Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a testimony to India’s up-to-date, up-to-the-mark, and up-to-the-standard defence preparedness, sharpened by the transformation of the defence sector by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Stressing that achieving self-reliance requires a robust ecosystem for research, development, and innovation, led by start-ups, MSMEs, and young innovators, the Defence Minister described Aatmanirbharta in defence as the most significant initiative undertaken by the PM Modi-led government, said an official statement.
He described Operation Sindoor as a reminder of the unmatched valour of the Indian Defence Forces, which gave a befitting reply to terrorists and their patrons, reflecting the Government’s clear ‘zero tolerance’ stance against terrorism. Rajnath Singh also credited the PM Modi-led government for its spirit of 'Nation First' and 'Forces First'.
He emphasised that ‘zero tolerance against terrorism’ is not merely a statement but a line of action, reiterating that India can strike against terrorism not only at its doorstep but also by entering where it resides. He asserted that India’s transformed defence sector played a pivotal role in the successful execution of a complex operation such as Operation Sindoor, describing it as a shining example of technological warfare and proof of the Government’s trust in Indian industries.
“Advanced systems such as Akash Teer, Akash missile system and BrahMos were effectively used during the operation alongside various other state-of-the-art equipment. This is due to the foundation laid over the past 12 years,” he said.
Highlighting the steps taken by the government to foster Aatmanirbharta in defence, Rajnath Singh said that five positive indigenisation lists have, so far, been issued by the Defence Forces comprising 509 items, in addition to five by the Defence Public Sector Undertakings consisting of 5,012 items.
“As we move forward with determination and a systematic approach towards building a self-reliant and empowered defence sector, another Positive Indigenisation List will soon be notified to accelerate this vision further,” he said. Listing out the positive results achieved due to the continuous self-reliance efforts, the Defence Minister said the annual defence production reached a record high of approximately Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26 from Rs 40,000 crore around 2014.
He added that defence exports have crossed an all-time high figure of Rs 38,000 crore from Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14. “Our defence production target is to surpass the figure of Rs 2 lakh crore this year and Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029. Our goal is to ensure that defence exports reach Rs 50,000 crore by 2029.
Given the current pace of progress, I am confident that we will succeed in achieving the targets,” he said. Rajnath Singh underlined that the establishment of defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is another pathbreaking reform to achieve the goal of self-reliance.
He stated that advanced defence manufacturing is being carried out within these corridors, with many companies integrating into global supply chains. “Investments worth approximately Rs 70,000 crore have been proposed for these two defence corridors, with around Rs 10,000 crore already invested.
This has created new employment opportunities for the youth. The UP Defence Industrial Corridor, in particular, has emerged as a powerful example of the success of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” he said.