Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said India’s defence policy has transformed from being reactive to proactive, asserting that the country has emerged as both self-reliant and confident in the defence sector. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, Mr Singh said India’s entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016 enabled the country to enhance the range of the BrahMos missile, describing it as an outcome of the Prime Minister’s active diplomacy and visionary leadership. Referring to Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister said the BrahMos missile had demonstrated its effectiveness, claiming that its impact had been acknowledged by Pakistan’s Prime Minister. The Defence Minister also said the government has worked on multiple fronts, including strengthening border security, modernising the armed forces, boosting indigenous production and revamping ordnance factories,
Highlighting the government’s achievements in the defence sector, Mr Singh said indigenous defence production has increased from around 40 thousand crore rupees during the previous UPA government to nearly one lakh 80 thousand crore rupees today. He added that India is now exporting defence equipment worth nearly 38 thousand 500 crore rupees to more than 100 countries. Mr Singh also referred to the alleged irregularities in the Bofors, HDW submarine, Tatra truck and AgustaWestland helicopter deal during UPA regime. He further said India’s defence budget has increased from around two lakh 50 thousand crore rupees to nearly eight lakh crore rupees over the past 12 years.
