India targets Rs 3 lakh Cr defence production, Rs 50,000 Cr exports by 2029

India is setting ambitious targets for its defence sector, aiming for a remarkable Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029. This forward-looking announcement came from Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh during a dialogue on 'National Security & Terrorism' held in Dehradun. The Defence Minister highlighted a significant transformation in India's security approach under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, underscored by "Operation Sindoor."

Rajnath Singh detailed the government's strategic efforts to bolster the defence sector, citing a substantial increase in the defence budget from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs 6.22 lakh crore in FY 2024-25. A key initiative includes reserving 75 per cent of the capital procurement budget for domestic companies and issuing ten Positive Indigenisation Lists, covering over 5,500 items. These measures have paved the way for the Indian Armed Forces to utilise advanced, domestically manufactured weapons and systems, including indigenous missiles like Agni, Prithvi, and BrahMos, and even aircraft carriers such as INS Vikrant.

The Raksha Mantri proudly noted the tangible results of these efforts, with annual defence production soaring from around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to a record Rs 1.30 lakh crore today. Similarly, defence exports have skyrocketed from Rs 686 crore in 2014 to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, with Made-in-India defence products now reaching nearly 100 countries.

"Operation Sindoor" was lauded by Rajnath Singh as a pivotal moment in India's fight against terrorism, demonstrating a decisive response to the Pahalgam attack by dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. He asserted that this operation, executed with Made-in-India weaponry, epitomised India's growing self-reliance and strategic strength. He also reiterated India's strong stance against Pakistan's role as a "Father of Global Terrorism," urging the international community to halt financial aid that indirectly fuels terrorism.

Beyond military strength, the Defence Minister emphasised the importance of public vigilance against information warfare, urging citizens to become "social soldiers" by discerning truth from falsehoods in the digital realm. He also called upon the media to prioritise accuracy and verification over the pursuit of viral content, highlighting journalism's crucial role as a "watchdog" for national security in an evolving threat landscape.