Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s “world-class” defence preparedness, crediting the transformation of the country’s defence sector over the past 12 years under the Narendra Modi government and its emphasis on ‘Nation First’ and ‘Forces First’.
Addressing an event in New Delhi, Singh described the operation as proof of the armed forces’ operational capability and India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He said the operation reflected the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism and showcased India’s ability to strike terrorists and their supporters wherever necessary.
The Defence Minister said indigenous systems such as Akash Teer, the Akash missile system and the BrahMos missile were effectively deployed during Operation Sindoor, highlighting India’s progress in technological warfare and domestic defence production.
Emphasising the government’s push for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence, Singh announced that another Positive Indigenisation List would soon be notified. So far, the armed forces have issued five positive indigenisation lists covering 509 items, while Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have notified five lists covering 5,012 items.
Highlighting the sector’s growth, Singh said India’s annual defence production touched a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, up from around ₹40,000 crore in 2014. Defence exports, he added, have increased from ₹686 crore in FY 2013-14 to over ₹38,000 crore.
He reiterated the government’s target of crossing ₹2 lakh crore in defence production this year and reaching ₹3 lakh crore by 2029, while aiming to increase defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
The Defence Minister said the government has shifted away from dependence on imported military equipment by strengthening domestic manufacturing and building a robust defence industrial ecosystem capable of meeting both domestic and global requirements.
On defence manufacturing, Singh said investments worth nearly ₹70,000 crore have been proposed for the defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with around ₹10,000 crore already invested, generating employment opportunities and strengthening manufacturing capabilities.
He also highlighted reforms in defence procurement, stating that 75% of the defence modernisation budget has been earmarked for procurement from Indian industry. A new Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP), expected later this year, will further prioritise domestically designed and manufactured defence systems, he said.
Speaking on defence innovation, Singh said procurement worth over ₹2,400 crore has been approved from startups and MSMEs, while projects worth more than ₹1,500 crore have been sanctioned for the development of new technologies.
According to the minister, 676 startups and innovators are currently engaged through the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) platform, with 551 contracts signed as of March 2026. He noted that the number of defence startups has grown from only a few dozen in 2018 to more than 2,000, working in areas including drones, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cybersecurity and robotics.
Singh said corporatisation of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board has improved productivity, accountability and technological capability, turning loss-making factories into profitable entities.
Calling India’s youth “technological partners in national security”, he said the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has evolved into a national innovation platform connecting industry, academia, startups and scientists.
The Defence Minister also said India is increasingly emerging as a reliable global security partner, with defence diplomacy now extending beyond strategic cooperation to industrial collaboration and integration into global supply chains.
Further, Singh said the government’s vision for a developed India by 2047 is one where soldiers are equipped with indigenous weapons, scientists are empowered with greater opportunities, young innovators drive technological advancement, and Indian industries compete globally.
