India Defence Production Hits Record ₹1.54 Lakh Crore
Rajnath Singh said India’s defence production reached a record ₹1.54 lakh crore in the 2025-26 financial year, while defence exports touched an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore as the country accelerates efforts towards military self-reliance.
The Defence Minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the three-day North Tech Symposium in Prayagraj on May 4, 2026. The event was organised by the Indian Army’s Northern and Central Commands along with the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.
Rajnath Singh Highlights Changing Nature of Warfare
Singh stressed that rapid technological transformation is reshaping modern warfare, pointing to developments seen during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He said warfare evolved from traditional tanks and missiles to drones, sensors and advanced technologies within just a few years. Singh also referred to pager attacks in Lebanon and Syria as examples of how ordinary devices can become weapons in modern conflicts.
The Defence Minister underlined the importance of maintaining the “element of surprise” in warfare and urged India to build proactive technological capabilities to stay prepared for future threats.
Government Pushes Defence Innovation
Singh said the government has placed defence research at the centre of national priorities through organisations such as DRDO.
He added that 25% of the defence research and development budget has been allocated to industry, academia and start-ups. According to Singh, more than ₹4,500 crore has already been utilised by these sectors.
The Defence Minister also announced that DRDO has transferred more than 2,200 technologies to industries after waiving earlier technology-transfer fees for development and production partners. He further said Indian companies now have free access to DRDO patents to improve competitiveness and innovation.
Focus on Advanced Military Technologies
Singh urged Indian industry to expand work in strategic sectors including directed energy weapons, hypersonic weapons, underwater domain awareness, space situational awareness, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
He described Operation Sindoor as a demonstration of India’s technological readiness, highlighting the use of indigenous systems such as Akashteer, the Akash missile system and BrahMos during the operation.
Symposium Showcases Indigenous Defence Innovation
The symposium, themed “Raksha Triveni Sangam – Where Technology, Industry & Soldiering Converge”, brought together defence officials, industry leaders, start-ups and academic institutions to discuss indigenous technological solutions for operational challenges.
Military leaders emphasised the growing importance of unmanned aerial systems, counter-drone capabilities, AI-enabled decision-making tools, precision strike systems and advanced artillery technologies.
An exhibition held alongside the symposium featured innovations from 284 companies, including MSMEs, defence technology firms and start-ups showcasing indigenous defence technologies.
With inputs from PIB
