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra.
