Delhi, 18 June (CNI) : India’s defence industry is playing a crucial role in meeting the security needs of friendly countries, said defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday.
Chairing a meeting of the consultative committee for the ministry of defence on ‘Self-reliance in Defence Manufacturing’ in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Singh briefed committee members about the ministry’s initiatives to achieve self-reliance in defence manufacturing and the progress made so far.
The defence minister said today the country is indigenously manufacturing submarines, fighter jets, helicopters and weapons. He added that the growing defence industry is not only catering to the domestic requirements, but also fulfilling the security needs of friendly countries.
“In the last financial year, our defence production crossed ₹one lakh crore and exports touched ₹16,000 crore. This is proof that the defence sector and the nation at large are on the right path,” he said.
Singh emphasized the government’s continuous efforts to enhance the country’s security and equip the armed forces with advanced technology to address challenges arising from the evolving global scenario. He highlighted demand assurance as one of the key aspects in achieving self-reliance and mentioned several decisions taken to attain this objective.
“These include constant increase in defence budget, including capital outlay; earmarking of record 75 per cent of defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry in Financial Year 2023-24 and issuance of positive indigenisation lists,” Singh added.
Singh appreciated the fact that irrespective of the ideology, there has always been consensus from all quarters towards attaining the goal of complete self-reliance. “If we wish to make India a defence exporter instead of an importer, we must stand together in every situation with the idea of ‘Nation First’. Only then will we be able to achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
