Rajnath Singh reviews 16 defence PSUs as DPSU turnover hits ₹1.29 lakh crore
Synopsis
India's 16 defence PSUs posted a 151.2 per cent export surge and ₹1.29 lakh crore in turnover in FY 2025-26 — numbers that reframe the annual review Rajnath Singh chairs on Tuesday from a routine audit into a milestone moment for India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence push.
Key Takeaways
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will review 16 DPSUs in New Delhi on Tuesday, 2 September 2025 .
Combined DPSU turnover reached ₹1.29 lakh crore in FY 2025-26 , up 15.4 per cent year-on-year.
Cumulative profit after tax stood at ₹23,136 crore , a growth of 15.6 per cent over the previous year.
Defence exports jumped 151.2 per cent in FY 2025-26 over FY 2024-25.
CMDs of 7 DPSUs including HAL , BEL , MDL , and BDL will present dividend cheques for government equity shares.
The Department of Defence Production is overhauling the OGEL framework to streamline defence exports.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will conduct the annual performance review of 16 defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) in New Delhi on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, with a sharp focus on indigenous technology development and boosting defence exports, according to an official statement. The review comes on the back of a standout financial year for the sector.
Record Financial Performance in FY 2025-26
The DPSUs posted a combined turnover of ₹1.29 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, marking a growth of 15.4 per cent over the previous financial year. Cumulative profit after tax reached ₹23,136 crore, up 15.6 per cent year-on-year. Most strikingly, defence exports surged by 151.2 per cent over FY 2024-25 — a figure that underscores India's accelerating push to become a credible global arms supplier.
Dividend Cheques and Key Presentations
During the event, the Chairmen and Managing Directors (CMDs) of seven DPSUs — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE), BEML, and MIDHANI — will present dividend cheques for the government's equity shares for FY 2025-26 to the Defence Minister.
Books to Be Released by Rajnath Singh
Singh will also release four publications at the event: 'Aatmanirbhar DPSU — A Journey of DPSUs Towards Self-Reliance'; 'DISHA, an Initiative of DPSUs for Students' Hands-On Awareness on Defence Technologies & Modern Manufacturing Processes'; 'Modernisation Roadmap of HAL'; and 'Indigenisation Roadmap of HAL'. The releases signal a deliberate effort to document and communicate the sector's transformation narrative.
Export Policy Reforms Under Way
The Department of Defence Production has simultaneously undertaken a comprehensive overhaul of the Defence Export Standard Operating Procedure and the Open General Export Licence (OGEL) framework. The reforms aim to reduce procedural requirements, enable faster access to international markets, and allow Indian defence companies to respond more effectively to global business opportunities — while keeping national security considerations fully intact.
These measures align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make-in-India vision, positioning India as a reliable, competitive, and trusted global defence manufacturing and export partner. With the 151 per cent export jump already on the books, the policy architecture is now being recalibrated to sustain and scale that momentum.
Point of View
But simplifying paperwork only helps if Indian DPSUs can compete on price, delivery timelines, and after-sales support — areas where they have historically struggled against established global players. The annual review format itself deserves scrutiny; a once-a-year accountability exercise for entities of this scale and strategic importance is the minimum, not the benchmark.
NationPress
31 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual DPSU performance review conducted by Rajnath Singh?
It is a yearly accountability exercise in which the Defence Minister reviews the financial and operational performance of all 16 defence public sector undertakings. The review covers turnover, profits, exports, and progress on indigenisation targets.
How did India's defence PSUs perform in FY 2025-26?
The 16 DPSUs collectively recorded a turnover of ₹1.29 lakh crore, up 15.4 per cent over FY 2024-25, and a combined profit after tax of ₹23,136 crore, up 15.6 per cent. Defence exports surged 151.2 per cent over the previous financial year.
Which DPSUs will present dividend cheques at the review?
The CMDs of seven DPSUs — HAL, MDL, BEL, BDL, GRSE, BEML, and MIDHANI — will present dividend cheques for the government's equity shares for FY 2025-26 to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
What reforms are being made to India's defence export framework?
The Department of Defence Production is overhauling the Defence Export Standard Operating Procedure and the Open General Export Licence (OGEL) framework to reduce procedural requirements and enable faster market access for Indian defence companies, while keeping national security safeguards in place.
What books will Rajnath Singh release at the DPSU review event?
Singh will release four publications: 'Aatmanirbhar DPSU — A Journey of DPSUs Towards Self-Reliance', 'DISHA' on student awareness of defence technologies, 'Modernisation Roadmap of HAL', and 'Indigenisation Roadmap of HAL'.
