Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a comprehensive review meeting of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) at the newly inaugurated DPSU Bhawan, World Trade Centre, Naoroji Nagar, New Delhi, on 10 November 2025. During the session, four DPSUs — Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), India Optel Limited (IOL), and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) — were conferred Miniratna (Category-I) status for their exemplary performance and contribution to India’s defence sector. Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh commended all 16 DPSUs for serving as “strong pillars of India’s self-reliance,” citing their success in Operation Sindoor as evidence of the reliability of indigenous platforms. He said the Miniratna recognition reflected the growing efficiency, autonomy, and global competitiveness of Indian defence enterprises. Singh noted that the transformation of the Ordnance Factory Board into seven new DPSUs in 2021 had ushered in greater independence, innovation, and accountability. The newly granted Miniratna status will empower the four DPSUs to pursue capacity expansion, modernisation, and joint ventures with both public and private sector partners. Highlighting the sector’s strong performance, the minister revealed that India achieved defence production worth Rs 1.51 trillion (Rs 1,510 billion) in FY 2024–25, with DPSUs contributing 71.6 per cent of the total output. Defence exports also reached Rs 66.95 billion, underscoring the global trust in Indian-made defence systems. “These figures clearly show that ‘Made in India’ defence products are earning international respect,” he said. MoUs And New Initiatives As part of the event, three major Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged among DPSUs. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed MoUs with Yantra India Limited (YIL) to support modernisation efforts and establish a 10,000-tonne Forging Press facility, reducing import dependence on aluminium alloys for defence and aerospace manufacturing. HAL has committed an interest-free advance of Rs 4.35 billion, while BDL will provide up to 3,000 metric tonnes of sustained workload over ten years. A third MoU was signed for creating a Metal Bank at MIDHANI, ensuring uninterrupted access to critical raw materials for key national defence projects. Singh also unveiled the HAL R&D Manual, part of a larger push to strengthen the research and development ecosystem through digitisation, intellectual property generation, and industry-academia collaboration. The DPSU R&D Roadmap integrates ongoing and future initiatives, marking a decisive shift from licensed production to indigenous design and development. Green Defence Push In a major sustainability move, the minister launched SWAYAM – Sustainable and Green Defence Manufacturing, a compendium detailing the transition to eco-friendly production under the Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Action Plan (CEEAP) 2023. SWAYAM outlines efforts to expand renewable energy adoption, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions, supported by digital tools such as the SWARNA Dashboard and the DPSU Energy Efficiency Index. IOL and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) were felicitated for achieving 100 per cent renewable energy usage. IOL switched entirely to green energy in September 2025, cutting 8,669 tonnes of CO? emissions and saving Rs 2.64 million in the first quarter of FY 2025–26. BEL, the first Navratna DPSU to achieve the RE100 milestone in January 2025, reduced its Scope-2 emissions from 15,000 tonnes to zero, moving closer to its Net Zero target. Collaboration And Vision Praising the leadership and innovation of DPSUs, Singh urged them to sustain momentum by focusing on rapid indigenisation, R&D investment, quality enhancement, timely delivery, and export expansion. He directed DPSUs to present measurable indigenisation and R&D roadmaps at the next review meeting, assuring full government support for initiatives requiring special assistance. He concluded, “Let us not only make India self-reliant in defence production but establish it as a global manufacturing hub.” The newly built DPSU Bhawan—a state-of-the-art facility conceptualised under Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth—will serve as a collaborative platform for all 16 DPSUs, fostering synergy, innovation, and knowledge exchange under the motto ‘?????????? ????????’ (Move together, dialogue together).