Defence exports surge to ₹38,500 crore: Rajnath Singh

Pointing out that India is rapidly becoming self-reliant in the defence sector, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the country’s defence exports have now surged to ₹38,500 crore.

Mr. Singh was addressing a Sainik Samman Saammelan held here. Once a country that depended on imports for weaponry, India is now advancing swiftly in defence exports, he said. In 2014, India’s defence exports were around ₹600 crore. Today, they have surged to ₹38,500 crore, he said.

He said that according to recent reports, India has recorded a 62.66% year-on-year increase in defence exports in 2025-26. In defence production, India has already crossed the ₹1.50 lakh crore milestone, with a target to reach ₹3 lakh crore by 2029, a goal set to be achieved within the stipulated timeframe, Mr. Singh was quoted as saying in a statement.

On the West Asia crisis, the Defence Minister said that some people were spreading rumors about the conflict to create unnecessary fear. There is no shortage of petrol, diesel or gas cylinders in the country, he said, adding that India is fully capable and prepared to handle any potential energy crisis. The Indian Navy is safely escorting Indian tankers from the Strait of Hormuz, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the situation, he said.

Mr. Singh described the soldiers and ex-servicemen of the country as the “strong pillars” of the nation. Taking care of them is the government’s moral responsibility, he said. Over the past years, the government has taken several important decisions for the welfare of ex-servicemen, and these efforts will continue in the future as well, he added.

He also said that operations such as the surgical strike after the Uri attack, the airstrike after the Pulwama attack and ‘Operation Sindoor’ following the Pahalgam incident have sent “a clear and tough message against terrorism, achieving remarkable success in ensuring the security of the nation.”

Former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and BJP State general secretary S. Suresh were among those present.