Defence production in India increases threefold and exports surge in 2024: Shripad Naik

NEW DELHI: Defence production in India increased more than three times over the last 10 years, reaching an all-time high of Rs 1.54 lakh crore in 2024-25, up from Rs 46,429 crore in 2014-15, Union Minister of State for power Shripad Yesso Naik said on Thursday.

Talking about India’s “aatmanirbharata” (self-reliance) in the defence sector at a press conference, the Minister said 2025 was the “year of reforms” and witnessed accelerated progress in defence indigenisation. He added that defence exports surged to a record Rs 23,622 crore in FY25, compared to less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014.




He added that India moved from being a major importer of defence equipment to a nation that designs, develops, manufactures, and increasingly exports advanced defence systems, positioning defence self-reliance as a cornerstone of its rise as a strong, secure, and self-assured global power.

Naik, who was MoS for defence in 2019-21, said India supplied a wide spectrum of defence products—including ammunition, arms, sub-systems, complete systems, and critical components—to around 80 countries, reaffirming its role as a reliable partner in the global defence supply chain.

The contribution of the private sector rose to nearly 23% of total defence production. “Five positive indigenisation lists, covering over 5,500 items, have been notified, with more than 3,000 items already indigenised, decisively reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic capability,” he said.

The minister informed that defence industrial corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu together attracted investments of over Rs 9,145 crore. “With over 16,000 MSMEs now part of the defence ecosystem, Atmanirbharta has become a broad-based national endeavour.

The govt has set a clear vision of achieving Rs 3 lakh crore defence production and Rs 50,000 crore defence exports by 2029, positioning India as a global defence manufacturing hub,” Naik said.