The government’s strategic policy reforms driven by the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative have significantly transformed the country’s defence sector, with a surge in domestic defence production and exports. Once dependent on foreign suppliers, India is now prioritizing self-sufficiency to bolster national security and reduce reliance on external sources.
The country has achieved the highest-ever growth in indigenous defence production in value terms during the financial year 2023-24. According to the Defence Ministry, defence production has surged to a record high of over one lakh 27 thousand crore rupees, representing a 174 percent increase from over 46 thousand crore rupees in 2014-15. Around 65 percent of defence equipment is now manufactured within India. This transformation reflects the country’s commitment to self-reliance in this critical sector and underscores the strength of its defence industrial base, which comprises 16 Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs), over 430 licensed companies, and approximately 16 thousand Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Twenty-one percent of this production comes from the private sector, bolstering India’s journey toward self-reliance.
India’s defence exports have also reached unprecedented levels, increasing from 686 crore rupees in 2013-14 to over 21 thousand crore rupees in 2023-24. Currently, India exports defence equipment to more than 100 countries, with the United States, France, and Armenia emerging as the top three destinations in 2023-24. The government aims to further elevate exports to 50 thousand crore rupees by 2029. Under the Make in India initiative, India has developed major defence platforms such as the Dhanush Artillery Gun System, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Main Battle Tank Arjun, Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, and submarines, underscoring the nation’s commitment to technological self-reliance and military modernization.
