'India's target to achieve Rs 3 lakh Cr defence manufacturing target': Rajnath Singh

Mumbai: India is set to achieve Rs 3 lakh crore defence manufacturing target and Rs 50,000 crore exports target by 2029, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

“This in itself is a very ambitious vision, but I am confident that we will definitely realise this vision,” the Defence Minister said addressing students of Symbiosis Skills and Professional University in Pune during their convocation ceremony.

“In the last 10 years, annual defence production has increased from Rs 46,000 crore to a record Rs 1.5 lakh crore, of which approximately Rs 33,000 crore has been contributed by the private sector,” Singh said acknowledging the contribution of youth in the growth in defence sector. 

"Today, as our country is rapidly moving forward in the direction of becoming self-reliant in the field of defence, such institutions and such courses become very essential for us. Today, we need such youth who are not only educated, but also understand indigenous technology, create it, and advance it,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of skill development in shaping India’s future, the Defence Minister said: “We are no longer in the era of ‘What do you know?’. The world now asks, ‘What can you do?’ Knowledge that cannot be applied is incomplete. Skill is the bridge between learning and doing.”

Speaking about the impact of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), Singh dispelled fears about job loss and human redundancy, stating: “AI will not replace humans, but those who use AI will replace those who don’t. Technology must remain a tool, not a substitute for human sensitivity, values, and ethics”.

On Operation Sindoor, he said that it is a glowing testimony to India’s growing indigenous prowess which is a result of the Government’s relentless efforts to create a self-reliant defence manufacturing ecosystem within the country.

Singh told the students that when the Government commenced work to make India self-reliant in defence, it seemed difficult in the beginning, however, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, no stone was left unturned to expand the domestic defence manufacturing, and the efforts began to yield positive results due to this resolve.

“We pledged to move towards transforming the defence sector because, since independence, we had been heavily dependent on other countries for weapons. We had become accustomed to purchasing weapons as we lacked the political will to manufacture in India, nor did we have the laws that promoted defence manufacturing. This required a change. It is our resolve that India manufactures indigenous weapons for its soldiers. The entire world witnessed the bravery of our soldiers during Operation Sindoor. They achieved the set objectives using a large amount of Made-in-India equipment,” stated  Singh.

The senior BJP leader  urged the students to move beyond academic achievement and strive to become creators, innovators and contributors to national development, emphasising that true success lies not merely in acquiring degrees but in applying knowledge meaningfully for the benefit of society.

As India steps into its Amrit Kaal, aiming to become a developed nation by 2047, Singh told the students that they too are entering the most decisive phase of their lives. “The next 20-25 years won’t just shape your careers, but also shape the destiny of the Nation. Let your ambition fuel the country’s transformation,” he said.