New Delhi:

The defence budget has grown significantly, rising from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 6.81 lakh crore in 2025-26. This increase shows India’s commitment to strengthening its military. The government has worked to involve private companies and promote new technologies. Defence corridors and home-grown platforms like aircraft and missiles highlight this long-term vision.

India’s defence sector has undergone a major transformation over the past 11 years, according to the Central government. Once small and limited, it has grown into a strong, self-reliant system driven by clear policies and bold leadership. The focus is on boosting production, encouraging innovation, and increasing exports to make India secure and independent.

Record defence output

The results are impressive. In 2023-24, India’s defence production hit a record Rs 1.27 lakh crore, a 174 per cent jump from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15. The shift from relying on imports to producing locally has been fast and strategic. Policies favouring Indian-made products have boosted both public and private companies, creating a wide range of equipment like radars, helicopters and artillery.

In 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence signed 193 contracts worth Rs 2,09,050 crore, with 177 contracts worth Rs 1,68,922 crore going to Indian companies. This focus on local manufacturing has created jobs and advanced technology. Two Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have attracted over Rs 8,658 crore in investments and signed deals for Rs 53,439 crore, turning India into a defence manufacturing hub.

Pushing self-reliant innovation

The government has also limited imports by listing over 5,500 items for local production, with 3,000 already made in India, including rifles, sonar systems, and rockets. The Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program, launched in 2018, supports startups and small businesses with grants up to Rs 1.5 crore. As of February 2025, iDEX has signed 430 contracts and helped produce 43 items worth Rs 2,400 crore. For 2025-26, Rs 449.62 crore is allocated to iDEX to further boost innovation. India’s defence sector is not just modernising. It is building a future where strength and self-reliance go hand in hand.

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