Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday, 30 June revealed that India's defence exports had climbed from approximately ₹1,000 crore in 2014 to around ₹39,000 crore, crediting a decade of structural reforms that prioritised domestic manufacturing and private-sector participation. Singh made the announcement at the valedictory session of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Vadodara.

A Decade of Defence Growth

Singh told delegates that India's defence landscape had been fundamentally transformed over the past ten years. 'There was a time when India depended heavily on other countries to meet its defence requirements, importing much of what it needed. But today, India is rapidly moving forward in the fields of defence manufacturing and exports,' he said.

Domestic defence production figures underscored the shift. Singh noted that production had risen from roughly ₹46,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.78 lakh crore at present — a near four-fold increase that he described as a structural, not cyclical, gain.

What Drove the Expansion

The minister attributed the growth to a combination of policy levers and market forces: the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, the Make in India initiative, the Defence Acquisition Procedure, and the Technology Development Fund. Together, these frameworks have strengthened India's aerospace and defence industrial base, he said.

Singh also pointed to the role of start-ups and private-sector entrants in energising the ecosystem. 'The success of indigenous platforms, the growing participation of the private sector and the new energy brought by start-ups have together created a strong defence ecosystem in India,' he said. Capital procurement provisions in the Union Budget are additionally designed to integrate domestic industries into global supply chains, he added.

Gujarat's Strategic Role

Singh singled out Gujarat as a critical node in India's next phase of defence and technology growth, citing the state's industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and entrepreneurial culture. He specifically highlighted the expanding semiconductor ecosystem taking shape in Sanand and Dholera.

'I believe that both future warfare and the future economy will run on chips,' Singh said, signalling that semiconductors, alongside artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and space technology, would become central to India's defence capabilities in the years ahead.

Self-Reliance Without Isolation

Singh was careful to frame India's self-reliance drive as complementary to, rather than a rejection of, global partnerships. 'We wholeheartedly welcome collaboration with foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers. We also encourage technology transfer and joint ventures. However, our endeavour is always to ensure that the real benefits accrue on Indian soil, to the people of India, and that India's own capabilities are built here,' he said.

He concluded by urging industry partners to back India's self-reliance mission, stressing that the country's goal was to develop products — designed and manufactured in India — that could serve both domestic requirements and international markets. Despite the scale of progress recorded, Singh cautioned against complacency: 'I believe this is only the beginning. We still have to go much further,' he added. The next phase of growth, he indicated, will depend on how swiftly India can move up the value chain in advanced technologies.