Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to inaugurate a national-level conference on ‘Opportunities in Defence Manufacturing in the Country’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on October 7, 2025.
Organised by the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence, the event is meant to serve as a platform to strengthen coordination between the central government and state and union territory administrations, with the goal of aligning regional industrial policies and infrastructure with India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
During the conference, Singh is expected to launch two major digital initiatives:
- The Defence Exim Portal, aimed at simplifying export and import authorisations, and
- Srijan Defence Establishments and Entrepreneurs Platform (DEEP), a digital repository mapping the capabilities and products of Indian defence industries.
Two key publications will also be released: Aerospace & Defence Sector Policy Compendium of States and Union Territories and the iDEX coffee table book Shared Horizons of Innovation.
The event will bring together senior officials from the industries departments of all states and union territories to discuss their role in advancing India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem. It will also highlight ongoing national initiatives to promote indigenisation, enhance defence exports, and attract investment into the sector.
The conference reflects the government’s continued emphasis on the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision, positioning India as a global hub for defence production and innovation.