Aatmanirbharta in Defence Vital for Viksit Bharat Vision, Says Defence Secretary

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 31st May: Stressing the need for India to be self-reliant in its defence sector, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said that “Aatmanirbharta” is not just about strategic autonomy but also central to achieving the country’s long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Speaking at a high-level defence conclave in the national capital, Shri Singh outlined how defence self-reliance links directly with India’s broader goals—expanding the GDP from $4 trillion to $32 trillion, strengthening the manufacturing sector, creating jobs, and fostering an ecosystem of innovation and dual-use technologies.

“From being the world’s top arms importer in 2015, India has now emerged among the top 25 defence exporters,” the Defence Secretary said. Over 100 Indian firms are now supplying everything from BrahMos missiles and Pinaka rocket launchers to armoured vehicles and patrol vessels to more than 100 countries. India’s defence exports have jumped 30 times in a decade, touching ₹23,622 crore last fiscal, while domestic defence production grew from ₹43,746 crore in 2014 to ₹1.27 lakh crore in 2023–24.

He noted that the Ministry of Defence had fully utilized its modernization budget for the first time in five years, signing contracts worth a record ₹2 lakh crore in 2024–25—double the amount from the previous year. This, he said, not only ensures steady upgrades for the armed forces but also strengthens the case for increasing defence spending to 2.5% of the GDP in the short term, and eventually up to 3%.

On procurement reforms, Shri Singh announced a 69-week cut in processing timelines, thanks to the streamlining of several procedures. The Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 is also being updated to reflect today’s fast-changing realities, moving away from older cost-plus models that largely favoured public sector units. “We’re shifting to a more competitive system where both public and private players can fairly bid for defence projects,” he said.

He also urged the private sector to step up investment in research and development, capital equipment, and skilled manpower. “Defence is not a space for companies that lack engineering depth or are unwilling to invest. Building a strong local manufacturing ecosystem is essential for genuine strategic autonomy,” he added.

With continued reforms and a strong push for indigenisation, the Defence Secretary assured stakeholders that India is well on its way to building a modern, competitive and self-reliant defence industry.