By Vineet Dikshit

NewsGate Press Network

India is fast becoming self-reliant in defence and is emerging as a global manufacturing hub.

This was observed by the prime minister Narendra Modi in his ID Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Thursday the 15th of August 2024.

It was Modi’s 11th ID speech at the Red Fort.

He pointed out that there was a time when the majority of the defence budget was used to procure weapons/equipment from abroad, but his Government focused on indigenous manufacturing to make the nation self-reliant.

He lauded the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Armed Forces for taking a series of decisions, including the notification of a number of positive indigenisation lists, wherein there are over 5,600 items that are being/will be procured only from the Indian industry after designated timelines.

He expressed satisfaction that India, which was once completely dependent on import of defence equipment, is today exporting to numerous countries.

It may be recalled that the annual defence production has hit a record high of Rs 1.27 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2023-24.

In the same fiscal, defence exports touched a record high of Rs 21,083 crore, an increase of 32.5% over FY 2022-23.

In addition, there has been a massive jump in defence exports in the first quarter of FY 2024-25. Rs 6,915 crore worth of defence equipment has been exported in the first quarter, an increase of 78% from the first quarter of FY 2023-24, when the figure was Rs 3,885 crore.

Referring to the 2016 surgical strike & 2019 air strike, Modi stated that there was a time when the country was a victim of terror attacks; but today it is bold and strong, with the Armed Forces giving a befitting reply to anyone who tries to harm the sovereignty, unity and integrity of the country.