Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth today said the Government has set the target of 3 lakh crore rupees of annual defence production and 50 thousand crore rupees in defence exports by 2029. Addressing the gathering at the second Annual Trident Lecture of the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) in New Delhi, Mr Seth said that the country’s defence production has reached around 1.78 lakh crore rupees.

He said that India’s defence strength is witnessing a major transformation, with the country increasingly relying on indigenous defence systems and production capabilities. Speaking about Operation Sindoor, Mr Seth said the operation demonstrated India’s growing defence self-reliance. He said that for the first time after 1947 India carried out such a response using an indigenous system. Referring to India’s economic performance, he said the country recorded a GDP growth of 7.8 per cent despite global challenges, including conflicts in West Asia and between Russia and Ukraine, crude oil concerns and climate-related challenges.

The Lecture was organised on the theme National Resurgence through the Lens of Defence Forces. The Lecture brought senior leadership and eminent experts together for deliberations on jointness and integration, multi-domain operations, civil-military fusion and the role of the Armed Forces in nation building.