India aims to achieve Rs 3 trillion defence production and Rs 50,000 crore exports by 2029, strengthening indigenous manufacturing, military modernisation and strategic autonomy.
India is accelerating efforts to strengthen its domestic defence manufacturing industry and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced ambitious targets of achieving Rs 3 trillion in defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
Addressing a meeting of the Defence Ministry's Consultative Committee in Jaisalmer, Singh highlighted the importance of strategic autonomy, indigenous technology and military modernisation in addressing emerging national security challenges.
The discussions focused on technological advancements, changing warfare strategies and the need to develop a technologically advanced and operationally prepared military.
Rajnath Singh said that developing domestic defence capabilities is essential for protecting India's national security interests.
The government has been encouraging indigenous manufacturing to reduce the country's dependence on foreign sources for military equipment, weapons and advanced technologies.
According to the defence minister, strategic autonomy and domestic technological capabilities are important for ensuring that India's armed forces remain prepared to respond to evolving security threats.
The government is therefore focusing on strengthening domestic industries, promoting innovation and accelerating the development of advanced military platforms within the country.
India has made considerable progress in expanding its defence manufacturing capabilities over the past decade. According to Rajnath Singh, domestic defence production has increased from Rs 46,429 crore in FY2014-15 to a record Rs 1.78 trillion in FY2025-26.
Building on this growth, the government has set an ambitious target of increasing defence production to Rs 3 trillion by 2029.
The target is expected to encourage greater participation from domestic manufacturers, defence public sector undertakings, private companies and technology developers.
Higher production capabilities could also help India strengthen its position in the global defence manufacturing industry.
India is also working towards expanding its presence in international defence markets. Singh stated that defence exports, which were below Rs 2,000 crore in 2014, have increased to approximately Rs 40,000 crore.
The government now aims to raise defence exports to Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
Achieving this objective will require stronger manufacturing capabilities, internationally competitive defence products and greater participation in global supply chains.
The expansion of indigenous defence production is expected to support export growth while creating new business opportunities for Indian manufacturers.
The government has increased financial support for military modernisation through a higher defence allocation. Singh highlighted that the defence budget for FY2026-27 has been raised to a record Rs 7.85 trillion, including a capital outlay of Rs 2.19 trillion.
The increased allocation is intended to support the modernisation requirements of the armed forces and accelerate the acquisition of advanced military equipment.
The defence minister also stressed that financial resources must be utilised effectively, with priority given to critical operational requirements.
Adequate funding and timely capital acquisition will remain important for strengthening India's defence preparedness.
The consultative committee meeting discussed the changing nature of warfare and the growing importance of advanced technologies in military operations.
The defence minister emphasised the need to accelerate the induction of next-generation platforms and weapon systems.
Strengthening coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force was another important priority. The discussions highlighted the importance of integrated planning, joint operations and better coordination between the three services.
These measures are expected to improve operational efficiency and enable the armed forces to respond more effectively to complex security situations.
Rajnath Singh highlighted the importance of adapting military structures to changing battlefield requirements.
He referred to new Indian Army formations, including the 'Asani', 'Bhairav' and 'Shaktiban' platoons, describing them as effective in addressing contemporary operational requirements.
These initiatives reflect the Army's efforts to improve flexibility, responsiveness and operational preparedness.
The defence minister also emphasised that military strength depends not only on modern equipment and financial resources but also on the skills, capabilities and readiness of personnel.
Continuous training and development of human capital will therefore remain essential components of military modernisation.
The meeting highlighted that defence modernisation must be treated as an ongoing process rather than a one-time exercise.
India's armed forces need to continuously upgrade their capabilities in response to technological developments, changing security threats and new forms of warfare.
The discussions also stressed the importance of following a structured and phased approach to modernisation.
The broader objective is to develop a military capable of responding effectively to conventional, sub-conventional and multi-domain security challenges.
Conclusion
India's target of achieving Rs 3 trillion in defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in exports by 2029 reflects its growing focus on self-reliance and military modernisation. With increased budgetary support, indigenous technology development and stronger coordination among the armed forces, the government aims to build a future-ready defence ecosystem and strengthen India's position in the global defence industry.