Defence Minister celebrates fourfold surge in domestic arms output
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the armed forces that India’s defence manufacturing has risen nearly four times since 2014, reaching Rs 1.78 lakh crore in 2025-26.
In a message to the armed forces on the cusp of India’s 80th Independence Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh proclaimed an “unprecedented transformation” of the nation’s defence industry. He reported that domestic defence production climbed to a historic Rs 1.78 lakh crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, representing almost a four-fold increase from 2014 levels. Export earnings have also surged, rising 56 times from Rs 686 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 38,424 crore, now reaching over 80 countries.
Singh credited initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India for driving this self-reliant, future-ready growth. The ministry’s data underscores a strategic shift toward indigenous capability and broader global market penetration. The announcement was made as part of a broader emphasis on modernising the armed forces.
Why it matters
The surge shows India’s growing self-sufficiency in defence and its expanding role in the global arms market.
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