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India’s Defence Production and Strategic Goals
India Has Set target of Rs 3 Lakh Crore in Defence Production by 2029: Rajnath
Context: India’s defence production is set to surpass ₹1.60 lakh crore this year, with an ambitious target to manufacture military hardware worth ₹3 lakh crore by 2029, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on April 17, 2025.
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- India is also making strides in defence exports. The country is on track to achieve defence exports worth ₹30,000 crore this year, with a goal of ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
- The Make in India initiative is reinforcing not only domestic capabilities but also enhancing the resilience and flexibility of global defence supply chains.
- 75% of the defence capital procurement budget has been reserved for domestic companies, underscoring the push for self-reliance.
Strategic Advancements and Technological Achievements
- Warfare is evolving with new battlefronts in cyber, space, and information domains. The government is preparing India to be “future-ready” with innovation and adaptability at the core.
- Singh noted that India now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with developed nations in several critical areas of defence technology. These include:
- Missile technology – with systems like Agni and BrahMos
- Submarine development – including INS Arihant
- Aircraft carriers – such as the INS Vikrant
Drones, cyber defence, and hypersonic systems
Aero Engine Manufacturing – A Key Challenge
- Singh acknowledged that aero engine manufacturing continues to be a significant hurdle.
- Progress has been made under the Kaveri engine project, despite previous delays.
- India is in discussions with global manufacturers like Safran (France), GE (USA), and Rolls Royce (UK) to build indigenous capabilities in this domain.
Major Reforms: Ordnance Factory Corporatisation
- The corporatisation of the 200-year-old Ordnance Factories was described as a “bold but necessary step”.
- Now operating as profit-making entities, the new structure is seen as one of the biggest reforms of the century.
Indigenisation Drive
- The Defence Ministry has released:
- 5 Positive Indigenisation Lists by the Armed Forces
- 5 Lists by Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs)
- These lists include:
- 509 defence systems and platforms to be domestically produced.
- 5,012 items in the DPSU lists, covering critical components like Line Replacement Units, subsystems, spares, etc.
Vision for the Future
- India’s defence build-up aims at self-reliance, strategic autonomy, and resilience against global supply shocks.
- India is focused on reducing import dependency and building a domestic defence industrial ecosystem. The ecosystem will cater to both national requirements and boost export potential.
- The sector is now not just securing national borders but positioning India as a global defence hub.
- Singh declared, “The day is not far when India will not only become a developed country, but our military power will also be number one in the world.”
