India's Defense Industry Aids Friendly Nations' Security: Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI: India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence to discuss "Self-reliance in Defence Manufacturing." During the meeting, Singh highlighted the consensus among different political ideologies in achieving self-reliance and emphasized that India's defence industry is meeting the security needs of friendly nations.

Singh reiterated the government's commitment to enhancing national security and equipping the Armed Forces with advanced technology to address evolving global challenges. To achieve self-reliance, he emphasized the importance of "demand assurance" and outlined various decisions taken by the Ministry. These decisions include consistent increases in the defence budget, with a focus on capital expenditure, allocating 75 percent of the defence capital procurement budget for domestic industries in the financial year 2023-24, and issuing positive indigenization lists.

The Defence Minister highlighted the positive results of these decisions, noting that India now manufactures submarines, fighter jets, helicopters, and weapons domestically. He emphasized that the expanding defence industry not only caters to domestic requirements but also fulfills the security needs of friendly countries.

Singh commended the consensus among all stakeholders in striving for complete self-reliance, regardless of political ideology. He emphasized the importance of unity under the banner of 'Nation First' to transform India from a defence importer to an exporter. This unity, he believes, is crucial for achieving the goal of an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India).

During the meeting, committee members provided valuable suggestions, which were appreciated by the Minister. He assured them that efforts would be made to incorporate their suggestions.

In a separate address at a conference organized by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Singh emphasized the need for advancements in defence technology to address the "double threat" along the borders, referring to security challenges with China and Pakistan. He stressed the importance of extensive research in developing defence technologies to meet various security challenges.

Later, in a speech at the annual session of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Singh urged industry leaders to help India become a "leader" rather than an "imitator" in developing futuristic technologies. He stated that this approach would enable India to tackle challenges arising from the evolving global security scenario, where countries are focusing on advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and genetics.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the consensus among different political ideologies in achieving self-reliance in defence manufacturing. He highlighted the government's commitment to enhancing national security and equipping the Armed Forces with advanced technology. Singh stressed the importance of unity and advancements in defence technology to address evolving global challenges and transform India into a leader in futuristic technologies.

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