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Visakhapatnam: Speaking at HSL on October 6, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is calling for India’s defence industry to move beyond self-reliance and focus on global competitiveness, with stronger emphasis on indigenous design, faster manufacturing and technology development. His message comes as India’s defence production ecosystem expands across DPSUs, private companies, MSMEs and start-ups.
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Singh has repeatedly stressed that India’s objective is no longer limited to replacing imported equipment but is to build capabilities that can compete in international markets. He has called on Indian industry to invest in research, development and technology upgradation, build partnerships with universities and research institutions, and evolve from domestic suppliers into global enterprises.
The Defence Minister has also emphasised the need to integrate research, design, testing, certification and manufacturing rather than treating production as a standalone activity. At VIMARSH 2026, he said DRDO brings technological knowledge, industry provides manufacturing scale, start-ups contribute innovation and agility, while young engineers provide the talent base needed to build a globally competitive defence ecosystem.
The shift comes as India’s defence production reaches around ₹1.80 lakh crore in FY2025-26, while defence exports continue to expand. Singh has described the transition from defence importer to trusted global supplier as a major objective, with indigenous technologies, private-sector participation and export-oriented production becoming increasingly important.
For the defence industry, the next challenge is therefore not simply producing more equipment but designing competitive systems, scaling production, improving quality and delivery timelines, and developing products that can succeed in global markets. That approach would move Aatmanirbhar Bharat from import substitution towards a broader “Make in India, Make for the World” defence-industrial model.
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