Defence Minister Inaugurates National Conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

• Defence & security are the collective responsibility of the entire nation and strengthening the defence sector is not just the duty of one institution or government but the shared resolve of all Indians: Defence Minister

• “Self-reliance in defence is not just a matter of production or economy for us. It is first & foremost a matter of our strategic autonomy and is directly linked to our sovereignty”

• Calls upon States & Union Territories to become active partners in building a robust & globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.

• “Ministry is continuously refining frameworks such as the DAP 2020, DPM 2025, Defence Offsets Policy & Defence Investor Cell to encourage investment, technology absorption & innovation”

• Whether it’s the iDEX initiative, the establishment of defence corridors, or promoting FDI in defence manufacturing, Govt. has taken definitive steps towards indigenisation: Defence Minister

• India aims to achieve defence manufacturing worth Rs. 3 lakh crore and defence exports worth Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029: Defence Minister

New Delhi. “Defence and security are the collective responsibility of the entire nation and strengthening the defence sector is not just the duty of one institution or government but the shared resolve of all Indians,” stated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Inauguration of the National Conference at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on October 7, 2025. Under the event on the theme ‘Opportunities of Defence Manufacturing in the Country’, Defence Minister called upon States and Union Territories to become active partners in building a robust, globally competitive defence manufacturing ecosystem.

Mr. Rajnath Singh asserted that Self-reliance in defence is not just a matter of production or economy for us, it is first & foremost a matter of the strategic autonomy and is directly linked to the sovereignty. He highlighted that during Operation Sindoor, when the country needed a mock drill, all state governments and their agencies actively participated. “All this is proof that when we all work together towards a goal, no challenge is too great,” he added.

India’s growing Defence Industry

Defence Minister highlighted the unprecedented growth of India’s defence manufacturing sector over the past decade underscoring that India’s defence production, which was over Rs. 46,000 crore in 2014, has now increased highest ever to over Rs. 1.5 lakh crore in 2025. He added that over Rs. 33,000 crore comes from the private sector, a clear indication that industry has become an equal stakeholder in the Aatmanirbharta mission.

Further, he stated that India’s defence exports have risen from less than Rs. 1,000 crore in 2014 to a record Rs. 23,500 crore in 2025. “This remarkable journey from being one of the world’s largest importers of defence equipment to becoming a trusted exporter of defence systems is a testament to our national resolve,” he underlined.

Ambitious goals for 2029: Aatmanirbhar Bharat in action

Reaffirming the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Mr. Rajnath Singh stated that India aims to achieve defence manufacturing worth Rs. 3 lakh crore and defence exports worth Rs. 50,000 crore by 2029. Defence Minister stated that self-reliance in the defence sector, it’s not just about Make in India or export figures, it’s about the confidence that, in times of crisis, we won’t be dependent on anyone else for our defence. “It’s about the self-confidence that the weapons our Armed Forces use are made on our own soil, created with the talent of our own scientists and engineers,” he added.

Compendium of State Policies released

Defence Minister released a Compendium of State Policies on Defence and Aerospace Manufacturing, which consolidates policies and best practices adopted by various States and Union Territories. Mr. Rajnath Singh termed the document an important step towards greater policy alignment and coordination between the Centre and the States.

“This compendium will serve as a guiding document for industry and innovators. I urge all States and UTs to study it in depth, understand its strengths, and implement the best practices to strengthen the defence industrial base,” he said, adding that the document would foster competition as well as collaboration among States to attract defence investments.

Policy and infrastructure reforms to boost manufacturing

Mr. Rajnath Singh elaborated on the wide-ranging reforms undertaken to promote Ease of Doing Business in the defence sector including simplified Quality Assurance timelines through self-certification, a Centralised Defence Testing Portal providing nationwide access to testing facilities, and the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) which supports the creation of modern testing and certification centres with Government assistance.

He stated that the Ministry is continuously refining frameworks such as the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025, Defence Offsets Policy, and Defence Investor Cell to encourage investment, technology absorption, and innovation. He added that the Defence Ministry’s reforms are not merely regulatory measures but are enablers of opportunity.

Harnessing the power of technology and innovation

“Modern warfare is not only based on weapons, but the influence of frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Quantum Computing, Cyber and Space Technology. We will have to make intellectual investment in frontier technology, much more than physical investment,” underlined Defence Minister. He added that the nation must combine traditional strength with modern innovation to build a new India that designs, develops and produces world-class defence systems.

Digital transformation and support for MSMEs

Highlighting the Ministry’s digital initiatives, Mr. Rajnath Singh stated the SRIJAN-DEEP (Defence Establishments and Entrepreneurs Platform) portal has been developed as a digital repository mapping the expertise of Indian defence industries and their products. He also launched the Defence Exim Portal, a single-window platform to streamline authorisations related to defence exports and imports.

Addressing the issue of liquidity and working capital for MSMEs and start-ups, Mr. Rajnath Singh said the Ministry is developing automated cash management tools and simplifying bill processing & payment systems to support industries.

Inclusive reforms and welfare initiatives

Defence Minister highlighted that the Ministry’s reforms extend beyond manufacturing to cover social, infrastructural, and educational aspects. He spoke about the Nari Shakti initiative that is increasing women’s representation in the Armed Forces, the allocation of 25% of the Defence R&D budget for industry, MSMEs, start-ups & academia, and the expansion of the Border Roads Organisation’s budget to enhance border infrastructure. He also mentioned the approval of 100 new Sainik Schools under a partnership model, in addition to the 33 existing government-run schools, describing them as institutions that “build discipline, leadership, and patriotism from a young age.”

Mr. Rajnath Singh highlighted that the government has undertaken several policy reforms in the defence sector over the last 10-11 years. He stated that increasing indigenous content in defence production and accelerating defence investment have been at the center of these efforts. “Whether it’s the iDEX initiative, the establishment of defence corridors, or promoting FDI in defence manufacturing, all these steps have been taken in this direction,” he added.

Coordination on defence land management

Defence Minister called for closer coordination between the Centre and the States on matters related to defence land. He highlighted that an online portal has been launched to facilitate State proposals for public utility projects on defence land. He urged States to utilise the platform efficiently and expedite the provision of equivalent land in exchange where required. Mr. Rajnath Singh added that approximately 1.8 million acres of defence land are located across various States, making coordinated management essential to prevent local disputes and ensure security.

About National Conference 2025

States’ Policy Compendium for Aerospace & Defence sector

India aims to become a globally competitive and self-reliant hub for Aerospace & Defence (A&D) manufacturing, with active participation from both central and state governments. To support this, the Department of Defence Production (DDP) has prepared the Compendium, covering all 28 States and 8 Union Territories. The Compendium consolidates state-level policies including A&D, industrial, MSME, Startups, R&D, exports and logistics policies. It also provides information on fiscal incentives, infrastructure support, ease of doing business reforms and policy implementation mechanisms. Serving as a strategic knowledge resource, it facilitates alignment between national objectives and state actions, promotes cross-learning, and highlights initiatives in technology adoption, infrastructure development, and skilling, supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat-2047.

iDEX Coffee Table Book: Shared Horizons of Innovation

The Book is a curated compilation capturing the journey of India’s flagship defence innovation initiative – iDEX. It presents the spirit of creativity and problem-solving that startups, MSMEs, academia, and individual innovators have brought into the national defence & security landscape.

Expanding on previous edition of iDEX Coffee Table Book, released by Defence Minister during AeroIndia 2025, this volume shines a spotlight on innovations/technologies that not only address critical requirements of the Armed Forces but also have the potential for wider industrial/commercial applications which other stakeholders can adopt as suitable for their existing and emerging needs.

Revamped Defence Exim portal

The portal enables end-to-end application processing, automated company verification, simplified registration, OGEL filing, real-time tracking, and secure payment integration. Built in line with updated SOPs and compliance features under the Security Manual for Licensed Defence Industries (SMLDI), it enhances transparency, efficiency, and regulatory adherence, while supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India goals, positioning India as a global hub for defence manufacturing and exports.

Srijan DEEP: Defence Establishment and Entrepreneurs Platform

With the aim to capture the strengths and competencies of Indian defence industries, the portal will:

• Serve as digital directory for Industry associations to enable them to easily identify potential partners and collaborators
• Allow Easier identification of domestic capabilities, faster decision-making, and reduced paperwork
• Act as a comprehensive database of manufacturers, MSMEs, Startups & suppliers
• Provide access to a wider industry base, pooling of resources during emergencies, and alignment of capabilities with DPSU needs
• Enhance participation in exhibitions, increases business opportunities, and allows industry associations to identify partners, advocate policies, and disseminate information

Its objectives include reducing supply chain vulnerabilities, strengthening strategic autonomy & national security and Supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It is Collated from Defence PSUs, DRDO, DoD Services, and industry associations. Each industry is assigned a Unique Reference Number (URN) for updates and tracking.

The event was organised by DDP, Ministry of Defence to make all States and Union Territories aware about various initiatives being undertaken by Department of Defence Production to boost defence manufacturing in the country. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary DDR&D & Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, Senior Officials of MoD, central & state governments were also present on the occasion.