India's defence production hits Rs. 1,46,000 crore (US$ 17.09 billion), exports at Rs. 24,000 crore : Union Minister of Defence, Mr. Rajnath Singh

As per Union Minister of Defence Mr. Rajnath Singh, India's domestic defence production has reached a record high of Rs. 1,46,000 crore (US$ 17.09 billion). In contrast, defence exports have surpassed Rs. 24,000 crore (US$ 2.81 billion). During the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Summit 2025, he pointed out that this increase highlights the effects of the Make in India initiative, which has notably decreased reliance on imports and bolstered national security. He mentioned that defence exports were under Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 117.1 million) a decade ago and have now escalated to Rs. 23,500 crore (US$ 2.75 billion), reflecting the growing international trust in Indian-made defence systems. He also remarked on India's shifting focus beyond traditional technologies like fighter jets and missiles, emphasizing greater investments in cyber warfare, space capabilities, and AI-driven systems. According to the Union Budget for 2025-26, the Defence Ministry has been allocated Rs. 6,81,000 crore (US$ 79.82 billion), which represents a 9.5% increase from last year's allocation of Rs. 6,22,000 crore (US$ 72.82 billion). This accounts for 13.45% of the overall budget and about 1.9% of the anticipated Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He emphasized the government's initiative to foster greater involvement from the private sector and to increase funding for Research and Development (R&D) in cutting-edge defence manufacturing.