India's Defence Sector Modernization Efforts

Defence Sector Updates - Key Points

Government Priorities and Initiatives:

• The Indian government prioritizes modernizing armed forces and creating a self-reliant defence sector.
• Strategic initiatives such as ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ have been fundamental in transforming the defence production landscape.

Statistics and Data:

• Defence Production Growth: Increased from ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, a nearly four-fold increase.
  • Public Sector: 76% of production.
  • Private Sector: 24% of production.
• Defence Exports: Rose from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, indicating an increase of over 5,500%.
  • Total of 145 defence exporters supplying products to over 80 countries.
• Defence Export Target: Government aims to achieve ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
• Defence Budget Growth: Increased from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹7.85 lakh crore for 2026-27.
  • Capital expenditure set at ₹2.19 lakh crore.
• R&D Allocation: Increased by 90% to ₹29,100 crore.

Judicial and Procurement Reforms:

• Recently, the Defence Acquisition Council approved projects worth over ₹8.75 lakh crore.
• Reforms in procurement processes include:
  • Doubling financial powers of field commanders.
  • Facilitation of over ₹1.25 lakh crore procurement through revenue routes to promote indigenisation.

Technological Achievements:

• Successful trials of several advanced military systems including:
  • Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation System.
  • MIRV-equipped Advanced Agni missile.
  • Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile.
  • RudraM-II Missile.
  • Naval Anti-Ship Missile-SR.
  • Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket.
• Successful test of a hypersonic missile technology featuring an active-cooled full-scale scramjet combustor operational for over 1,200 seconds.
• The first successful test of the Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile.

Social and Infrastructure Initiatives:

• Focus on border infrastructure development.
• Welfare programs for serving and retired personnel.
• Enhanced participation of women in the armed forces, evidenced by the commissioning of the** first batch of women cadets** from the National Defence Academy.
• Recognition of the all-women tri-service circumnavigation expedition, ‘Samudra Pradakshina’.

Cultural Milestone:

• 2026 marks 150 years since the composition of ‘Vande Mataram’; a call to celebrate national pride and contribute toward nation-building and the vision of Viksit Bharat.

This summary encapsulates the significant developments in India’s defence sector, reflecting the government's strategic focus on self-reliance, modernization, and international competitiveness.