Rajnath reaffirms push for self-reliant defence sector
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday reiterated the commitment of the Narendra Modi-led central Government to make the nation ‘Atma Nirbhar’ (Self-Reliant) in defence manufacturing.
Speaking during the launch of the 125 ‘game-changing’ infrastructure projects in Leh, Singh emphasised that India, which was once dependent on imports, is today witnessing a paradigm shift in defence manufacturing, from being an import-dependent nation to an emerging producer-exporter.
He said the country once lacked a robust system to manufacture arms and equipment domestically, but sustained efforts over the last decade have reversed that situation.
“Due to our hard work in the last 10 years, our defence production, which was approximately Rs 46,000 crore in 2014, has now grown to a record Rs 1.51 lakh crore. Our defence exports, which were less than Rs 1,000 crore 10 years ago, have now reached nearly Rs 24,000 crore,” Singh said.
Lauding the BRO for making great progress in technological innovation, Singh asserted that advanced engineering methods are accelerating the completion of infrastructure projects.
He made special mention of BRO’s adoption of Class-70 modular bridges indigenously developed in partnership with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision.
“The successful construction of these modular bridges at several forward locations is a powerful example of how indigenous technology is transforming infrastructure in border areas. These bridges, completely designed and manufactured in India, mark a significant milestone in India’s engineering self-reliance,” he said.
The defence minister also pointed out that in the financial year 2024-25, BRO incurred a record expenditure of Rs 16,690 crore, the highest ever, and a target of Rs 18,700 crore has been set for FY 2025-26, which underlines the government’s confidence in BRO’s capabilities.
The Government has enhanced the BRO budget from Rs 6,500 crore to Rs 7,146 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26 in recognition of its critical role in national security and development, he added.
