Defence Minister Urges DPSUs to Boost R&D and Exports to Make India a Global Defence Hub
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today announced that India’s defence production reached approximately ₹1,51,000 crore in the financial year 2024-25, with Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) contributing 71.6 per cent of the total.
The Minister made the announcement after inaugurating the DPSUs Bhavan, a state-of-the-art central facility at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi.
Highlighting the growing global respect for Indian-made defence equipment, Mr. Singh stated that defence exports reached ₹6,695 crore, underscoring international confidence in India’s indigenous systems.
He commended the 16 DPSUs for serving as strong pillars of the country’s self-reliance vision and their contribution to strengthening the defence manufacturing ecosystem. Mr. Singh specifically lauded their reliability and capability, citing their “excellent performance” in operations like Operation Sindoor.
The Defence Minister urged the DPSUs to intensify their efforts in research and development (R&D), indigenisation, and exports to transform India into a global defence hub.
The Defence PSU Bhavan is envisioned as a central hub for synergy, innovation, and collaboration among all DPSUs under the Department of Defence Production. The facility includes advanced conference halls, display zones, and a Simulation Room using Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to recreate real battlefield conditions.
On the occasion, Singh also chaired the Annual Performance Review meeting of the 16 DPSUs and reviewed their performance.
He felicitated Munitions India Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, India Optel Limited (IOL), and Hindustan Shipyard Limited for attaining Miniratna (Category-I) status.
Key initiatives launched by the Minister included, HAL’s new Research and Development (R&D) Manual. A compilation of R&D projects. SWAYAM – Sustainable and Green Defence Manufacturing, a report highlighting renewable energy initiatives across the DPSUs.
Singh also praised India Optel Limited and BhaElectronics Limited for achieving 100 per cent green energy transition.
