Image Credit: X account @rajnathsingh
India Achieves Record ₹1.46 Trillion in Defence Production
India has recorded its highest-ever domestic defence production, reaching ₹1.46 trillion in the fiscal year 2024–25. The announcement was made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Summit 2025. This achievement marks a critical step in India’s path to self-reliance in the defence sector and highlights the success of its indigenous manufacturing initiatives.
India’s Defence Exports See Remarkable Growth
Rajnath Singh revealed that India’s defence exports crossed ₹24,000 crore, a sharp increase compared to less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago. He stated that this exponential growth showcases the increasing credibility and demand for Indian-manufactured defence systems globally. The shift has been driven by significant policy reforms and proactive engagement with the private sector.
Make in India Accelerates Defence Self-Reliance
Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, the government has pushed for a reduction in import dependency, fostering indigenous defence manufacturing. Singh noted that the private sector has become a key contributor, producing over ₹32,000 crore worth of defence goods, which accounts for 22% of total defence production—up from 20.8% in the previous fiscal year.
This public-private partnership model has strengthened India’s ability to produce a wide range of defence platforms, including missiles, radars, drones, and armoured vehicles.
Focus on Modern and Strategic Defence Technologies
India is now pivoting towards cutting-edge defence domains such as cyber warfare, space-based systems, and artificial intelligence-integrated combat platforms. Highlighting this shift, Singh announced that the government has cleared the execution model for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, which includes the development of five prototypes and brings public and private players together to accelerate indigenous innovation.
The minister also cited the successful Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliation after the Pahalgam terror attack—as a live example of how effective and battle-ready the country’s indigenous systems have become.
Strategic Outlook: Aiming to Double Exports by 2029
To further support defence exports, the government plans to empower the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM) to provide long-term, low-interest financing options to nations with limited purchasing power, especially those historically reliant on Russian weapon systems.
India has set its sights on doubling its arms exports from the current $3.5 billion to $6 billion by 2029. The strategy includes expanding defence partnerships across Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, with an aim to transform India into a global defence manufacturing hub.
Singh concluded his address by reinforcing India’s national security doctrine, asserting that “any future dialogue with Pakistan will only be about terrorism and PoK.”
India’s record-setting production and export numbers underline its growing self-sufficiency and its intent to play a major role in the global defence landscape.
