The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced on Friday, 19 June 2026 that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis jointly performed the groundbreaking and cornerstone unveiling of a 10,000-tonne extrusion press at Yantra India Limited's Ordnance Factory unit in Ambazari, Nagpur — marking a significant step in India's indigenous defence manufacturing push.

Context

The ceremony at Ambazari, Nagpur centred on the भूमिपूजन व कोनशिला अनावरण (groundbreaking and cornerstone unveiling) of the high-capacity extrusion press, a piece of heavy industrial equipment critical for manufacturing precision aluminium components. Such components are integral to aerospace structures, fighter jets, drones, unmanned vehicles, and other advanced defence platforms. Yantra India Limited's Chairman and Managing Director Vijaykumar Iyer and other dignitaries were present at the event.

Speaking at the occasion, CM Fadnavis described the project as 'an important milestone strengthening India's self-reliance in the defence sector,' adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) and 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India) was now being realised on the ground.

Policy Backdrop

Yantra India Limited is one of seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) created in 2021 when the Government of India corporatised the Ordnance Factory Board to modernise ammunition and components production. The move was part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, launched in 2020, which set an ambitious agenda to reduce India's dependence on defence imports and build a robust domestic manufacturing ecosystem.

Since 2014, central policy has progressively shifted focus toward domestic defence production through production-linked incentives, new manufacturing clusters, and corporatisation of legacy public sector facilities. Maharashtra has actively positioned itself within this national framework, hosting DPSU units and ancillary facilities across Nagpur and Pune.

Stakeholders and Impact

CM Fadnavis stated that the project would accelerate the development of Nagpur and the broader Vidarbha region as a key node in India's defence production ecosystem. The extrusion press will enable domestic manufacture of high-grade aluminium components that India currently sources through imports or limited domestic capacity, directly strengthening the supply chain for aerospace and armoured platforms.

Fadnavis also invoked India's demonstrated strategic and technological capabilities, saying the world had witnessed the strength of indigenous technology and preparedness, and that India was now carving out an independent global position in the defence sector. The project is expected to benefit defence manufacturers, ancillary industries, and skilled workers across the Vidarbha region.

What's Next

Analysts and industry stakeholders will watch for follow-on announcements regarding additional Yantra India Limited facilities in Nagpur, technology partnerships, and orders tied to the new extrusion capacity. The project's progress will also be a barometer for how effectively India's defence corporatisation model translates into tangible production capability on the ground.

With Nagpur increasingly positioned as a defence manufacturing hub — alongside its existing aerospace and logistics advantages — the Ambazari extrusion press project could catalyse further investment in the region, deepening Maharashtra's role in India's self-reliance drive in defence.