Rajnath Singh said India progressed from shortages to self-reliance and self-confidence, moving toward Viksit Bharat through Reform, Perform, Transform policy
NEW DELHI
India has achieved record growth in defence production and exports, reflecting the increasing global confidence in the country’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday while addressing a media event in the national capital.
The minister said annual defence production reached an all-time high of Rs. 1.78 lakh crore during the financial year 2025-26, nearly three times higher than the production recorded in 2014-15. He also announced that defence exports crossed Rs. 38,000 crore, compared to just Rs. 686 crore in 2013-14, marking a nearly 57-fold increase over the past decade.
Rajnath Singh said India has moved from shortages to self-reliance, then to self-confidence, and is now progressing towards becoming a developed nation. He stated that the government’s focus on the policy of “Reform, Perform, Transform” is laying a strong foundation for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Recalling the launch of the Make in India programme in 2014, the minister said the initiative had initially faced criticism but has since delivered remarkable results across several sectors. He added that India’s voice now carries greater importance in global discussions and international forums.
Highlighting technological progress, Rajnath Singh said the India Semiconductor Mission, launched in 2021, has begun producing indigenous semiconductor chips after the establishment of semiconductor parks with modern infrastructure. He noted that the country’s manufacturing sector has expanded significantly, with growth in mobile phone production, automobile exports, railway locomotive manufacturing, and digital infrastructure.
The minister also praised India’s digital transformation, stating that 22.35 billion Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions worth Rs. 29 lakh crore were recorded in April. He said the digital payment platform is gaining wider international acceptance and strengthening India’s position in financial technology.
Rajnath Singh further said the nationwide rollout of indigenous 5G technology has progressed rapidly, while preparations are already underway for the development of 6G technology. He also highlighted the successful implementation of the Goods and Services Tax, saying it has strengthened cooperation between the Centre and the states while improving the country’s economic framework and supporting long-term national development.