New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, said that the valour shown by the armed forces and the proven effectiveness of indigenous equipment have significantly boosted global demand for Indian-made defence products.
“The world is looking at our defence sector with new respect. A single delay or error in financial processes can directly affect operational preparedness,” Rajnath Singh said during the Controllers’ Conference of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) here today, a Defence Ministry statement said.
He also called on the DAD to evolve from a ‘controller’ to a ‘facilitator’ in sync with increasing participation of the private sector in defence.
Stating that India has moved towards Aatmanirbharta and structural reform in defence planning, finance, and innovation under the Modi government, Rajnath said, “Most of the equipment we once imported is now being made in India. Our reforms are succeeding because of the clarity of vision and commitment at the highest level”.
Addressing the larger geopolitical context, the Minister mentioned the rising global military expenditure reaching USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, as per Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and stated that this opens up tremendous opportunities for India’s indigenous defence industries.
He stressed that with the government’s focus on ‘Aatmanirbharta in Defence’, India’s industries must be prepared for the global demand shift and play a larger role in exports and innovation.
“Our effort is to ensure that decisions are taken swiftly so that we can begin manufacturing larger engines right here in India and that this journey begins with the hands of Indians,” he added, reaffirming the government’s commitment to building advanced indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
Highlighting the increasing strategic and economic significance of the defence sector, he called for a shift in perception from defence spending as mere expenditure to an economic investment with multiplier impact.
“Until recently, defence budgets were not seen as part of the national economy. Today, they are growth drivers,” he added. He mentioned that India, along with the rest of the world, is entering a new phase of re-armament, marked by capital-intensive investments in the defence sector.
