Rajnath Singh Says Defence Modernisation, Self-Reliance Top Government Priorities on Independence Day Eve
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh on August 14 said that military modernisation backed by a self-reliant and future-ready defence sector remains one of the government’s top priorities as India approaches its 80th Independence Day. Speaking to soldiers on Akashvani, he said the country’s defence ecosystem has undergone a major transformation over the past 12 years through Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India, with India now meeting a growing share of its own security needs while also emerging as a defence manufacturing hub and a net exporter.
Rajnath Singh set out a series of production, export, budgetary and technological figures to underline the pace of change in the sector. Defence production, he said, has risen from Rs 46,000 crore in 2014 to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, nearly a four-fold increase over the past decade. Defence Public Sector Undertakings and other public-sector entities accounted for about 76 per cent of this output, while the private sector contributed 24 per cent.
Exports have also expanded sharply, he noted, climbing from Rs 686 crore in FY 2013-14 to an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26. According to the Raksha Mantri, India now has 145 defence exporters and Indian-made defence products are being shipped to more than 80 countries. He said the government is confident of reaching its target of Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
The minister said the financial commitment to defence modernisation has grown alongside domestic production. The defence budget, he pointed out, has increased from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in FY 2013-14 to Rs 7.85 lakh crore in FY 2026-27. Capital expenditure has gone up from Rs 94,588 crore to Rs 2.19 lakh crore, while the defence research and development budget has risen from Rs 15,283 crore in FY 2014-15 to Rs 29,100 crore in FY 2026-27.
Rajnath Singh also referred to procurement reforms and recent approvals by the Defence Acquisition Council. Over the past year, he said, the council has granted Acceptance of Necessity for projects worth more than Rs 8.75 lakh crore. He added that changes in procurement rules, including an increase in the financial ceiling available to Field Commanders and procurement worth more than Rs 1.25 lakh crore through the revenue route to promote indigenisation, are helping speed up acquisitions and encourage domestic industry.
Turning to technology, the Raksha Mantri highlighted several recent tests and developments by DRDO and the Armed Forces. These included the successful testing of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation system, which is intended to improve the precision of conventional weapons.
He also mentioned the testing of the Advanced Agni missile equipped with MIRV technology, along with the Long-Range Land Attack Cruise Missile, Rudra-MII Air-to-Surface Missile, Naval Anti-Ship Missile-SR and Pinaka Long-Range Guided Rocket. Rajnath Singh said these systems are strengthening India’s strategic deterrence and strike capabilities.
Among the more recent breakthroughs, he cited the successful test of an Active Cooled Full-Scale Scramjet Combustor for more than 1,200 seconds, describing it as an important step in India’s pursuit of hypersonic missile technology. He also referred to the first successful test of the indigenous Kusha long-range surface-to-air missile, which is expected to further reinforce the country’s air-defence capabilities.
Beyond weapons and platforms, Rajnath Singh said border-area development remains a major government focus. Improved connectivity and infrastructure in strategically important regions, he said, are helping both national security and local development. He also praised the Armed Forces for acting as first responders during natural disasters and for their role in rescue and relief operations.
The Raksha Mantri reiterated the government’s commitment to the welfare of serving personnel, veterans and their families. He said the budget for the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme has increased by 300 per cent over the past five years.
He also highlighted changes under the Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. The Penury Grant has been increased from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000, the Education Grant from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 and the Marriage Grant from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Rajnath Singh said these revisions reflect the government’s commitment to the welfare and dignity of soldiers and their families.
Another theme of his address was the growing participation of women in the Armed Forces. He referred to the commissioning of the first batch of female cadets trained at the National Defence Academy and said the development showed that courage and leadership are not limited by gender.
Rajnath Singh also mentioned Samudra Pradakshina, the first tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni, describing it as a symbol of Nari Shakti and of women’s expanding role in national security and nation-building.
In the concluding section of his address, the Raksha Mantri paid tribute to India’s freedom fighters and the Armed Forces, saying the responsibility of protecting the country’s sovereignty, unity and integrity rests with its soldiers. He praised their courage, discipline and dedication, saying they enable citizens to pursue their aspirations in a secure environment.
He also noted that 2026 will mark the 150th anniversary of the National Song Vande Mataram and called on citizens to celebrate the occasion with renewed patriotism and a spirit of service. Rajnath Singh urged people to become active participants in nation-building and contribute to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
