Context: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that the Government aims to expand India’s domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem to ₹3 lakh crore and boost defence exports to ₹50,000 crore by 2029.
About Govt. Seeks to Boost Defence Exports:
- What it is?
- It refers to India’s strategic roadmap to enhance domestic defence production capacity and increase global export competitiveness, making India a major arms manufacturing hub.
- Aim: The target is to achieve ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029, alongside a total annual defence production value of ₹3 lakh crore—driven by private participation, technology transfer, and innovation.
- Key Features:
-
- Private sector integration: Encouraging domestic firms to collaborate with DRDO, DPSUs, and foreign OEMs.
- Skill development: Promoting defence education and R&D through institutions like Symbiosis Skills University.
- Indigenisation: Expanding production of platforms such as Tejas aircraft, Akash missiles, and Pinaka rockets.
- Policy push: Simplified procurement norms, export authorisation, and Make-in-India incentives.
- Operational validation: Missions like Operation Sindoor showcase the success of indigenous technology in real-time operations.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
- GS Paper 3 – Security & Economy: Defence indigenisation, Make in India, and technology transfer.
- GS Paper 2 – Governance & Policy: Role of public-private partnerships and institutional reforms in strategic sectors.
- Essay Paper: Topics on self-reliance, innovation, and national security.
