Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (July 12) said India is setting new benchmarks in defence manufacturing, with total production surpassing Rs 1.25 lakh crore, as the country continues to bolster indigenous capabilities in the sector.
Addressing a gathering, PM Modi linked the defence manufacturing surge with recent military operations and broader industrial growth, saying India is rapidly transforming into a global hub for production.
“In the past, India had only two to four mobile manufacturing units. Now, there are 300 units associated with mobile phone manufacturing in India, employing millions of young people. Similarly, there’s another sector, widely discussed with great pride, especially after Operation Sindoor: defence manufacturing. India is setting new records in defence manufacturing as well. Our defence production has exceeded Rs 1.25 lakh crore,” PM Modi said.
He added that India’s youth were central to the country’s progress. “Today, the world acknowledges that India possesses two limitless powers—first, demographics, and second, democracy. This strength of the youth is both the greatest asset and the greatest guarantee of India’s bright future,” the Prime Minister said.
Call to expand private sector’s role in defence
In a separate event, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan voiced support for the growing participation of India’s private sector in defence production, calling it a crucial shift from past dependence on imports.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony for the first batch of Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) holders at the National Academy of Defence Production (NADP), Radhakrishnan defended the government’s decision to open up the sector to private firms and described criticism of this move as “regressive.”
“Bofors guns were imported, and now Rafales were bought. Does it not allow the rest of the world to know about India’s defence secrets when weapons are imported?” the Governor asked.
He expressed hope that Maharashtra would see the development of defence corridors similar to those already being developed in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Referring to the indigenously developed Tejas light combat aircraft, he said, “One day, Tejas will rule the skies.”
Radhakrishnan also dismissed concerns about the risk of military secrets being compromised through privatisation. “Why should certain political parties oppose privatisation, citing the possibility of military secrets getting leaked? Weapons are made by our own people in our own country. The country should depend on its people rather than on foreigners,” he said.