“From a time when our forces faced critical equipment shortages to today’s era of self-reliance – this is a journey that every Indian can be proud of,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, hailing the growth in defense sector.
The PM, who directed Defense Minister and other cabinet colleagues to spend Diwali with troops, said this in a LinkedIn post headlined “India’s Defense Revolution Takes Flight!”
“Yesterday was a watershed moment in India’s defense and aerospace journey as we inaugurated the C-295 aircraft manufacturing complex in Vadodara alongside the President of the Government of Spain, my friend Mr. Pedro Sanchez,” Modi said.
The speed of execution is breathtaking – from foundation stone to operational facility in just two years! This is a clear manifestation of a new work culture and the capabilities of the people of India, he pointed out.
He said the defense production has soared to ₹1.27 lakh crore (2023-24), exports have skyrocketed from ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to ₹21,000 crore today and over 12,300 items have been indigenised in just 3 years.
Similarly, PM also stated that over ₹7,500 crore have been invested in domestic vendors by DPSUs, and 25 percent of defense R&D budget dedicated to industry-led innovation.
In addition to the statistics, Modi said the defense ecosystem has been completely transformed which will make “everyone very happy”.
Pointing out at the manufacturing success, he said indigenous warships are patrolling our waters, Made-in-India missiles are strengthening our deterrence and domestically produced bulletproof jackets protecting our soldiers.
India, as per Modi, is becoming Aatmanirbhar in defense and is also working to be a top of the line defense equipment manufacturer.
He also emphasized on innovation initiatives and stated that iDEX (Innovations for Defense Excellence) is powering an entire start-up eco-system.
The MSMEs are becoming integral to the defense supply chain and industry-academia partnerships are fostering R&D in the sector, he wrote.
Thanks to the strengths and skills of our Yuva Shakti and the efforts of the government, we are seeing the following impacts: Reduced import dependency; job creation across the defense manufacturing sector; skill development for our youth; and MSMEs getting a boost in the defense sector, he stressed.
Reaching out to the nation, the PM said, “To our youth, start-ups, manufacturers, and innovators – India’s defense sector is calling! This is your moment to be part of history. India needs your expertise and enthusiasm.”
“The doors are open for innovation, the policies are supportive, and the opportunity is unprecedented. Together, we will make India not just Aatmanirbhar in defense but a global leader in defense manufacturing.”
“Together, let’s build a stronger, self-reliant Bharat!,” he urged.