Raksha Mantri Reaffirms Commitment to Empower India’s Defence Industry at SIDM Annual Session

New Delhi: Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh reiterated the Government’s strong commitment to strengthening India’s defence sector during the seventh annual session of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) in New Delhi on October 4, 2024. He emphasized the importance of building a robust, self-reliant defence ecosystem to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global manufacturing hub, especially in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which underscores the need for a strong defence industrial base.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the government’s unwavering focus, in its third consecutive term, on ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence. He outlined several key initiatives to promote indigenization, including the establishment of defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the creation of Positive Indigenisation Lists (PILs), the corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Board, support for private industries through DRDO, and the rollout of the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

The Raksha Mantri emphasized the importance of the 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, which include over 5,500 items to be produced domestically. He urged the industry to achieve complete self-reliance for these items within the stipulated timeline while continuously expanding the lists to include more products. This effort, he said, would ensure that India’s Armed Forces are equipped with indigenous platforms and equipment.

Rajnath Singh also pointed out that the Government’s efforts have led to a conducive environment for ease of doing business in India’s defence sector. A target has been set to make India’s defence industry export-oriented, with a special emphasis on increasing exports while reducing imports.

The Minister expressed satisfaction with the record-high defence production of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in FY 2023-24, of which Rs 27,000 crore came from private companies. He emphasized the need for increasing the private sector’s contribution, with the goal of achieving at least 50% participation in India’s total defence production. He also praised the private sector’s role in pushing defence exports to over Rs 21,000 crore in FY 2023-24 and urged the industry to work towards reducing the ratio of imports to exports with a target-oriented approach.

Rajnath Singh encouraged foreign companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to invest in India or form joint ventures with the private sector. He called upon SIDM to develop a roadmap for firm-to-firm collaboration, noting that Indian industry has the potential to bring cutting-edge technologies to India.

Recognizing the importance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups in the defence ecosystem, the Raksha Mantri acknowledged the challenges they face. He urged SIDM to work closely with the government to resolve ground-level issues and promote ease of doing business for these enterprises, enabling them to play a larger role in defence manufacturing.

Rajnath Singh urged the defence industry to focus on high-end technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyber defence, and autonomous systems, which he said would define the future of warfare. He assured the industry of the Government’s full support in boosting investments in these areas, ensuring that India’s defence capabilities remain in sync with global trends.

During the session, the Raksha Mantri presented the SIDM Champion Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements in defence manufacturing. He praised the recipients for their dedication and excellence, noting that the awards would set a benchmark for best practices in the sector.

The session, themed ‘Empowering Indian Defence Industry: Catalysing Exports and Indigenous Innovation’, provided a forum for industry stakeholders to discuss India’s growing role as a global defence exporter and innovation hub. The event was attended by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, SIDM President Rajinder Singh Bhatia, and leading figures from India’s defence industry.