India's defence output hits ₹1.78 lakh crore: Rajnath Singh pushes self-reliance to stay future-ready

New Delhi: India must take control of its security-related requirements to remain future-ready, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, stressing that self-reliance is critical to safeguarding national interests in an uncertain geopolitical environment.

A nation capable of meeting its own requirements moves forward with the greatest confidence towards safeguarding its interests, Singh said at an event at Ordnance Factory Ambajhari in Nagpur, a unit of Yantra India Limited (YIL).

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The minister said persistent efforts are yielding positive results as domestic defence production, which stood at ₹46,000 crore in 2014, has risen to a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY26.

"This represents not just a rise in numbers, but a growth in India's capabilities. It signifies a boost in the nation's self-confidence. We are poised to achieve the targets we have set for the next 2-3 years - ₹3 lakh crore defence production and ₹50,000 crore defence exports-ahead of schedule," he said.

Highlighting the impact of the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Singh said the move had made the system stronger and more agile.

"OFB's production, which stood at Rs 12,755 crore in the pre-corporatisation year of FY 2019-20, has risen to Rs 26,282 crore in FY 2025-26. In defence exports, the figure stood at a mere Rs 81 crore prior to corporatisation. It has now surged to Rs 4,561 crore, with YIL contributing Rs 397 crore," he said.

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Singh also underscored the importance of research and development for long-term growth and innovation. He urged public sector enterprises to modernise manufacturing facilities and invest in advanced technologies to remain competitive in the years ahead.