The government is determined to make the defence sector export-focused, using India as a centre for global production: Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh requests that SIDM create a plan to entice large corporations and overseas OEMs to make investments in India or establish firm-to-firm joint ventures.

demands more funding for cutting-edge technologies to be prepared for the future, such as AI, cyber defence, and autonomous systems.

urges the sector to adopt a target-oriented strategy to lower the import to export ratio. 

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

India’s Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, has reiterated the government’s resolve to support the country’s defence sector and fulfil Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s goal of turning India into a major hub for global manufacturing. The Defence Minister used today’s address to the seventh annual session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi to highlight the importance of developing a solid defence industry foundation that can be strengthened and extended over time in light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

In its third straight term, the government, according to Rajnath Singh, will give its current efforts to create a strong, creative, and independent defence environment a fresh lease on life. He listed the actions taken to achieve “Aatmanirbharta” in the field of defence, such as the establishment of defence industrial corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the publication of positive indigenisation lists (PILs), the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board, the DRDO’s takeover of private industry, and the release of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

The Defence Ministry said that the goal of the ten PILs with more than five thousand items is to provide the Armed Forces with platforms and equipment made in India. Declaring the lists to be dynamic rather than static, he urged the sector to attain total self-sufficiency for these goods in the allotted time frame and to continue reducing the list. Aware of the quick changes occurring in the defence industry worldwide, he also pushed them to evaluate and discover goods that may be included to the PILs.

Rajnath Singh underlined that the government’s efforts have resulted in the creation of a business-friendly climate in the nation and the setting of a goal to turn India’s defence industry into an export-oriented sector. While he lauded the major contribution of the private sector in taking the defence exports to a record high of over Rs 21,000 crore in Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, he called upon the industry to keep in mind the export and import figures, and strive to reduce the ratio between the two with a target-oriented approach.

Raksha Mantri expressed her delight that the defence production in FY 2023–24 reached a record high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore. Private enterprises contributed roughly Rs 27,000 crore, while DPSUs had a portion of Rs one lakh crore. According to him, there is a great deal of room for growth in the proportion of private industry, and the goal should be to have at least 50% of all defence production come from them. He pledged the government’s unwavering assistance in reaching this goal.

Shri Rajnath Singh urged SIDM to create a roadmap for firm-to-firm collaboration, highlighting the government’s efforts to encourage foreign businesses and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in India or form joint ventures with the private sector. He believed that specialised technologies or processes may be introduced to India by the Indian industry.

Raksha Mantri recognised the potential of start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the defence industry, but she also highlighted the difficulties they confront in obtaining ease of doing business. In order to address challenges at the grassroots level and enable small businesses to take on a bigger role in defence manufacturing, he asked SIDM to collaborate closely with the government. It is crucial to make sure that our rules result in an easier time conducting business on the ground. In order to address the real-world difficulties faced by SMEs and start-ups, SIDM can assist in identifying them, the speaker stated.

Rajnath Singh pushed the sector to increase spending on cutting-edge technology like cyber protection, AI, and autonomous systems. “India’s defence industry must keep pace with global trends and focus on high-end technology. Investments in fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems, which will shape combat in the future, must be increased. The government is prepared to offer any required assistance,” he declared.

Raksha Mantri also gave out the SIDM Champion Awards during the event, which honour exceptional accomplishments in defence manufacturing. As a standard for industry best practices, he described the awards as a testament to the commitment and quality of Indian producers.

SIDM President Shri Rajinder Singh Bhatia, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, and prominent members of the industry attended the event. Encouraging Indigenous Innovation and Exports to Strengthen the Indian Defence Sector was the session’s focus. Stakeholders were able to debate India’s emerging position as a hub for innovation and a worldwide exporter of defence in this conference.