India emerging as global hub in defence manufacturing: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

By R Anil Kumar

• India is becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in defence & emerging as a global manufacturing hub, says Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his Independence Day 2024 address

• “India was earlier a victim of terror attacks, today it is strong & bold; Armed Forces give a befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm us”

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, said there was a time when the majority of the defence budget was used to procure military hardware from abroad, but his government focused on indigenous defence production

• There has been a significant jump in defence exports in the first quarter of 2024-25 as Rs. 6,915 crore worth of defence equipment was exported

• The Indian armed forces projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next five-six years

• Women are not just participating in the progress of the nation, but are playing a leadership role. Be it the Army, Navy, Air Force or the space sector, we are witnessing the ever-growing Nari Shakti (women power) of our country: PM Modi

New Delhi, August 15. India is attaining ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence and gradually emerging as a global manufacturing hub of military equipment due to measures taken by the government in the last few years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

In his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, PM Modi said there was a time when the majority of the defence budget was used to procure military hardware from abroad, but his government focused on indigenous defence production.

“We are becoming self-reliant in the defence sector. Today, we have our own identity in defence manufacturing. India is emerging as a defence manufacturing hub,” he said.

Referring to the 2016 surgical strike & 2019 air strike, the Prime Minister, in his Independence Day address, stated that there was a time when the country was a victim of terror attacks; but today it is bold and strong, with the Armed Forces giving a befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country. He asserted that the nation is proud of its brave soldiers who selflessly serve the motherland.

The prime minister complimented the defence ministry and the armed forces for taking a series of decisions, including the notification of a number of positive indigenisation lists under which over thousands of items are being procured from the Indianindustry in line with designated timelines. According to the defence ministry, a total of 5,600 items have been identified for domestic manufacturing.

PM Modi expressed satisfaction that India, which was once dependent on import of defence equipment, is today exporting military hardware to numerous countries.

The annual defence production hit a record high of Rs. 1.27 lakh crore in 2023-24, according to the defence ministry.

In the same fiscal, defence exports touched Rs. 21,083 crore, an increase of 32.5 per cent over 2022-23.

There has been a significant jump in defence exports in the first quarter of 2024-25 as Rs. 6,915 crore worth of defence equipment was exported.

The amount is an increase of 78 per cent from the first quarter of 2023-24, when it was Rs. 3,885 crore.

In June, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, outlining his vision in the defence sector for the next five years, said the government will work assiduously to increase the exports of military hardware to Rs. 50,000 crore by 2028-29.

According to estimates, the Indian armed forces is projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next five-six years.

The government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing.

On the growing role of women in all the sectors, the prime minister emphasised that women are not just participating in the progress of the nation, but are playing a leadership role.

Be it the Army, Navy, Air Force or the space sector, we are witnessing the ever-growing Nari Shakti (women power) of our country,” he said.