Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hailed a dramatic leap in India’s defence sector, revealing that exports of military hardware have grown by over 1,100% in the past ten years—from ₹1,941 crore in 2014 to ₹23,662 crore in 2024. The announcement underscores India’s emergence as a key global supplier of defence equipment, with over 100 countries now sourcing military systems from Indian manufacturers.

This surge in exports is part of a broader transformation powered by the government’s strong emphasis on indigenous manufacturing. In the Union Budget for FY 2025–26, 75% of the defence capital procurement budget has been allocated for domestic production. More than 5,000 components have been incorporated into the defence indigenisation list under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, further strengthening India's self-reliance in critical military technologies.

India’s overall defence production has also expanded significantly. From a base of around ₹43,000 crore a decade ago, production has now reached an all-time high of ₹1.46 lakh crore, with the private sector contributing over ₹32,000 crore. The success of indigenous systems was notably demonstrated during Operation Sindoor, where Indian-made missiles were deployed effectively in strikes on terror infrastructure.

Sitharaman also pointed to the broader national security and diplomatic achievements during the Modi government’s tenure. These include high-profile military operations, as well as humanitarian efforts such as the evacuation of over 22,500 Indian nationals from Ukraine and 3,000 from war-torn Sudan. India’s outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic—sending more than 30 crore vaccine doses to over 100 nations—further bolstered its global reputation.

Together, these developments reflect not just a quantitative leap in defence exports, but a qualitative shift in India’s global standing as a credible and capable defence partner. As Sitharaman emphasised, the momentum behind Make in India and strategic self-reliance is steadily turning India into a global defence powerhouse.

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