Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today projected a bold and forward-looking vision for India, declaring that the nation is on course to become a developed country and the world’s foremost military power. Speaking at a Defence Conclave in New Delhi, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to indigenisation, technological advancement, and strategic reforms in the defence sector.

“The day is not far when India will not only emerge as a developed country, but our military power will also emerge as number one in the world,” he proclaimed, underlining India’s transition from import-dependence to becoming a global player in defence production and exports.

Highlighting the transformative impact of the Make in India initiative, the Minister emphasised its role in building a resilient global defence supply chain. “India’s defence sector is not only moving ahead on the path of self-reliance but is also ready to play an important role in strengthening global supply chains,” he noted.

He stressed that India’s military growth is aimed at maintaining peace and deterrence, not aggression. “Our defence capabilities are a credible deterrence to ensure peace and tranquillity. Peace is only possible when we remain strong,” he said.

Rajnath Singh also addressed the changing nature of warfare, identifying cyber and space domains as emerging battlegrounds, alongside the rising significance of perception and narrative control. To tackle these challenges, the Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the ‘Year of Reforms’, with a focus on holistic capacity building and structural transformation.

He cited the corporatisation of the over 200-year-old Ordnance Factories as a landmark reform, now yielding tangible results with profitable operations. The Minister also highlighted the release of five positive indigenisation lists each by the Armed Forces and Defence PSUs. “These include 509 items from the Services and 5,012 items from DPSUs that will now be produced domestically,” he stated.

On the technological front, he hailed India’s growing prowess in areas such as missile systems (Agni, BrahMos), submarines (INS Arihant), aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant), drones, AI, and cyber defence. Though aero engine manufacturing remains a challenge, progress is being made under the Kaveri project with collaborations under discussion with Safran, GE, and Rolls Royce.

Shipbuilding is another area of pride, with over 97% of Indian Navy and Coast Guard warships now being built domestically. Indian-made ships are also being exported to friendly nations including Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the Maldives.