Rajnath Singh asks defence industry to emulate pharma, telecom’s innovation-driven success
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
| Photo Credit:
ANI
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urged India’s defence industry to emulate the innovation-driven success of the pharmaceutical and telecom sectors to move beyond assembly-based production and focus on developing world-class, indigenous systems for the armed forces.
Addressing the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Annual Session, held on the theme “Defence Self-Reliance: Strengthening National Security through Indigenous Industry,” the minister underscored the critical role of private industry in achieving technological self-reliance.
“Besides the government, private industries also have a significant responsibility in research and development,” Singh said. “The Indian industry must do what hasn’t been done before. The private sector has made India a pioneer in pharmaceuticals, IT, and telecom — and we expect the same spirit of innovation in defence R&D,” he emphasised.
Citing the successful deployment of indigenously produced equipment during Operation Sindoor, Singh said the operation had enhanced India’s strategic reputation both regionally and globally. He urged the industry to use it as a model for accelerating self-reliance by prioritising innovation, technology-based manufacturing, and a stronger presence across the supply and maintenance chains.
“Operation Sindoor should serve as a case study to guide our future course,” he said. “It reminds us that challenges can emerge anywhere, anytime. We must be prepared for all contingencies, based on the strength of our own capabilities,” he observed.
The Defence Minister also highlighted the strategic necessity of indigenisation amid growing global instability.
“The established world order is weakening, and conflict zones are expanding. In such a scenario, India must redefine its security and strategic priorities,” he said.
Singh noted that India’s self-reliance initiatives have already transformed the country’s defence ecosystem.
Before 2014, India relied heavily on imports to meet its security needs. Today, the country is manufacturing an increasing share of defence equipment domestically. Defence production has grown from around ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to a record ₹1.51 lakh crore, with the private sector contributing ₹33,000 crore. Defence exports have surged from less than ₹1,000 crore a decade ago to approximately ₹24,000 crore, with a target of ₹30,000 crore by March 2026.
The Minister also pointed to ongoing policy reforms, including the recently launched Defence Procurement Manual 2025 and the upcoming revision of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
Singh called on private industry to play a greater role in defence manufacturing.
“We aim to raise the private sector’s share in domestic defence production from the current 25% to at least 50% in the next three years,” he said.
Published on October 27, 2025
