Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today emphasised that self-reliance in defence sector can be achieved through seamless collaboration among the Defence Forces, Research and Development institutions and the industry. He called for greater dialogue, co-development and co-production to accelerate technology adoption and strengthen India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. Addressing the DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet, ‘VIMARSH 2026’ in New Delhi, Mr Singh said that DRDO has demonstrated its capabilities in every field, from missiles to radars, combat aircraft to submarines, electronic warfare system to Artificial Intelligence.
The Defence Minister said that the reforms witnessed in the defence sector over the past few years are unprecedented and several game-changing decisions have also been taken. These include the Positive Indigenisation List, the Make in India initiative, iDEX, ADITI and the decision to allocate 25 percent of the Defence Research and Development budget to the private sector. Mr Singh asserted that these measures have been taken to ensure that India does not remain dependent on imports in the defence sector, but moves towards self-reliance.
Describing MSMEs as a backbone of the Indian economy, Mr Singh said that their contribution in components, sub-systems and essential services is significant in the defence sector. He added that MSMEs will have to continuously focus on quality, delivery, innovation and global standards, as well as increase partnerships with large companies. The Defence Minister stressed that a new wave of defence startups is rising in India. He said that these startups are not only innovative but also agile and are disrupting the traditional defence manufacturing model. The Minister said that the opportunities in the defence sector have increased for them with funding, mentorship, and market access.
