Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is giving the highest priority to the modernisation of the defence forces driven by a self-reliant and future-ready defence sector.
In his address to the soldiers today through Akashvani on the eve of the 80th Independence Day, Mr Singh highlighted the transformative shift witnessed by the defence sector in the last 12 years due to initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India. He asserted that India has become a nation which is effectively catering to its own security needs, while emerging as a global defence manufacturing hub and a net defence exporter.
Mr Singh emphasised that domestic defence production, which stood at just 46 thousand crore rupees in 2014, has skyrocketed to a record 1.78 lakh crore rupees in the Financial Year 2025-26, nearly a four-fold increase over the last decade. He said, this achievement is a testament to the structural changes that have taken place in the defence sector.
He pointed out that Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and other public sector entities accounted for approximately 76 per cent of the total defence production, with the private sector contributing 24 per cent, up from 22 per cent in the previous fiscal year. The Minister said, this growing participation of the private sector signals a continuously improving business environment within the defence sector.
Mr Singh also pointed out that the defence budget has risen from 2.53 lakh crore rupees in Financial Year 2013-14 to 7.85 lakh crore rupees in Financial Year 2026-27, which is a reflection of India’s growing commitment to future defence technologies. He said, over the past year, the Defence Acquisition Council has granted Acceptance of Necessity for projects worth over 8.75 lakh crore rupees, which highlights the Government’s emphasis on defence modernisation. He listed the fundamental reforms undertaken in defence procurement to accelerate this modernisation process, including a two-fold increase in financial ceiling for Field Commanders to strengthen operational efficiency.
The Minister asserted that DRDO and the defence forces are positioning India at the forefront of technologies for future warfare amidst the evolving defence landscape. He made special mention of the successful test of the first Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation system, which has the capability to transform conventional weapons into precision-guided munitions. Mr Singh said, the testing of the Advanced Agni Missile, equipped with MIRV technology, has added a new dimension to the strategic deterrence capabilities. He said, successful trials of the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile, Naval Anti-Ship Missile-SR, and Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket have provided unprecedented strength to the nation’s strike capabilities.
On the successful test of Active Cooled Full-Scale Scramjet Combustor for over 1200 seconds, Mr Singh stated that the feat has placed India among the select group of nations capable of developing hypersonic missile technology. He added that the nation’s air defence capabilities have been further bolstered by the first successful test of the indigenous Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile.
The Defence Minister underlined that border area development is a focus area of the Government as the objective is to enhance defence preparedness and connectivity with border areas. He lauded the defence forces for being the first responders to carry out relief and rescue operations whenever an unfortunate natural disaster occurs in the country or abroad.
Mr Singh reiterated the Government’s commitment towards the welfare of serving and retired defence forces personnel as well as their families, describing them as a reflection of honour, dignity, and self-respect. He said that over the past five years, there has been a 300 Per Cent increase in the budget of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme.
The Minister also underscored the Government’s continued focus on providing increased opportunities for women in the defence forces and effectively utilising Nari Shakti in national security and nation building.
