India on Path to Becoming Global Military Power and Developed Nation: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, April 17, 2025: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today unveiled a bold and inspiring vision for India’s defence future at a high-profile Defence Conclave in New Delhi, asserting that the country is on course to becoming both a developed nation and the world’s leading military power. The Minister emphasized self-reliance, innovation, and global leadership as the cornerstones of India’s defence transformation under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

“The day is not far when India will not only emerge as a developed country, but our Military Power will also become the number one in the world,” Shri Singh declared, reinforcing India’s commitment to strengthening its national security while contributing to global peace and stability.

Highlighting the government’s focus on indigenisation, Shri Singh noted that India has moved away from being an import-dependent defence economy to becoming a hub of domestic manufacturing. He said the defence sector is now playing a vital role in strengthening global supply chains, thanks to initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and comprehensive reforms across the sector.

The Minister underlined that India’s defence build-up is meant to be a credible deterrent, not a provocation. “Our defence capabilities are like a credible deterrence to maintain peace and tranquillity. Peace is possible only when we remain strong,” he remarked.

With modern warfare evolving rapidly, Shri Singh stressed the importance of preparing for cyber, space, and narrative battles, and announced 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ for the Ministry of Defence. He lauded the corporatisation of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factories, now performing as profit-making entities, calling it a landmark reform of the century.

Furthering the push for indigenisation, the Minister revealed that five positive indigenisation lists from the Armed Forces and five from Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) now include 5,521 items set to be produced domestically. He also noted that 75% of the defence budget has been earmarked for domestic procurement.

India’s defence production has soared from ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to over ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2024–25, with expectations to surpass ₹1.60 lakh crore this year. By 2029, the government targets a production value of ₹3 lakh crore.

On defence exports, Shri Singh highlighted a massive jump from ₹686 crore in 2013–14 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25, with a goal of ₹30,000 crore in the current year and ₹50,000 crore by 2029. Indian defence products are now being exported to nearly 100 countries.

The Minister also praised innovation in the defence ecosystem, particularly the contributions of youth and start-ups. He cited the success of iDEX and iDEX Prime schemes, and the recently launched ADITI initiative, which offers up to ₹25 crore in support for breakthrough defence technologies. Over ₹2,400 crore worth of purchases from start-ups and MSMEs have been approved, with ₹1,500 crore earmarked for new tech development.

He further showcased India’s strategic capabilities across sectors, including missile technology (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), cyber defence, drones, artificial intelligence, and hypersonic systems. He acknowledged the challenges in aero engine development but cited progress under the Kaveri engine project and ongoing talks with Safran, GE, and Rolls Royce to boost domestic manufacturing.

Shri Singh also noted India’s strong record in shipbuilding, with over 97% of Indian Navy and Coast Guard warships now built in Indian shipyards. Indian-made ships are also being exported to friendly nations including Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Maldives.

The conclave was attended by top defence officials and experts, including former Chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat, and former Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra, underscoring the significance of India’s forward-looking defence strategy.

With this ambitious roadmap, India aims to transform into a global military powerhouse while maintaining peace, driving innovation, and ensuring security for the nation and its allies.