Defence Sector Key to Self-Reliant, Strategically Secure India by 2047: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the defence sector would be the cornerstone of India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, stressing that technological leadership would determine strategic advantage in future warfare.

Addressing the DRDO-Industry Synergy Meet, ‘Vimarsh 2026’, at DRDO Bhawan here, Singh said the vision of a developed India was not limited to economic strength but envisaged a country that was technologically self-reliant, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable and strategically secure.

“By 2047, we have to achieve self-reliance in critical technologies, significant growth in indigenous content, multi-fold expansion in defence exports and a strong presence in global supply chains,” he said.

Singh emphasised that these objectives could not be achieved without greater collaboration among stakeholders in the defence sector. He said the partnership between DRDO and industry should extend beyond production to research, design, testing, certification and the entire manufacturing value chain.

He also called for greater participation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups, saying they should be integrated into the defence ecosystem alongside large industries. The minister highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence and drones in future warfare and urged Indian companies to accelerate innovation in emerging technologies.

“Today, we are seeing how AI can be used to render an image which seems to be of the 80s. Joy would be when you can present an image of the future 40-50 years ahead,” he said.

Singh said companies investing in new and emerging technologies today would emerge as technology leaders tomorrow. “We need to not just imagine the technology of the future, but we need to develop the technology of the future, today,” he said.

He further said Atmanirbharta should become a mindset, adding that the country possessing its own technology would have the power to shape its future.

Singh praised defence start-ups and MSMEs as new flag-bearers of the sector and said they would play a crucial role in making India a global hub for defence manufacturing.