logo
Becoming a defence powerhouse: India's 2030 goal goes beyond national security

Becoming a defence powerhouse: India's 2030 goal goes beyond national security

First Post29-04-2025
India's defence transformation is as much about national security as it is about economic and technological self-sufficiency read more
At a recent dialogue session in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh voiced strong optimism about India's rising stature in global defence exports. Addressing the 'Marathwada – Atmanirbhar Bharat Ki Raksha Bhoomi' event, organised by the Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA), he announced that India aims to achieve defence exports worth ₹50,000 crore by 2030.
Highlighting the scale of ambition, Rajnath Singh noted that India's defence production is set to surpass ₹1.60 lakh crore this year, with a goal of touching ₹3 lakh crore by 2029. This policy shift aligns with the broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), seeking to reduce dependence on foreign imports, bolster domestic industrial capabilities, and project India as a responsible and capable defence exporter.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Speaking separately at The Week's 'Defence Conclave 2025 – Force of the Future', he emphasised that India's emergence as a developed power will 'go hand in hand with becoming a global military leader'. He reiterated the production target and underscored that India's defence manufacturing is not only about strategic autonomy and national security but also a shield against external supply disruptions. It reflects a strategic pivot towards self-sufficiency and a robust industrial defence ecosystem that serves not just domestic needs but also tremendously boosts export potential. This is especially important given the current geopolitical situation and its implications on the global supply chain.
In the recent decades, India has recalibrated its defence policy to bolster domestic manufacturing ecosystems. This transformation is seen in the exponential growth of defence exports, from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 to over ₹21,000 crore in 2023-24, and from the aim of doubling this figure by 2030.
There is also an immense emphasis on self-reliance. This is highlighted in the procurement decisions taken by the government. Approximately 75 per cent of India's defence modernisation budget is now allocated for domestic acquisition. This is not only a fiscal strategy but also a deliberate policy signal to foster industrial innovation, specifically through collaborations between the public sector, private defence manufacturers, and emerging defence-tech start-ups.
This has enabled the production of a broad spectrum of indigenous systems in India, including fighter aircraft, naval vessels, advanced missiles, and unmanned platforms. The most notable example is of the various defence start-ups supported by the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) framework, which are excelling in areas like artificial intelligence, cyber warfare, robotics, and next-generation communication systems.
Progress So Far
India is undergoing a dramatic transformation in its defence landscape, evolving from a major importer to an emerging manufacturing powerhouse. 2024 was a crucial year for India's defence sector, as exports hit a record ₹21,083 crore, reflecting a 32.5 per cent rise from the previous year and a 31-fold surge since 2013-14. However, this milestone is being facilitated by a mix of institutional reforms and strategic diplomacy.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
This month, India and Slovakia signed a landmark MoU aimed at advancing domestic defence manufacturing. The deal, signed during President Draupadi Murmu's visit, enables JCBL Group's Airbornics Defence and Space Private Limited to co-develop next-gen combat vehicle technologies with Slovakia.
Additionally, India is also poised to ink its largest-ever defence deal with France, worth over ₹63,000 crore, for 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. This deal includes single- and twin-seater jets, fleet support, training modules, and indigenous components, enhancing air operations aboard INS Vikrant and supplementing the MiG-29K fleet.
Moreover, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh's recent visits to the UK and Italy also led to significant dialogues and agreements. The 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting reaffirmed joint efforts in maritime cooperation, innovation, and industrial collaboration between the UK and India. India also invited UK firms to invest in the former's defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
In Italy, the 11th India-Italy Joint Defence Committee meeting explored maritime cooperation and information-sharing, with special focus on the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean. An MoU between the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) and Italy's AIAD was signed, opening new doors for industrial collaboration.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Saudi Arabia further reflects India's intent to expand its defence footprint. As per the news, talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are expected to include defence cooperation, military exercises, and procurement frameworks, highlighting India's proactive engagement with the Middle East.
Road Ahead
India's defence strategy is constantly being shaped not only by domestic imperatives but also by changing power dynamics. Tensions in the Indo-Pacific and beyond have led to India positioning itself as a credible net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. Furthermore, India's long-standing defence cooperation with countries such as the US, Russia and France has created a robust framework for military interoperability, defence trade and industrial co-production. These partnerships, if utilised correctly, have the potential to reposition India as a preferred alternative to China in global defence supply chains.
India's defence transformation is as much about national security as it is about economic and technological self-sufficiency. Furthermore, India's defence ascent didn't happen overnight, and huge scopes for improvement still remain. At The Week Defence Conclave, DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat stressed the urgent need for India to increase research and development spending. He pointed out that while China invests 2.6 per cent of its overall GDP in R&D, India lags behind, allocating only 5 per cent of its defence budget. Encouragingly, the government's decision to raise this share to 10 per cent of the defence budget over the next five years is seen as a necessary and forward-looking step.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
In this context and on a positive note, India has announced plans to raise R&D spending to 10 per cent of the defence budget over the next five years, a significant decision as India aims to become not just a manufacturer but a vital innovator in defence technology.
2025 can be another pivotal year for India's defence sector. With initiatives such as the formation of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), India's defence journey can be seen as much more than just weapon modernisation, it's about self-reliance, strategic partnerships, indigenous innovation, and a long-term commitment to secure and empower the nation in an increasingly unstable world.
As India strides towards its 2030 export target, the success of this vision hinges upon factors such as political will, sustained R&D investments, integration of the private sector and start-ups, and a robust defence export strategy anchored on successful diplomatic outreach. If executed properly, India is well-positioned to become one of the top global players in the defence sector, redefining its role from consumer to exporter and one day, to creator of strategic security solutions.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The author is a researcher at the East Asia Centre, MP-IDSA, New Delhi, India. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BSNL records highest call drop rate, highest cases of call muting among competitors in test held in UP
BSNL records highest call drop rate, highest cases of call muting among competitors in test held in UP

New Indian Express

time3 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

BSNL records highest call drop rate, highest cases of call muting among competitors in test held in UP

NEW DELHI: State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has performed poorly in the Independent Drive Test (IDT) conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for the Uttar Pradesh (West) Licensed Service Area (LSA) in June. According to the report, BSNL recorded the highest call drop rate and the highest incidence of call muting among major telecom operators, including Reliance Jio (RJIL), Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (VIL). As per the findings, BSNL's Call Setup Success Rate (CSSR) stood at 86.57%, indicating that nearly 13% of call attempts failed to connect. Its Call Setup Time (CST) — the time taken to establish a call — was measured at 3.03 seconds, significantly longer than its competitors. BSNL also recorded the highest Drop Call Rate (DCR) at 3.45% in auto-selection mode, suggesting major network issues such as poor connectivity or inadequate mobile tower coverage in the area. This comes despite government claims that BSNL has rolled out over 95,000 mobile towers across the country. 'In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, BSNL has placed purchase order for indigenously developed 4G sites for pan India deployment. Supply of 4G equipment has started from September 2023 and as on 30.06.2025, total 95,537 numbers 4G sites have been installed, out of which 90,035 numbers are ON-Air. The equipment is 5G upgradable,' said Minister of State for Communications Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in Parliament. In comparison, RJIL and VIL demonstrated superior performance in call setup times, with average CSTs of 0.77 seconds and 0.95 seconds respectively. Surprisingly, Airtel's CST was the highest among the private players, clocking in at 22.86 seconds. For Drop Call Rate, RJIL achieved a perfect 0.00%, while VIL and Airtel posted strong results at 0.20% and 0.23%, respectively.

ICG gets new pollution control vessel to protect marine ecosystems
ICG gets new pollution control vessel to protect marine ecosystems

Hans India

time9 hours ago

  • Hans India

ICG gets new pollution control vessel to protect marine ecosystems

Defence public sector unit Goa Shipyard Limited on Wednesday launched its second indigenously designed Pollution Control Vessel (PCV), Samudra Prachet, for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), an official said. The vessel has two side arms capable of collecting oil spills while underway and a radar to detect oil slicks, the GSL official said. Director General of Indian Coast Guard Parmesh Sivamani, who was present during the launch at Vasco in South Goa, stressed the strategic importance of the vessel in strengthening India's capacity for coastal environmental protection and pollution response operations, the official said. Sivamani said the vessel will play a pivotal role in safeguarding marine ecosystems. sThe indigenously designed Samudra Prachet (Yard 1268) is the second in a series of two PCVs. The first one, Samudra Pratap (Yard 1267), was launched on August 29 last year. GSL Chairman and Managing Director Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay also attended the event. He underscored the critical importance of this platform in advancing India's maritime environmental preparedness. Upadhyay also said that the vessel has 72 per cent indigenous content, which he called a significant contribution to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. A senior GSL official said the vessel is 114.5 metres long and 16.5 metres wide, with a displacement of 4170 tonnes. It will be manned by 14 officers and 115 sailors, he said. The official said that the vessel is equipped with two side-sweeping arms capable of collecting oil spills while underway, as well as a modern radar system for detecting oil slicks. He said the PCV is engineered to recover oil across the 'full viscosity spectrum, pump in contaminated water, analyse and separate pollutants and store recovered oil in dedicated onboard tanks'.

President Murmu urges MES officers to adopt green tech, build smart
President Murmu urges MES officers to adopt green tech, build smart

Business Standard

timea day ago

  • Business Standard

President Murmu urges MES officers to adopt green tech, build smart

As emerging leaders in the field of military construction, young Military Engineer Services (MES) officers have a crucial responsibility "not only to build but to build with responsibility", President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday. The MES plays a vital role in strengthening the operational readiness of the country's armed forces, she said. "By providing comprehensive engineering support, MES ensures that our troops are equipped with world-class infrastructure and facilities, enabling them to remain mission-ready under all conditions," Murmu said, addressing a group of MES probationers, who had called on her at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. Murmu further called on the officers to focus on adopting renewable energy sources to promote sustainable development and reduce the carbon footprint of defence infrastructure. The President noted that MES is actively promoting the use of indigenous materials and technologies under the Make in India initiative, aligned with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. "This supports local industries and also strengthens the domestic defence ecosystem. MES must also become a pioneer in technological innovation. Integrating advanced tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), drone surveillance, and the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for predictive maintenance and project planning will enhance precision and effectiveness," Murmu said. Addressing the probationers of Indian Defence Estates Service officers, who had also called on the President, she said the integration of digital solutions is a necessity in this era of rapid technological transformation. "It is your duty to stay abreast of the technological advancements and apply them in your functioning. Artificial Intelligence, drone-based land surveys, satellite imagery, and blockchain for property record maintenance are no longer futuristic concepts; they are becoming part of governance," the President said. Murmu asked them to embrace green practices in infrastructure development, adopt renewable energy solutions, reduce wastage, and ensure water conservation in cantonments. "By combining technical expertise with innovation, you have the opportunity to make the Defence Estates a model of sustainable and smart urban management. But by far the most important element for your job is a sense of service," she said. A group of probationers of the Central Water Engineering Service also met the President. "Water resources management has always been a challenging task. Your contribution towards water infrastructure development by providing engineering solutions will make the country more resilient against natural and man-made water crises," she said. The sustainable development of water resources and efficient management of water is key to water security and growth, especially in the wake of changing climatic trends, Murmu stated. "Therefore, you are expected to play a key role in adopting a holistic approach to address the existing and upcoming challenges," she added. The President highlighted that by providing clean water and promoting water conservation, India can improve public health, boost agricultural productivity, and ensure sustainable use of natural resources. Effective water management can play a significant role in securing a resilient future for generations to come, she noted. "I am confident that you will always uphold the highest ideals of public service and work tirelessly to build a stronger, inclusive, and more prosperous India. I wish you all a bright future," the President stated. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store