Defense Exports Surge 57 Times as India Declares Transformation from Shortages to Viksit Bharat

Defense Exports Surge 57 Times as India Declares Transformation from Shortages to Viksit Bharat​

Defence Sector Records Record Highs as 'Make-in-India' Gains Global Trust​

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh stated that the journey of India over the past twelve years represents a significant progression, moving from addressing shortages to achieving self-reliance and progressing towards becoming a Viksit Bharat. He highlighted how the government’s policy framework is actively establishing the foundation for this future transformation through a 'Reform, Perform, Transform' strategy.

The Minister emphasized that 'Make-in-India', launched in 2014, has successfully set new benchmarks despite early skepticism from global quarters. He asserted that there has been a profound transformational change in India's global stature; the international community is now listening attentively to India’s perspective on crucial world issues.

Defence Production and Export Growth Accelerate Significantly​

Shri Rajnath Singh reported massive growth across the defence industry, citing it as prime evidence of global confidence in indigenous 'Make-in-India' platforms. Annual defence production reached an all-time high of ₹1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2025-26. This figure is three times greater than the production recorded in FY 2014-15.

A striking achievement highlighted by the Minister was the record performance of defence exports, which crossed ₹38,000 crore today. This represents an increase of nearly 57 times when compared to the export value of ₹686 crore recorded in FY 2013-14. The robust growth underscores the success of the manufacturing focus in India's security apparatus.

Technological Leaps and Economic Empowerment Drive Progress​

Beyond defence, Raksha Mantri detailed significant advancements in manufacturing and technology across various sectors under the Make-in-India initiative. He noted the expansion achieved in mobile manufacturing, automobile exports, and indigenous locomotive production. The national digital infrastructure has also seen exponential growth and international recognition.

In a demonstration of this technological prowess, he cited that 22.35 billion UPI transactions were conducted in April alone, totaling ₹29 lakh crore. This financial reach is continually expanding its global footprint. Furthermore, the rapid nationwide rollout of indigenously developed Make-in-India 5G technology is underway, with development efforts moving toward 6G infrastructure.

Governance Reforms and Social Impact Deliver Financial Gains​

Addressing welfare delivery issues that were previously viewed as inevitable complexities, the government implemented the 'JAM Trinity'. This integrated approach, combining Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile technology, has been instrumental in ensuring financial benefits reach their intended beneficiaries directly. The implementation of this system successfully transferred ₹51 lakh crore to bank accounts while preventing leakage amounting to approximately ₹4.3 lakh crore.

Shri Rajnath Singh also pointed to the successful deployment of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He observed that despite initial concerns, GST has evolved into a model strengthening cooperative federalism between the Central government and States/UTs. Initiatives like Jan Vishwas reforms have concurrently improved the ease of doing business for entrepreneurs across the country.

Start-up Ecosystem Surges While Cultural Identity is Restored​

The Minister provided impressive statistics on India's burgeoning entrepreneurial landscape, noting that India has become the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. Over the past twelve years, the number of start-ups has escalated from 500 to more than 2 lakh. Correspondingly, unicorns have risen dramatically from four to 125.

On a cultural front, Shri Rajnath Singh stressed that holistic development must accompany the preservation of Indian civilization and heritage. Initiatives such as the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor and Mahakal Lok are cited as efforts to restore lost heritage. The restoration of 'Vande Mataram' through various symbolic actions, including the installation of the ‘Sengol’ in Parliament, was also mentioned.

Media's Responsibility in an Age of Digital Abundance​

Turning his focus towards the press, Raksha Mantri emphasized that while the age of 'communicative abundance' is here, the critical challenge lies not merely in information availability but in its accuracy and reliability. He noted that technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting journalism significantly.

However, he stressed that AI cannot replicate human creativity or empathy. The future success of journalism will hinge on establishing a synergy between AI capabilities and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, he strongly asserted that the media's true power lies in guiding society towards truth, strengthening democracy, and not just disseminating news. He concluded by stating emphatically that the media must always uphold accuracy, objectivity, and impartiality, especially when reporting concerns national security or the honour of service personnel.